Ken Bechtold Email & Phone Number

Rockford, Illinois, United States

Rockford, Illinois Area

Responsible for the Global Implementation of Design for Reliability and leadership of Reliability Engineering team in Bangalore, India. In addition to Headquarters in the US, Bergstrom has facilities in China, United Kingdom and Spain Refine the Design for Reliability process and maturation of tool usage within Bergstrom including training and management advisement.Support HVAC Engineers, Mechatronics Engineers, and Component Suppliers in the use of tools and performing analysis to determine HVAC system and component reliability. Develop use of HALT equipment, define Accelerated Life Tests to drive improved reliability of components and systems.Communicate and collaborate directly with customers to ensure short term recognition of efforts and long term success of results.Key resource occasionally deployed to critical warranty issues needing statistical problem solving skills and data analysis.

Program Manager and Team Leader of Mechatronics Applications: Responsible for New and Current Components in HVAC systems designed in North America and Europe. Components include Condenser Fan and Blower motors (PMDC and BLDC), Motor Controllers, Sensors, Switches and Rotary Actuators. The team provides the technical support to drive 8D corrective actions for warranty issues, works closely with suppliers to release new components and with Systems Engineers to support successful application of components in custom HVAC systems. Responsible for writing yearly reviews and recommending increases. Also, wrote job descriptions, interviewed candidates and recommended hire of engineers for open positions. Program Manager on key component initiatives.Mentor Green Belt Candidates working towards certification.

Rockford, Illinois Area

Initiated contact with engineering firm to provide Reliability Engineering expertise towards implementation of Design for Reliability.Co-organized and Participated in Design for Six Sigma Green Belt training for Bergstrom Mechatronics and HVAC Design Engineers while also establishing certification process requiring demonstration of tools on Bergstrom projects.Completed training on Small Motor Design and Software for PMDC and BLDC Motors and assumed responsibility of motors utilized in Rockford, IL facility.Selected to Navistar University sponsored Reliability Engineering Training (ASQC Instructed)Researched and selected brazing furnace for evaporator and heat exchanger production.Completed Red X Apprentice Training and participated on team resolving field failures on key customer application.Completed Bergstrom's largest custom design of HVAC system for a Mining application with capacities of 25kW (86,000 BTU/hr) cooling and 6kW (20,000 BTU/hr) heating and Evaporator airflow of 3500cfm at 2.5 inches of water. Met with customer to review design and initiated build of first customer system. Project place on hold with Industry slowdown.

Freeport, Il

Project Lead for Smart Position Sensors Mechanical Design - Smart Position Sensor Platform

Freeport, Il

Project Lead for Linear Position SensorMechanical design - Turbo charger sensors (200°C) Mechanical design – Automotive Latch Collaborate with Honeywell design engineers in the UK

Mechanical design – Transmission sensors Delivered technical presentations to European customer

Mechanical Design – Smart Distributed Sensors

Quality Engineer assigned to Industrial Products – responsible for monitoring quality issues with current products and participating on New Product Development teams to ensure high quality new products

Internal Audit Coordinator for initial ISO 9000 certification; managed Internal Audit Team, conducted audits, and reported findings to management and quality director.

Bachelor'S Degree, Engineering - Mechanical Concentration, Gpa:3.42/4.00 Graduated Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: SAE Mini-Baja 1993 - El Paso, Intramural Outstanding Team Captain '91-'92

Education record