Stephen Pruitt Email and Phone Number

Assist in overseeing areas of the Jackson quality management system as well as managing direct reports. Responsible for educating and training others on quality principles and providing guidance and assistance to engineers, quality technicians and managers. Assist in development and revision of quality policies, procedures, and quality system instructions. Establishing and maintaining a corporate-wide corrective action system to measure and improve quality in all areas where deficiencies have been identified. Created quality acuity testing for onboarding of new quality technicians as well as created an advanced quality training program to help current quality technicians progress in their development levels.

Responsible for overall production and quality performance for my assigned area. Served as manufacturing team lead in multiple cross-functional improvement teams. Served as primary representative for car line Trim & Chassis Warranty team, investigated warranty concerns in order to implement solid countermeasures for defect elimination. Successfully improved overall first run rate in regards to missing/ wrong parts, electrical connection issues and squeak & rattle concerns.

Managed and directed all quality assurance operations for auto seating programs including production standards, productivity, budget, safety, customer satisfaction & training. Standardized and implemented plant's quality control systems to comply w/ customer-specific regulations & represented customer internally to ensure agreement. Conducted, reviewed & analyzed internal quality audits to include review & analysis of compliance w/ safety regulations for auto seating components. Evaluated product, process design, and manufacturing problems to determine corrective actions. Ensured plant quality readiness (PPAP, APQP & Safe Launch processes) were achieved by plant's program teams during new program launch. Managed Quality Steering System process & external customer quality score card.

I ensured that quality assurance operational objectives were achieved by contributing information and analysis to strategic plans; preparing and completing action plans; implementing production, quality, productivity, and customer-service standards; identifying and resolving problems; completing audits; determining system improvements; implementing change. I maintained and improved product quality by completing vehicle, company, system, compliance, and surveillance audits while collaborating with all levels of management to develop new manufacturing training methods. I lead cross-functional teams using the Nissan V-Up problem solving methods to address quality issues within the plant.

I was accountable for managing total quality operations for my designated shift. I ensured that all departmental and company goals were met through quality, cost, delivery, and safety goals for assigned zones. I contributed to building brand value and achieving enduring profitable growth. I served as a trainer and mentor to the supervisors in the quality department in order to meet staff development goals.

I managed a workgroup of 35 quality assurance inspectors while providing guidance, leadership and motivation to ensure productivity and quality goals were achieved. I developed and adjusted manpower as well as job layouts due to changes in the line speed and production requirements. I maintained and updated all inspection documentation such as standard operation sheets, process sheets and employee training records.I investigated all safety and ergonomic issues that occurred within my workgroup and verified implementation of countermeasures put in place due to quality outflow such as warranty concerns. I ensured and maintained ISO9001 and ISO14001 compliance documents that were related to the quality assurance department. I controlled my workgroup's operating supply usage in order to maintain adherence to budget and I monitored my inspector's defect judgement and detection skills through daily inspection audits.Successes have included helping develop a web based callback system for quick notification of repeat defects from manufacturing zones; gathering data and providing quality feedback for the implementation of a vision imaging system used to verify exterior options on 5 different vehicle models. Through benchmarking efforts with our Japanese counterparts, I played an important role in acquiring a state of the art Zebra lighting inspection booth for the vehicle quality assurance department at the Canton automotive plant.

Trained Vehicle Quality Inspectors in the areas of inspection techniques and global quality standards. Developed training schedules and created power point presentations for new classes. I developed online classes through Nissan Virtual Academy that are still being used to this day to train new vehicle quality inspectors at the Canton Nissan manufacturing plant.

Served as a squad leader in the 113th Military Police Company. As a Military Police Officer and Staff Sergeant I was responsible for the successful development of the team leaders and soldiers that were assigned to me. I developed training outlines and trained my soldiers to prepare them for real-world emergencies and possible deployments abroad. I served as my unit's Unit Prevention Leader and my duties included: administering my units biochemical-testing program; assisting in the briefing of all new unit personnel regarding the Army Substance Abuse Program policies and services; developing, coordinating, and delivering informed prevention education and training to my unit; advised and assisted my command on all matters pertaining to the ASAP.During my time in the Mississippi Army National Guard I was deployed overseas on three separate occasions.- (2003) Uzbekistan/ Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom- (2007) Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom- (2011) Kuwait in support of Operation New Dawn