Suzanne Conti Email & Phone Number

Portage, Mi

Managed two divisions and 110 employees. Responsible for the strategy and operations of purchasing, planning, forecasting, scheduling, inventory, material handling and shipping, and receiving. Scope included assembly, fabrication, OEM, machining, service parts, and components.• Restructured the Materials Organization for greater efficiency, focus, productivity, customer service, and savings. Reduced headcount by 5% and reallocated headcount to create new roles such as an Inventory Control group. Within 9 months, this new group improved absolute inventory accuracy from 88% to 98%.• Instituted a hybrid KANBAN and MRP system that reduced part shortages by 20% and inventory by 8%. Inventory reductions freed up cash flow and 5,000 sq.ft. of floor space for manufacturing.• Established a 4 year career advancement path to promote staff development and retention. Rotation assignments provided the team with broader subject matter knowledge, campus-wide networking, coaching and mentoring resources. Collaborative campus activities and team building events led to cohesiveness, standardization, and best practice sharing. As a result team members were more engaged and turnover was reduced by 60%.• Achieved 100% compliance in 2 FDA audits of the Materials group.

Orchard Park, Ny

Managed the supply chain organization for a newly acquired company. Responsible for upgrading and integrating the purchasing, scheduling, planning, and forecasting functions at the NY and Puerto Rico facilities.• Set strategy and developed a critical path plan for the integration. Guided the process that met Stryker’s goal for complete integration within one year.• Reversed the growing trend of $1.4M in backorders bringing it down to $0 and consolidated the supply base by 40%, both within the first 4 months. Improved on-time delivery of purchased parts from 65% to 92% eliminating production interruptions.• Ensured full compliance with FDA and ISO regulations. Achieved 100% compliance in FDA audits.• Nominated by my Senior Director for Stryker’s “2011 Performance Excellence Award

Detroit, Mi

Managed a matrix organization to launch 350-400 product changes per year in a $3.8B global corporation.● Championed the corporation’s first global computerized tracking system for product launch with a development cost of only $20k and 3 months. With this new system, 100% of these launches were completed on time and within budget.● Created and chaired both the Purchasing Solutions and the Global Product Launch committees to proactively identify and resolve timing, quality or cost issues.

Detroit, Mi

Responsible for strategic sourcing and general stores for 13 plants in the U.S, Mexico and the U.K.● Restructured and centralized Indirect Materials Purchasing reducing headcount from 25 to 8 in 6 months.• Instituted state-of-the-art supplier on-site commodity management with consigned inventory:□ Improved purchasing productivity by 400% and achieved $17M in cost savings.□ Reduced the Indirect Materials supplier base by 80% and budgets by 50%.□ Imposed consistent metrics and procedures across global operations.● Created the vision and guided the development of IT tools to provide buyers with data needed to conduct effective competitive bids and negotiations. The use of these tools produced 10% materials savings and 20% savings in commodity management fees.● Negotiated and secured 100% local sourcing for a greenfield plant in Mexico that was operational within 15 months. Influenced global suppliers to produce in the adjacent industrial park.● Revamped sourcing policies and procedures for compliance with QS9000 and Sarbanes-Oxley.Created, staffed and led the new $1.6B Direct Materials and Advanced Purchasing groups in this spin-off company from GM.● Collaborated with R&D Engineering and Metallurgists at the Technical Center to improve product design, quality, and cost through early supplier sourcing.● Revolutionized the sourcing process by outsourcing entire modules rather than components.● Started synergy meetings between suppliers and engineers to leverage technology, capacity, patents and innovation. Negotiated intellectual property and technology agreements with suppliers.● Reduced costs by 30% and supplier quote response time by 50%.

Farmington Hills, Mi

Department Head of an 18 person staff in this $500M global manufacturing company. Responsible for purchasing, customs, regulatory compliance, hiring, training and budgets.● Re-designed the U.S. and Mexico procurement operations:□ Led innovative long term contract negotiations with customers and suppliers achieving 9.7% ($18M) annual material savings.□ Coordinated cross-functional communications and program management processes.□ Established supplier workshops to improve design and manufacturability achieving $7M cost savings in one year.● Contributed to the seamless merger with Magna Corporation

Detroit, Mi

Sterling Heights, Mi

Mba, Masters Of Business Administration, Finance, Honors Gpa: 3.72/4.00

Post Graduate, Calculas, 4.0

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Communications & Advertising, High Honors

Post Graduate, Management Classes

Education record