Norbert Auffarth Email & Phone Number

Dortmund, NRW, DE

Irving, Texas, US

o Directly managed Facility Operations, Process Engineering, Plant Engineering, Quality and EHS departments while working in close cooperation with the local Supply Chain and Purchasing Managers to achieve build- and annual business plan commitments. o Performed facility gap analysis to adhere to federal and corporate security, safety and environmental.

Irving, Texas, US

• Strategic Activities - Highlightso Ensure execution of the PQVC plan for the facility during the transition yearo Re-evaluate Tariff positions and develop new job descriptions to ensure competitive wage structure for.

Irving, Texas, US

• Responsible Manager for the Cost-, Quality- and Product Support Department
• Development of a profitability maximisation plan for the wheel excavator business Plan successfully launched and executed by entire business unit including Grenoble operations Implemented cost reduction database and.
• Development of a three year quality improvement plan to achieve benchmark quality levels for WEX NPI quality processes Continuous Product Improvement activities (Field Issues) Assembly Quality Current WEX quality.
• Development of a business proposal to manufacture WEX in Asia Developed assembly strategy using CXL and Korean contract manufacturer Developed assembly layout in order to achieve required cycle times and cost.

Irving, Texas, US

• Development of a business model for the manufacturing and assembly of industrial and material handling type excavators
• Detailed factory layout planning under the principles of the Caterpillar Production System (CPS)
• Optimum site selection based on PUGH criteria
• Negotiations with local governments for government grants

Irving, Texas, US

• Introduction of Caterpillar Production System (CPS) to WEX business
• Developed model for order-to-delivery WEX value stream mapping in cooperation with CPSD (WEX Forefront)
• Created MGPP to achieve PQVC targets until 2012 and reached project buy-in of all parties involved
• Lead international project team to adhere to MGPP and drive timely project closure

Irving, Texas, US

• Responsible for wheeled excavator assembly operations (140 employees, 10 direct reports)
• Coordinated operator hiring activity to support aggressive ramp-up schedule (1850 units during first year)
• Defined operator training needs and developed training plan
• Established assembly teams by build stage and developed team leader structure
• Coordinated dealer mechanic/supplier on-site support during ramp-up phase to ensure satisfactory machine quality level
• Coordinated quality issue resolution and trained foremen and quality personnel on WEX product

Irving, Texas, US

• On-site product group representative during transition of WEX assembly activity from joint venture partner in Germany to Caterpillar France operations
• Introduction of Caterpillar France and ML&T staff to WEX (suppliers, components, product details, WEX organization, WEX dealers/customers) – Transfer of business know-how
• Supported/coordinated purchasing/logistics activity ensuring material availability for first pilot builds and production ramp-up
• Supported assembly line design and installation of equipment
• Facilitated/conducted operator training for first machine builds

Irving, Texas, US

• Responsible for world wide product support of wheeled excavators
• Managed multi-national group of 8-10 permanent and temporary staff (service engineers, field follow engineers, CPI Blackbelts)
• Field introduction of C-Series WEX (NPI spike resolution within one build quarter)
• Introduction of Continuous Product Improvement initiative including metrics, resolution team setup and implication of entire WEX organization
• Introduction of regular quality reviews and plant change request system with joint venture operations partner (improved quality metrics and cooperation between parties)

Irving, Texas, US

• Responsible for world wide product support of wheeled excavators >18 ton
• Dealer/customer support (On-/Off-site machine trouble shooting, commercial issue management with dealers and area offices, component failure analysis, dealer trainings)
• NPI Product support consultant (Introduction of disciplined issue management with engineering group, documentation of quality/performance issues on prototype and pre-production machines, coordinator for timely issue.

Irving, Texas, US

• Member of the BHL section in machine test & development
• Planning and Execution of Machine Tests and Data Analysis
• Responsibility for development of cab components / operator interface
• Prototype/Pilot Field Follow Activity

Irving, Texas, US

• Member of the BHL Engineering Department
• Design responsibilities for several cab and control components
• NPI process involvement through design projects
• Current product support
• Assembly line support

Birtley, Co Durham, GB

Internship as design engineer in partfulfilment of Engineering Masters Degree at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.-Design of a dozer blade for a wheeled excavator-Prototype build and test-Preparation for production-Presentation at BAUMA 1998

• Trained in machining (tooling machines – manual/CNC)
• Trained in welding
• Trained in hydraulics
• Trained in assembly of construction equipment
• Examination with certificate