Mark Copeland Email & Phone Number

Greater Cleveland

I am an operations and product development leader with expertise in delivering quality consumer products. An effective communicator who uses participative team leadership, I have a record of implementing creative solutions to complex problems. Currently seeking a career opportunity.Let's connect here on LinkedIn or by email at markcopelandus@yahoo.com

Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area

Managed all aspects of the Quality program for ~ SKU’s and $700M in sales. Managed $2.5 million departmental budget. Direct reports include 6 Quality Engineers, a Quality Analysis and incoming inspection supervisor with 8 inspectors at 3 DC locations. • Developed a participatory design review and evaluation with risk analysis improving product quality at launch reducing returns and providing a systematic method to review know risks• Initiate and drive “voice of the customer” inputs / feedback into the new product development process during early toll gates assuring confidence in the Marketing Requirements. Reduced Hoover Brand returns 22% the last 3 years by multi-directional approach including product design improvements, reacting to VOC, and reducing field issues via “Quality” / “HIT” Teams.• Improved data mining and evaluation including product tear downs, service part usage, social media, receiving inspections and consumer service. This resulted in improved designs and establishment of best practices.• Drove, supported and led global initiatives including BIQ (Built In Quality) and training of Suzhou Quality Engineers driving OEM improvement. • Automated Corrective Action Requests in Oracle. Established a point scoring system for critical, major and minor defects while highlighting defect types (missing / assembly) at each OEM driving focus and improvements.

Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area

• Annually reviewed 40-50 product designs and manufacturing processes identifying potential failure modes and safety concerns. • Identified Quality trends by data mining finished good audits, web site reviews, customer returns and consumer service reports. • Managed corrective actions and implement a verification method including auditing and product inspections ensuring the same and similar type of defects were corrected for future shipments.• Certified product compliance to CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) and ASTM industry standards as well as international standards.• Evaluated 20 Pacific Rim and 30 domestic vendors and provided a “Quality” scorecard.• Assured testing of 25 product prototypes and 40 new product pilot samples annually utilizing playgroups, daycares, in-home, and laboratory testing. Communicated results and initiated design changes necessary based on the testing.

Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area

Managed and led teams consisting of 3 U.S. Product Development Engineers, 2 Product Designers, 3 Asia Project Managers, and a Quality Engineer. Responsible for product categories generating $50 million with a capital and expense budget of $3 million.• Team developed 15 domestic and 25 China sourced products annually. • Developed cost efficient and effective engineering designs with a fast to market schedule and compliance with performance and safety expectations. • Reviewed designs for failure modes and performed ANSYS analysis verifying the designs.• Regularly communicated to the Executive Team information on timelines, costs, financials, and overall category performance.• Met major product development milestones such as, Concept, Preliminary Design, Capital Appropriation Requests, Tool Launch and Production Start.• Thorough knowledge of toy industry, specific categories, competition, and participated in shaping marketing strategies through Product Development Reviews with Design and Marketing.• Reduced product development timelines, costs, and capital dollars while maintaining quality. • Kept up to date with new technologies, new materials and additives, engineering designs, mold designs and molding techniques.• Directed and led Product Engineers with fast and accurate cost estimates, bid packs with product performance objectives, ProE Models, quality standards, schedules and cost targets.• Assured testing of prototypes and pilot samples utilizing playgroups, daycares, in-home, and laboratory testing. Communicate results and initiate any design changes necessary based on the testing.

Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area

Managed a factory, 15 -20 production lines, 3 supervisors and 125 hourly associates in a 24 – 7 operation. Designed and implemented fixtures and equipment automating and improving the reliability of the manufacturing process. Reduced product costs through value engineering initiatives such as new processes, materials, and reducing defects and scrap.• Led quality improvement initiatives through Kaizen and CEDAC events Team developed 15 domestic and 25 China sourced products annually.• Implemented 5S and “Visual Factory” in the manufacturing facility• Increased productivity, labor efficiency by 5%• Reduced OSHA recordable incident rate 40%.• Increased schedule attainment form 89% to 96 %• Performed all duties of Lean Manufacturing Engineering including fixture design, material handling, routing, one piece flow, poke yokes and line balancing..• Responsible for launching new and existing products at International sites. • Work as a Leader with Customer Service, Design, Marketing, Operations, Purchasing, Packaging, Quality and the China team identifying needed quality improvements.