Kirk Oler, P.E. Email & Phone Number

Oak Ridge, Tennessee, US

• Technical support for production of Delrin® polymer. Mentor to junior engineers. Led process hazard analyses. Identified & executed plant improvements.
• Led 9 process safety investigations—identified & resolved root causes which prevented recurrence
• Checked revisions to 14 existing pressure relief device designs—ensured accuracy & completeness
• Designed new pressure relief device from scratch—successful on-time completion of PSM action item

Wilmington, DE, US

Munich, Bavaria, DE

• Process owner for all enzymes and cyclic starches (cyclodextrins) made in North America. Mentor to junior plant engineer. Site productivity manager.Early Process Improvement
• Identified opportunities for 11% throughput increase for existing spray dryer system
• Calculated batch cycle times for membrane filtration scale-up—supported vendor bid selection
• Designed & interpreted activated carbon adsorption tests—identified candidates for further scale-upRealized Process Improvement
• Led $900,000 annual savings as productivity manager
• Scaled-up new enzyme—improved full-scale reactor conversion by 10%

Munich, Bavaria, DE

Munich, Bavaria, DE

• OverviewPrimary responsibility for mechanical engineering at the Eddyville site. Provided mechanical and process engineering support for $10.3 million of successful capital and expense projects; also for plant.
• Led process improvement project—completed 8% under budget & in two months’ time; increased product yield by 33% (worth $510,000)
• Led creation & 11-discipline implementation of site-wide Mechanical Integrity Program—completed certified baseline inspections of 38 pressure vessels on schedule and within budget; identified and resolved critical.
• Initiated and led site-wide gap assessment for Iowa Boiler Pressure Vessel Code—identified & resolved long-standing 21-vessel compliance gap
• Led 7 disciplines to plan & execute emergency engineered repair of two cracked vessels with five day turnaround
• Took initiative to resolve multiple equipment issues during replacement of all internals of a critical stripping column—enabled safe, timely, and reliable plant startup and operation

Munich, Bavaria, DE

Piloted digital worker tools, originating in Wacker Germany, for use in the Wacker North America region.

• OverviewOversaw daily bio-refining laboratory research. This included laboratory experiments, equipment troubleshooting, and supply purchasing. Collaborated with senior researchers internally and externally. Functioned.
• Managed $23,000 contract (62% of operating budget)—led to subsequent $200,000 contract
• Automated data reporting for lab reactor with Microsoft Excel—qualified new catalyst for pilot plant scale up
• Led flocculation research study to clarify feed streams
• Supervised laboratory experiments, data analysis, and purchasing—increased lab productivity by 100%
• Troubleshot chemical reactor, pump, control schemes, and pH meters—maintained operating efficiency

Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, DE

• OverviewFacilitated capacity expansion of clients’ manufacturing facilities. Assessed existing capacity; generated scope of work for facility retrofit. Contributed to all phases of design: Planning, Programming.
• Designed and issued for construction $4 million of piping and pumps for de-ionized water—met client’s schedule & standards
• Managed four-person design team schedule and technical direction—met aggressive project deadlines
• Led weekly meetings for six months with client to review scope of work, schedule, drawings, specifications, data sheets, change orders, submittals, requests for information (RFI’s)
• Led fluid simulation design for 378,000 sq. ft. facility—quality commended by client and program manager
• Monitored progress against budget for $400,000 seven-month fluid simulation design

• OverviewAnalyzed data from and troubleshot operational issues with laboratory chemical reactor. Accomplishments
• Proactively repaired mass flow meter—saved $50,000 (46% of operating budget)
• Optimized automated data collection—saved $2900
• Conducted lab-scale reactor tests to support pilot plant start-up
• Analyzed flow reactor data (calculated space velocity, mass balance, yield, selectivity)
• Conceived SOP for chemical reactor—increased lab productivity by 67% and prevented potential fatalities

• OverviewTested new product formulations. Conducted storage stability studies. Coordinated studies of product packaging and transportation.Accomplishments
• Improved accuracy of product shelf life—saved $170,000
• Oversaw department transportation testing—saved $30,000

Provo, UT, US

• OverviewTrained new research assistants, developed and documented experimental methods, analyzed experimental data, and wrote SOPs.Accomplishments
• Developed assay for labile vitamins—principal author of manuscript submitted to Journal of Food Quality
• Developed folic acid assay—awarded ORCA Research Grant to improve neonatal health in Mexico
• Trained two new research assistants—increased lab productivity by 200%

Provo, UT, US

Led workshop where 22 Fijians each built their own solar food dryer. Participants came with eagerness and virtually no experience in woodworking or power tools. By the end of the week, each had built their own solar food dryer. This enabled their 22 communities to preserve food in preparation for natural disasters.

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Chemical Engineering

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Food Science