Ken Kerns Email & Phone Number

Buford, Ga, Us

Doraville, Ga, Us

Responsible for inbound and outbound logistics operations for 32 plants nationally, including private and dedicated fleets and 3PL management of contract, LTL, small parcel, and final mile services. Executing strategies to reduce transportation costs and improve customer service levels through new TMS system and network optimization. Partnering with Sales and Marketing to provide competitive supply chain solutions for our rapidly growing ecommerce and D2C sales channels.

Marietta, Georgia, Us

Directed pricing/inventory strategies, operations planning, inventory controls, and initiatives impacting $1.5B of warehouse sales/purchases into 40 same-center locations nationally. Responsible for demand/purchasing forecasts and ERP systems/data supporting local price setting and purchasing processes. Developed business intelligence roadmap, common definitions, business KPIs, targets, and intuitive data visualization, as well as, promoted self-service BI and visual discovery while helping to change Excel-based culture.• Implemented new price setting system and end-to-end processes, including training, business reviews, price setting methodology, margin forecasting, data governance, and help desk support.• Collaborated with sales management to rationalize non-profitable and excess inventory, setting reduction targets, aligning incentive programs, to optimize inventory.

Marietta, Georgia, Us

Led reengineering of legacy systems to establish pricing processes and strategies that grew profitability of sales transactions and improved price discipline. Architected decision analytics that provided true customer and program economics to support deals. • Implemented systems to manage replacement costs and customer/supplier rebate programs• Customer segmentation, customer cost-to-serve, and Gross Margin benchmarking• Real time reporting to capture time-sensitive profit opportunitiesManaged corporate-wide initiative comprised of four cross-functional project teams and external consultants to deliver custom-developed sales force automation tools, processes and training to 500+ sales representatives and managers in 55 markets nationally. • Oversaw the overall project for scope, deliverables, schedule, and cost• Implemented new Sales management operating system and executive dashboard • Successfully navigated change management at all levels in a change-averse environment

Marietta, Georgia, Us

Led operations for the Southeast Region’s 14 logistics sites, directing 350+ team comprised of both salaried and hourly staff to ensure a safe work environment, at high service levels and low costs. Identified over $2.5M in savings through better housekeeping, material flow and routing enhancements.• Operations Management including rolling operating forecast, scorecards and productivity metrics• Resource planning for headcount, overtime, warehouse expenses and fiscal budgets• Multi site leadership

New York, Ny, Us

Directed strategies, projects, and training for continuous improvement initiatives for Macy’s six flagship distribution centers. Led training and certification of Six Sigma Black/Green Belts. Identified, prioritized, and implemented projects to bring new levels of efficiency to inbound transportation, cross-dock, sortation lines, and direct store/customer delivery. Completed 400 projects of all sizes over two years. Coached executive staff in best practices to manage teams and established process management teams (PMTs) to ensure sustainability of results.

Us

Partnered with Quality team to establish the company’s executive scorecard, creating systemized framework for management of sales, service delivery, and the network operating center. Grew consistency and reliability of service. Identified and mentored projects that Improved the success rate of first-time installations by 40% and cut overall install failures by 20%, reducing maintenance costs and improving customer satisfaction.

Bethesda, Md, Us

Progressed from engineering into operational leadership roles during tenure at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company and achieved certification as a Six Sigma Black Belt.Led a multi-disciplined team (IPT) from initial design through testing and delivery of the first Vertical Tails of the F-22 Stealth Fighter on-time and on-budget. Responsible for process from end-to-end, including budgeting, R&D, tooling, procurement, LEAN manufacturing, master scheduling, and final assembly. Team dramatically reduced the time and movement to build the vertical tails and the tight tolerances achieved during assembly allowed the tails to be installed on the main airframe in less than one day.• Advanced 3-D solid body modeling, engineering drawing QA and release• Supplier management including quality inspections and part qualifications• Production scheduling and inventory management• Certified Six Sigma Black Belt with an emphasis on Lean Manufacturing

Began career working as a Design Engineer, first at McDonnel Douglas (now Boeing) and then for Northrop Corporation’s B-2 Division. Among other highlights, created structural layouts and helped redesign the Crew Escape Hatches for the B-2 Stealth Bomber. Provided on site suppor for the ejection seat testing in White Sands, NV and retrofitting hatches on early production aircraft.