Robert Krouse Email & Phone Number

Wixom Mi

• Empowered technicians to manage lab material inventory, design custom test fixtures, perform scheduling and participate in test issue root cause analysis, improving test efficiency and test station utilization by 10% and annual budget by 15%• Developed test procedures for accessory part designs, leading to new product offerings of liquid transfer tanks, spare tire carrier and power side step, plus bike rack quality improvements• Chaired SAE task forces creating variable load hitch fatigue test up to 20k trailer rating and improving gooseneck and 5th wheel hitch test protocol, increasing industry standardization• Planned and implemented lab expansion (4th test station) and introduced 3-axis variable load hitch testing required for some OEM programs, multiple sample reliability testing, increased system testing and improved finite element analysis capability• Researched regulations, liability and existing Intellectual Property (IP) for acquisitions, facilitating introduction of liquid transfer tanks, warnings for hitch products, adherence to CA Prop 65 and decisions to pursue companies based upon IP• Established and executed corporate performance evaluation process clarifying requirements and quantifying benefits of new load isolating trailer hitch components• Created sales quotes with Engineering and Manufacturing inputs on multiple trailer hitch and harness projects, winning bids to increase margin 3 to 8 points over prior offerings; operated as primary contact point for sales, engineering and quality issues facilitating full team involvement with customers

Warren Mi

Trailering Engineer/Trailer Hitch Subject Matter Expert, General Motors, Warren MI, 26 years• Led proving ground, test lab and CAE personnel to develop hitch durability test from public road load data to correlated proving ground schedule to lab schedule with scalable calculated loads• Developed corporate strategies for all factory-installed trailer hitch designs; replacing/eliminating bumper structure; trucks and SUVs mounted below frame rails and crossover models telescoping into body rails• Formulated trailer rating methodology for GM North American market vehicles and coordinated with propulsion, thermal management, dynamics and structure engineers• Authored internal and external trailering literature; conducted trailering education and seminars for GM engineers and managers, journalists, related industry professionals and trailering public• Represented corporation on several SAE committees and task forces, including SAE Trailer Committee and Trailer Hitch, 5th Wheel/Gooseneck, Trailer Dynamics and Trailer Terminology Task Forces• Initiated and chaired SAE Tow Vehicle Trailer Rating Committee; creator and primary author of SAE J2807, Performance Requirements for Determining Tow-Vehicle Gross Combination Weight Rating and Trailer Weight Rating• Managed team of engineers from competitor companies and industry organizations with expertise in propulsion, thermal performance and vehicle dynamics to produce a comprehensive set of trailering requirements• 2010 SAE Technical Standards Board Outstanding Contribution Award• GM-Internal Intellectual Property Awards: Test Method, 2009, Step Bumper Drop Hitch, 2013 and Robust Hitch Receiver Attachment, 2014

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering