Rick Fernstrom - Mba, Me Email & Phone Number

The Aroplax Advantage is founded on 75 years of experience in high-quality mold design, material selection, and injection molding solutions. Aroplax provides plastic injection molding solutions including over molding and insert molding. Our injection molding machines range from 55 to 720 tons and are equipped with robotic automation for the most efficient production of quality parts.

Lead production, master scheduling, capital equipment (3,200 trailers/year, sales $58 MM/yr.)• Increased trailer unit production throughput by 47% since August 2021• Increased trailer sales invoice $’s by 56% YOY through 2023• Reduced order backlog from $60 MM to $14 MM over 18 months• Reduced production lead-time by 50% with improved flow • Trained and implemented 6s plantwide practices

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

Airmo Inc. is a global supplier focused on the design and manufacture of systems and tools for hydrostatic testing, end forming, tube expansion, and high-pressure components and accessories with pressures up to 60,000 psi (4,137 bar). Products are engineered to customer specification and application requirements. Airmo serves the aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, HVAC, mobile equipment, nuclear, oil and gas, subsea, and tube and pipe manufacturing industries.For more information, please visit our website at www.airmo.com

Ramsey, Mn, Us

Custom coins and medallions to enhance the professional image of organizations, custom name badges, stamps and interior signage. Wendell’s provides the highest quality products, made in the U.S.A., with unsurpassed customer service.

Ramsey, Mn, Us

Accountable for leading production supervision, on-time delivery, quality, safety, and organizational focus on managing orders, cost, and waste. Implement processes and methodologies to drive change including 6S and Lean. Direct a manufacturing engineering and operations team, establishing renewed focus on production improvement, quality, and safety. Achieved buy-in with leadership to focus on promoting change throughout the facility in alignment with business objectives and output goals. Delivered on improvements within first month including greatly reducing past due orders.Successes:Prioritized customer orders utilizing Theory of Constraint (TOC) with focus on improving delivery timeframes to drive greater output. Identified bottlenecks and reallocated labor to reduce delays consistently focusing on continuous improvement.Implemented KPI’s including on-time delivery in order to utilize data to identify operational improvements. Executed metrics to focus on major areas including delivery, performance, and quality.Mapped manufacturing processes to analyze flow with focus on improving throughput and reducing lead times.

Eden Valley, Minnesota, Us

Led a team of 73 and 7 direct reports throughout Production, Quality, Purchasing, Manufacturing Engineering, and Customer Service for a small coatings organization. Oversight of 2 facilities in the Midwest and managed the start up of a 3rd operation.Focused on improving throughput, reducing past due, and driving greater capacity to align with organizational growth objectives. Successes:Identified and improved capacity constraints, reduced waste, and improved utilization of facility and cost. Implemented purchasing procurement processes with focus on competitive pricing and supplier reviews, resulting in greater relationships and improved negotiation power.Led the opening of a 3rd plant, successfully managing the large-scale initiative and completing within schedule.

Maple Plain, Mn, Us

Responsible for leading business unit management, capital equipment, and Lean implementation for a small custom plastics manufacturer. Successes:Implemented process improvements to drive greater production delivery, quality, cost reductions, productivity, and efficiency. Achieved 96%+ operational improvement for on time delivery within 5 months and significantly reduced operating costs in 3 months. Executed scrap review process, and reduced waste scrapping costs by 41%.Led VOC focus to analyze customer complaint root cause and corrective actions to drive greater customer experience and satisfaction.

Directed a team of 80 and 8 direct reports overseeing quality, manufacturing engineering, purchasing, and HR. Accountable for facility operations, capital equipment, and product start-up for a mid-sized agricultural equipment manufacturer. Successes:Oversaw the launch of three new product offerings, successfully driving customer interest through the expansion of the manufacturing product portfolio. Converted manufacturing from batch to one-piece flow using weld, paint, and assembly kitting processes. Reduced past due orders to on-time within a few months through improved operational processes.Designed and implemented a Customer Quality Audit process to advance product quality and customer satisfaction.

Holdingford, Minnesota, Us

Managed three union facilities producing liquid and dry bulk trailers, leading a large indirect team of 640 and 6 direct reports. Implemented Lean and 6S to increase operational efficiency and output.Successes:Exceeded manufacturing goals through the improvement of operations to deliver on increased demand.Oversaw negotiations with multiple unions at the three facilities, driving positive outcomes for the organization and employees.Drafted and established preferred supplier agreements to improve costs and availability.

West Fargo, Nd, Us

Accountable for leading a team of 4 and 210 indirect reports throughout two non-union facilities running on three shifts. Drove operational excellence and successfully achieved positioning as one of the most efficient facilities throughout the country for Bobcat Company (part of Ingersoll-Rand).Successes:Increased manufacturing product portfolio with new products and in-sourcing for the Bobcat Company.Transitioned manufacturing processes from batch to one-piece flow, implementing kitting processes.Navigated and successfully campaigned against and defeated an attempt to unionize one of the Midwest facilities.Previous Experience:Plant Manager at Schlage Lock (Ingersoll-Rand)Manufacturing Superintendent at Torrington Company (Ingersoll-Rand)Operations Manager at Electrolux Home ProductsCorporate Quality, Transportation, and Manufacturing Manager at Snyder Industries

Bachelor Of Engineering - Be, Mechanical Engineering

Master Of Business Administration - (Mba) - Operations Management