Mike Ratchford Email & Phone Number

Ocean Isle Beach, Nc, Us

Ocean Isle Beach, Nc

Provides consultation to clients in the areas of operational excellence, quality, program/project management, manufacturing and supply chain. Utilizes skills and experience from 36 year career with UTC to assess effectiveness of current processes and practices and identify opportunities for improvement.As Interim Quality Director, I assisted an aerospace, build-to-print, machine shop regain customer special process approval, re-establish Nadcap special process certification, refocus on root cause and corrective action and restructure the quality management system.Performed independent, third party analysis of performance of an undersea control system manufacturer in the areas of product development, manufacturing, supply chain management, and quality.Performed a process maturity assessment of engineering and program management functions at a medical device company and made recommendations for improvement.Led the effort to get the multisite AS9100D certification for an aerospace electronics manufacturer reinstated following a difficult recertification audit which resulted in 36 findings, including 7 major findings. Focus was on coaching for effective root cause analysis and developing robust corrective actions to close all findings and sustain verification audits within a five week time frame.

Working as an independent contractor, led efforts to introduce GPD to the aerospace divisions of a major US corporation and completed pilot project to introduce innovative new approach to project planning in one of their divisions.Performed initial assessment of project management capability for an international manufacturer of farm and construction equipment. Initiated implementation of GPD"s proprietary process for planning complex projects.Conducted several senior level seminars on System Design principles and practices for major industrial equipment supplier.Conducted assessment of the product data management system, including development, deployment and analysis of a user survey, for a major industrial equipment supplier with the goal of reducing cycle time by 30%. Identified multiple opportunities for improvement.Assisted in the development of product improvements and go-to-market strategies for the Project Design process and the Teamport tools that support it.

Goldsboro, North Carolina Area

Engaged by AAR Cargo Systems as a consultant to provide technical leadership and day-to-day direction for a team of 80+ engineers developing an advanced cargo handling system for a military cargo aircraft. System includes electromechanical equipment with distributed electronic control utilizing CAN Bus technology. Responsibilities include mentoring and coaching young engineering staff, conducting in depth design reviews, reviewing and approving all drawings and documents, overseeing development and qualification test activites and driving root cause/corrective action for problems that arise during development.Worked on site at Airbus Germany the last six months of the assignment. Led team to certification of system for entry into service of the aircraft. Prepared team for CDR of equipment for next level of system capability.

Goldsboro, North Carolina Area

Engaged by AAR Cargo Systems as a consultant to improve the execution of major development program to provide the cargo handling system for the A400M aircraft. Stabilized customer interface, developed financial plan and implemented strategy to bring program to a successful completion. Developing capabilities of program personnel to better plan and execute program activities.

Selected Accomplishments:Project Management:Led 18 month $26M Electronic Manufacturing restructuring project. Closed 3 out of 4 factories, expanded the fourth and built a new facility. Moved 714K hours of work (70% of load), hired 410 employees (48% of workforce) and increased printed circuit board output 5 fold in Puerto Rico facility. Manufacturing: I led the Electronic Manufacturing organization responsible for $350M in annual sales. I increased touch labor productivity 7% annually while reducing customer overdue, reducing capital expenditures and increasing inventory turns.Quality: I was responsible for Quality and Lean/Six Sigma across all Hamilton Sundstrand sites worldwide. Cost of Quality 50% reduction ($100M) Customer Escapes 28% reduction Supplier Escapes 50% annual reductionLed the effort to consolidate and simplify the QMS following the merger of Hamilton Standard and Sundstrand to form Hamilton Sundstrand. Developed a common, AS/EN9100 compliant QMS for some 80 sites world wide.I led development and deployment of UTC version of Six Sigma, Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE). Similar to the Danaher Business System, ACE has been credited with driving a tenfold improvement in shareholder value, inventory and free cash flow

Ms, Management

Msee, Electronics Design

Bee, Electrical Engineering