Libby Howell Email & Phone Number

United States

Purchasing Manager / USA MPS Program Manager: WSP USA Inc., Ephrata PA Managed a $12 million, multi-vendor, National MPS (Managed Print Services) – Follow-me Print Program for an international, multi-million-dollar, design-build firm. Worked with multiple vendor programs to identify and provide all required reprographic devices (e.g., MFD’s, Plotters, Scanners, Printers, etc.), consumables, on-site staff, and off-site reprographic services for AEC and Administrative business partners. Developed KPI’s and SLA’s to evaluate and track vendors’ performance, and worked with vendors to reduce non-conformance issues. Worked with IT, Administrative Services, and Facilities, continuously, on projects to relocate offices, update IT systems, and refresh fleets of reprographic devices to meet ever-changing requirements and environment. ● Developed a robust MPS system with cost-recovery program, generating $3 million, annually, in reimbursable costs.● Realized sustainable, annual savings of 36% over previous non-MPS environment.

Ephrata, Pa

Established autonomous purchasing / procurement department responsible for sourcing raw ingredients and packaging components required for production. Analyzed category spends by reviewing / consolidating suppliers. Worked with production and warehouse to achieve required inventory levels in cost-efficient manner. Developed KPI's to track suppliers' performance and analyzed methods to reduce non-conformance. Saved $130,000 by annualizing volume of single raw ingredient purchase; saved additional $27,000 by arranging weekly back-haul delivery schedule of raw ingredient to accommodate plant production schedule.

Responsibilities included evaluating, sourcing, establishing and managing all manufacturing and co-packing operations in NA to better serve our NA customers; and to mirror the existing manufacturing platform utilized in Europe observed on several trips to Switzerland. Handled international SCM and logistics functions. Served as liaison among five Swiss business units, M Industry NA (USA and Canada) sales teams, manufacturers, co-packers, warehousing suppliers and customers. Created prototypes and specifications for manufacturing and pricing; developed KPI's allowing for supplier assessments; performed all project management for manufacturing, and print production management for product launches, shipper display programs, and packaging requirements. Sourced all components required for manufacturing / co-packing processes; facilitated testing and QA on components and formulas / finished products. Facilitated and chaired several meetings with international partners to analyze, trouble-shoot and resolve production and distribution issues. Created international SCM / Logistics databases and compiled binders detailing every customer, every product, each shipper display program, and all production and distribution contacts and procedures. Binders were distributed to twelve partners in three countries. Coordinated communications between vendors, clients, and distributors; managed clearance of customs and FDA documentation to coordinate incoming shipments of product; managed all aspects of launch fulfillments to distributors (from product receipt to production, assembly and transport of displays); managed documentation, production and fulfillment of all required retail display shippers, POP, literature and trade show event materiel.

Specified, sourced and managed all print production projects including literature, shipper displays, prototypes and advertising specialties. Functioned as lead for three customer trade shows; formalized agreements and rentals; managed fabrication of booth components and printed materials; represented customer at trade shows. Evaluated and managed all vendors; performed on-press color approvals; and created PO's for every purchase. Created specifications and managed sourcing, estimating, manufacturing / printing / decorating of new cosmetic product launch bottles and related literature. Created specifications and secured pricing for apparel launch; as well as for POP Shipper Display.

Specified, sourced and managed 50 to 75 critical-color / product-match print production projects per week. Developed color "footprint" for color consistency to be used by all contracted printers. Traveled across US and Canada to perform on-press sheet and web color approvals. Responsible for every production and purchasing aspect of all major marketing catalogs for FPO (Floor Products Operation); as well as corporate initiatives and Annual Report. Developed processes and procedures for Digital Asset Management program, National Ad program, Large Format Digital Photography program, and FTP Protocol program. Saved $500,000 per year by writing and compiling Label Substrate and Adhesive Specifications manual to prevent production of unusable, improperly labeled retail flooring samples. Achieved savings of $250,000 by developing in-house stock program based upon consistent stock specifications being used for all projects; and upon forecasting cyclic periods of need to coordinate with mill production schedule. Received Manager's Award for each process and procedure project developed and initiated.

Developed new business accounts including Central Park Conservancy and Siemens, in addition to maintaining and growing existing account base. Consulted with clients, developed specifications, analyzed and presented pricing; performed on-press color approvals.

Developed new business accounts including Time-Life / Warner Books; Little, Brown and Company; Armstrong World Industries; CertainTeed / Saint Gobain; and National Audubon Society. Consulted with individuals requiring both creative and technical assistance in print production and project management. Performed random and final color proof evaluations and on-press color approvals for both sheet and web within critical-color / product-match environment.

Established sole-proprietorship printing brokerage servicing major accounts such as Armstrong World Industries, Inc., PHICO (PA Hospital Insurance Company), PSECU (PA State Employees Credit Union), PPOS (Packer, Previc, Osterling & Smith), as well as numerous other accounts. Independently created and initiated no-compete agreements and commission structures with paper distributors, prep and typography houses, printers, fulfillment / warehouse vendors, and transportation companies necessary for completion of workflow. Managed all aspects of business from client consultation to invoice generation and PO reconciliations. Presented lecture on maximizing cost-saving efficiencies on print projects at national convention of professional insurance marketing communication managers in Sante Fe, NM, at the request of PHICO. Received Addy's and Franklin Awards for excellence in printing. Awarded certificate from Fasson (international pressure-sensitive substrate manufacturer) for most creative use of product.