Melissa Downs Email & Phone Number

Santa Ana, Ca, Us

Santa Ana, Ca, Us

Santa Ana, Ca, Us

Liverpool, New York, Us

Led cross functional team comprised of sales, supply chain, contracts, operations, engineering and quality in a dynamic aerospace and defense environment. P&L responsibility and ERP transition experience. Responsibilities included: Contract Negotiation, Proposal Preparation, Business Development, Customer Relationships, Annual Business Planning, Sales and Operations Planning, Corporate Reporting.

Led supply chain group though transition to publicly held company, realigning the department to increase focus on productivity and cost reduction. Assumed added responsibility for Supplier Quality Engineering and Receiving Inspection, driving supplier capability projects to significantly reduce inspection while ensuring quality remained at consistently high levels. Championed and led departmental and discretionary budget process, developing tools for tracking, analysis, and negotiations. Supply Chain and Materials lead for ERP selection and implementation team, leveraging cross functional experience to promote efficient business process design. Managed planning, shipping and receiving, and inventory groups, focusing efforts on Improving Corporate KPIs and On-Time Delivery and Operational Efficiency.

Led purchasing and supplier development group; oversaw sourcing plans and conducted major LTA negotiations. Developed supply base strategy, monitored performance, risk and future business needs. Executed strategy to reduce cost, improve quality, and meet delivery performance and align the base to the company’s business plan. Aligned the department to support NPI; provided business tools and mentored department members in quote development, concurrent engineering, product development, sub-contract management, and quality issue prevention. Developed standard work metrics for accountability through visual management and challenged individuals to execute lean improvement projects; drove system improvements including establishment of a portal.Completed special project as Program Manager CSP Actuation to develop a business case for a new product for the solar industry and assess market viability through the product realization process.

Managerial responsibility grew to 30 engineers and inspectors, led shift to continual improvement focus, center point for customer quality issues. Spearheaded cross functional initiatives resulting in Scrap and Rework and warranty reduction. Streamlined and automated the defect management system, implemented 8-D corrective action process, led design and prevention reviews for new product line.

Initiated successful Supplier Development Program, including strategic supply category analysis, scorecards, training documents, integrated supplier program, and visit audit template.

Dearborn, Michigan, Us

Car Vehicle Center All Wheel Drive Systems Engineer: Championed company-wide strategy to commonize AWD (All Wheel Drive) systems. Developed supplier rating attributes and led evaluation team of Ford, Mazda, Volvo, and Land Rover AWD experts. Led the complete AWD system design for a new vehicle including the supplier selection processEscape 4x4 & Driveline Engineer: Led the Escape 4x4, Driveline and System Integration Project Management Team. Successfully coordinated five suppliers, marketing, Mazda partners, interfacing component engineers, and logistics for the new system. Obtained additional marketing revenue and implemented significant financial savings to offset the cost of the improved system. Conducted supplier negotiations for pricing and functional agreements. Led 4x4 system and off-road driving development for the Escape and Escape Hybrid Electric VehicleTransit Brake Engineer: Engineered braking systems for the Ford Transit European commercial van starting with the prototype and design phases in Dearborn. Resolved all brake issues for the production launch at the Genk Assembly plant in Belgium. Managed four suppliers in France, England, Belgium, and Spain and led a cross-functional Ford team to deliver over 100 components to support the Ford Transit Product Launch. Ford College Graduate Program: Completed Two-year rotation program for new hires consisting of 4 to 6 month assignments. Initiated and led Exhaust, AWD, and Manual Transmission Project Management Team meetings as part of a six month assignment at Mazda Headquarters in Hiroshima, Japan as a Process Leader for the Escape/Tribute Championed development of the Ford Transit Vehicle Features Description Brochure for dealers. Coordinated Ford participation in the CATEC Autoshow in China.

Master Of Business Administration (M.B.A.)

Bachelor Of Engineering (Be)

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Major: Engineering, Minor: French