Michael Ritter Email & Phone Number

Champaign, Illinois, US

Champaign, Illinois, US

• Oversight and management of global Supply Chain functions, including 3 regional DC’s (USA, Germany, Belgium), Procurement & Sourcing located across 6 countries, and 300+ Team Members
• Rapid ramp up of Global Supply Chain Daily Management System (DMS) allowing daily communications across all end to end supply chain functions. Increased visibility into performance, issues, root cause concerns and.
• Developed standard Negotiations Training tools for organization and sponsored or led 10 training sessions across the organization. This training is now incorporated into Blount’s leadership training program, BLT2.
• Quickly responded to USA trade actions including Section 301 (China import tariff), Section 232 (Global steel & aluminum tariffs) and countering retaliatory tariffs. Developed strategies and petitioned for tariff.
• Rolled out First Sale duty & tariff practices on imports from China resulting in >$.5M annual savings
• Led Procurement Savings Initiative to identify and drive incremental savings by leveraging expanded company and functional resources, annual ideation sessions and use of procurement tools, inflation management, and.

Memphis, TN, US

• Total oversight and management of global operations staff (185 headcount), including a 1MM sq. ft. distribution center and a China based sourcing, engineering and quality operation. Regular Board of Director’s.
• Led reconfigured DC layout and picking strategy resulting in >15% labor productivity improvement, and reduction in operating expenses. Utility reduction alone saved $85k/year.
• Implemented Entech labor management software and transaction standards to measure employee productivity and assist in coaching staff. Program resulted in 15% reduction in required labor.
• Achieved WERC certification status in the DC; completed >300 process audits at or near Best in Class status.
• Conducted ongoing analysis of internal vs. external distribution operations. Developed options for an underutilized 1MM sq. ft. DC, resulting in the contracting of 3PL and outsourcing returns processing, a $250k.
• Developed and led strategic sourcing initiative, resulting in an upgraded China team, roll-out of global manufacturing landscape, audit and award of business to expanded supply base, and 2.5% annual savings.

Memphis, TN, US

• Developed strategy, planned and executed China office and staff development. Positioned China design engineering, sourcing and quality resources closer to suppliers, increasing effectiveness and reducing costs.
• Oversaw total China operations teams, resulting in improved internal and supplier performance.
• Formed global quality management team challenged with implementing best-in-class supplier management processes and procedures. Improved supplier performance and achieved 20% warranty reduction.
• Developed and executed annual supplier performance reviews, score cards, and supplier forums in China allowing suppliers to provide insight to Hunter and other suppliers on changes made to improve performance.
• Increased use of performance measurement tools in call center, improving call speed, percent of calls handled vs. abandoned, and improved detail and accuracy of consumer call failure data.
• Analyzed an offshoring call center to reduce cost, resulting in a decision to stay internal due to seasonality.

Memphis, TN, US

• Responsible for transformation of Hunter supply base to lower cost countries & sources of supply.
• Recruited and hired operational staff in China – including US expatriate, project engineers and quality team – to assist in development, measurement and performance monitoring of supply base.
• Completed supplier landscape analysis for each product category to prioritize movements in supply base.
• Transitioned entire Hunter supply base from higher cost Taiwan and Thailand suppliers to lower total cost factories in China. Leveraged volume to transfer tooling costs to suppliers, while still retaining ownership and.
• Authored and executed formal supply contracts with all suppliers, including ability to push back penalties for non-compliance with Hunter and customer requirements. Improved cash flow by securing an increase of 20 days.

Atlanta, GA, US

• Directed Sunbeam Hong Kong resources including sourcing, design and program engineering, quality engineering and audit, supplier development and office administration. Total spend ≈ $300MM across all brands.
• Introduced Six Sigma tools to eight Hong Kong staff and key suppliers, resulting in a total of $1.5MM in project savings within 3 months as tools were utilized.
• Developed and implemented “Supplier Expectations Manual”, encompassing supplier quality, audit, certification, and performance monitoring of all primary Sunbeam suppliers.
• Developed quality management plan to support Wal-Mart licensing of the Sunbeam brand on a series of low-cost gas and charcoal grills launched in 2001.
• Identified >150 small electrical products presented to Wal-Mart to support its good/better/best strategy in 2000. Project highlighted Sunbeam’s sourcing and quality team in identifying available, off-the-shelf designs.

Atlanta, GA, US

• Led team of nine commodity and contract managers. Total annualized purchasing responsibility of >$300MM and achieved first year savings >$12MM.
• Developed cross-business unit commodity teams and negotiated contracts for company-wide lowest cost opportunities. Tactical purchasing decisions executed at the factory level.
• Completed standardized procurement policy and procedures manual that included purchasing guidelines, ethical policy, commitment policy, supplier qualification and certification, standard purchasing agreement, and other.
• Managed company-wide year 2000 supplier readiness review, including actions for high-risk suppliers.

Atlanta, GA, US

• Led the transition of thirty five product lines from internal manufacturing to lower cost Asian appliance manufacturers. Consolidated four manufacturing facilities to two, and reduced headcount by 2000.
• Managed a project implementation team of twenty cross-functional members, including finance, purchasing, materials, design engineering, quality, manufacturing engineering, and industrial engineering.
• Developed and managed a $62MM expense and capital budget and completed project within budget.
• Achieved annual savings of $50MM.

Atlanta, GA, US

• Managed a $90MM corporate commodity base with focus on outside fabricated metals - die-castings, stampings. Also included power cords, lead-wire, resistance wire, terminals, and connectors.
• Negotiated $8.5MM in cost savings over twelve months.
• Developed and implemented corporate-wide procurement policies and manual.