Kris Hedstrom Email & Phone Number

Lexington, KY, US

Old Saybrook, CT, US

• Filled a newly created leadership role for this manufacturer of custom machined products, vacuum chambers, and related components for semiconductor processing equipment.
• Executing a strategy to reduce labor, improve productivity, and increase quality by implementing automation and re-engineering processes to utilize the technology appropriately.
• Transitioning tribal production knowledge to fully documented BOMs and Methods within an Epicor ERP and SolidWorks environment.

• Leads vision, strategy, and execution for all facets of operations for this manufacturer of thermoplastic valves and controls for corrosive and ultra-pure liquids, with full P&L accountability for facilities in New.
• Outstanding results, modernizing manufacturing facilities and operations to bolster quality and efficiency toward world-class standards.
• Eliminated a second shift in the machine shop through the adoption of automated solutions, enabling an immediate 20% reduction in labor.
• Deployed an ERP-based multi-bin solution that lowered the warehouse footprint by 40%.
• Positioned the company as an industry leader and innovation, launching new valve product lines that included ultra-pure shut off pressure regulators and HDPE valves for sodium hydrochloride applications.

• Recruited to oversee the operations of a highly-automated manufacturing facility for this producer of tamper-evident, tamper-resistant, high-security loss prevention seals and associated products, with full P&L.
• Within three months of joining the company, spearheaded a broad restructuring and process improvements that increased monthly revenue and productivity by over 20%.
• Orchestrated and executed automation and capital projects that expanded capacity by 40% while substantially improving quality and lowering production costs.
• Introduced Gen III automation technology, improving production speed by 25% and positioning CSS as the low-cost, highest quality producer in their market.
• Created a fully-automated injection molding cell for the production of security seal components capable of producing over 300 million pieces annually.
• Worked with the organization to frame a quality system to achieve ISO900:2015 certification.

Clifton, New Jersey, US

• Established a top engineering team from the ground up at a contract manufacturer of plastic, metal, and ceramic injection molding components for aerospace, defense, medical and industrial sectors.
• Planned and executed projects focusing on R&D, new product development, tooling, and capital improvements, serving as the foundation for 300% growth in the metal injection molding business in 2015.
• Served as the architect of a fabrication process concept that was critical to the win of a $1M DOTC project for a new 40mm grenade for the United States Army.
• Contributed additional service and expertise directing the operations of Polmold Tool & Die, a separately-owned captive Tool & Die shop.

Lexington, KY, US

• Advanced from an initial role as Industrial Design Manager to Director of Marketing after three months.
• As Industrial Design Manager, served as a key resource for groundbreaking and innovative product design, including an award-winning line of LED high bay lights that accelerated penetration into Industrial markets.
• As Marketing Director, effectively managed the Advertising, Creative, and Product Management teams. Created and launched direct and print media campaigns that surpassed lead targets and served as the basis for three.

Deland, Florida, US

• Supervised the engineering team at this leading manufacturer of metal injection molding and precision components to the Medical, Dental, Electronics, Military, and Commercial markets. Maintained a scope of.
• Increased product releases by over 100% delivering 28% top line revenue growth from FY11 to FY12 while implementing improvements to increase EBITDA by 114%.
• Increased first pass yield to 95% and reduced quality rejections by 41% through the creation of a dedicated cross-functional continuous improvement team.

Addlestone, Surrey, GB

• A division of Sydney-based Brambles, CHEP is the global leader in pallet and container pooling services with operations in 45 countries and $2.5B+in revenues.
• Managed global wood pallet product engineering team and CHEP’s industry-leading innovation center facility and staff, including providing development and validation services internationally.

Benton Harbor, Michigan, US

• Maytag is a premier manufacturer of high quality household and commercial appliances.
• Managed staff of mechanical, electrical and materials engineers with responsibility for all design activities from concept to volume production for Maytag’s Shingo Award winning Lean Manufacturing dishwasher facility.
• Built an advanced technology department for the dishwasher group that collaborated with marketing, brands, and senior management to create and execute dishwasher product plans.

Co-founder of a full-service, award-winning product design firm providing industrial design, mechanical engineering, analysis, tool design and manufacturing.