Kenneth Brower Email & Phone Number

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Orrville, Oh

Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area

Leading the manufacturing operations for a dynamic company which prepares a variety of heat and serve foods for many different customers. Responsible for design and implementation of manufacturing tracking systems which will facilitate company growth.

Massillon, Oh

Directed operations of a 130,000 square foot state-of-the-art manufacturing facility producing 2 million pounds of snack products weekly. Responsible for P&L and maintained direct management of seven staff members for Production, Maintenance, Training, Quality, Sanitation and Continuous Improvement. Held indirect responsibility for Human Resources, Warehousing, and Safety, Sustainability and Wellness with three indirect reports. Reported to VP of Manufacturing.• Provided leadership for design team determining manufacturing flow, overall layout of plant for equipment, equipment selection and start up for a new 'green field' manufacturing site. This site was the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum Level Certified food manufacturing plant in the world. • Organized installation and grew operation from zero to 600 employees including accountability for staffing strategy, skill development and employee morale throughout this growth period.• Provided key leadership and collaborated with VP of Manufacturing and Director of Continuous Improvement creating Shearer’s Perfection System (SPS) - Utilized lean manufacturing principles creating a system applied to five manufacturing facilities. - Developed standardized processes and reporting for production, productivity, quality, cost and safety. - Created plant scorecard translating best practices in all plants.• Developed and implemented core strategies in continuous improvement, capital expenditures, and waste reduction to achieve the targeted financial performance of the plant resulting in $1.5 million in overall cost improvements from prior year.• Achieved and maintained audit scores of 99% for Safe Quality Food (SQF) and excellent scores on other specific customer based audits.• Implemented peer-based auditing which improved safety performance for a 70% improvement over a two year period ensuring OSHA compliance and continuous improvement.

Brewster, Oh

Led 240,000 square foot legacy Shearer’s plant with 400 associates producing 1.5 million pounds of salty snacks weekly. Responsible for six direct and two indirect reports. Developed and designed additional manufacturing space for three additional kettles from storage space that was opened up through Kaizen activity. Reported to CEO and President.• Received Shearer's "Associate of the Year" award in 2008, recognizing individual demonstrating most positive impact to the business during that year based on introduction of new innovations and effective leadership.• Assumed additional responsibility by concurrently participating in the design and construction of a new, Platinum LEED Certified manufacturing plant as well as the leadership and integration of a recently purchased pretzel plant in Pennsylvania.

Ashland, Oh

Coached daily performance of the machining department and coordinated facility operations using lean principles with the supplying foundries, assembly and packaging departments. Responsible for six direct reports in department of 75 associates. • Recommended and acquired funds for capital projects to obtain additional equipment to machine complex parts that went into growing oil and ditching businesses. • Reduced Work in Process (WIP) inventory levels by 20% in one year through change in production schedules and improved coordination with parts suppliers.

Holmesville, Oh

Led plant recovery in 1996 due to inability to meet orders (<60% line fill rate) to the plant that won the Toyota Motor Sales Most Improved Supplier Award in 1998 and Toyota Motor Sales Supplier of the Year Award in 1999. Business increased rapidly and plant captured 50% of the market after improvements.• Participated in multiple lean events and initiatives including reduction in changeover times, work flow simplification, in-process work signaling, and use of material and information flow diagrams resulting in standardized work instructions, kanban signals, takt time improvements and inventory reductions while improving customer service levels.• Drove off four unionization attempts at the Holmesville Plant, one of which was a "non-contested" organization attempt.

Zanesville, Oh

Canton, Ohio Area

Canton, Ohio Area

Roxboro, Nc

Albemarle, Nc

Belfast, Va

Abbeville, Sc