Thomas Eldridge Email & Phone Number

Birmingham, Al, Us

Plant Manager for Altec Industries Plant 024C, a manufacturing facility for composite and metal fabricated components related to truck mounted aerial devices. Direct oversight of all operations teams including production, engineering support, and facilities/maintenance.

Birmingham, Al, Us

Responsible for Plant 27’s continuous improvement projects and day to day Final Assembly production support. Directs a team of 8 manufacturing engineers, co-ops, and production supervisor with a goal of eliminating waste and improving QCDS. Manages performance/compensation of the team. Provides supplemental guidance to Creedmoor campus’ ~20 manufacturing engineers. Executes the Altec Production System by managing Plant 27’s strategic plan, leading value stream mapping, APS roadmap, campus-wide cost reduction RCI events. Active member of the Corporate APS team.

Birmingham, Al, Us

Redesigned, relocated and currently growing Creedmoor campus composites operations in a newly acquired building (2018). Using the Altec Production System and manufacturing automation to design and implement changes to the entire plant value stream, physical layout, and cell level processes with targets of increasing capacity/efficiency and enhancing quality. Directed the procurement and implementation of 10 pieces of capital equipment cumulatively worth of $3M+. Created several one-of-a-kind machines through collaboration with third parties and individual projects. Validated existing composite structures produced by new equipment and materials through process development and design assurance structural testing. Oversight of composites processes from raw materials to finished components. Responsible for CNC programming of filament winding machine. Provide field support on composite related field issues and directly facilitated 2 field campaigns. Educate and train lean manufacturing and composites concepts as a mentor to junior engineers. Consult, collaborate with, and coach peer engineers on continuous improvement projects within Building C. Direct supervision of engineering co-ops. Interface with multiple cross functional departments and organizations within Altec on composites projects. Manage relationships with equipment and material suppliers.Filament Winding, Curing Ovens, Sanding/Finishing, CNC Machining, Sprayed Coatings, Adhesives, Assembly, Prototype Testing, Composites Quality Systems, Proprietary In-House Designed Machinery. Dust Collection, Composites Related EH&S Systems, Structural Testing, Dielectrics,

Birmingham, Al, Us

Recovered and grew the fabrication/assembly operations for Altec's newly acquired (2014) fiberglass utility-truck body plant. Used the Altec Production System to design and deploy changes to entire plant value stream, plant information systems, and physical layout with targets of increasing capacity, lowering operating costs, and gaining market share. Responsible for entire facility's continuous improvement projects and day to day production support in the Fiberglass Laminating, Metal Fabrication, and Assembly Line departments. Drove increased department performance in safety, quality, operations cost, and delivery. Directly supervised a team of 5 manufacturing engineers and provided supplemental guidance to an extended team of 12 quality/design/safety engineers and production supervisors. Directly supervised a team of 13 production associates for 6 months as interim fiberglass department supervisor in 2014 and tripled department output. Assessed performance/compensation reviews for above direct supervised groups. Managed the growth of the facility as part of the plant leadership team and technically as a lean manufacturing and composites specialist. Designed plant layout from blank slate to create flow and eliminate waste. Project manager for ~$850k fiberglass department overhaul, constructing 8 paint booths, 4 dust capture environments, and plant utilities. Directed the integration of CNC trimming technology for fiberglass truck bodies. Executed the transition to procured cargo walls from supplier evaluation stage to process implementation resulting in doubling department productivity. Reverse engineered competitor products to expand product offering and market share.

Birmingham, Al, Us

Directly responsible for continuous improvement projects and day to day production improving including quality, cost, delivery, & safety. Direct supervision of Org 24 warranty administrator and engineering co-op. Led the highest number of RCI events out of all associates on Creedmoor campus in 2012. Implemented Creedmoor's first welding robot as part of the core project team. Altec Production System (Lean) corporate team member.Robotic Welding, Chipper Fabrication, Chipper Assembly Line, Powder Paint Line, Fiberglass Winding, Lower Boom Assembly, CNC Router Table, Hose Fabrication

Birmingham, Al, Us

Expanded the Closed Loop Quality System in Creedmoor’s Aerial/Chipper Manufacturing and Final Assembly organizations. Rolled out Creedmoor's first FMEA, Control Plan, and LPA packages for 80%+ of all process cells. Administrator for work instruction and training live systems. FMEA trainer. Direct supervision of engineering intern.Structural Bolt Testing, Hydraulics, Statistical Process Control, Control Plans, Failure Mode Effects Analysis, Layered Process Audits, Warranty Root Cause Analysis, Work Instructions, Workforce Training Program, Supplier/Internal Quality

Raleigh, Nc, Us

Work as a miner in several rock quarries running production for dimension stone crushing operations. Transitioned to Corporate Engineering department where I worked on engineering project teams to design multi-million dollar stone crushing plants. Specialized in AutoCAD construction drawings. Continuously worked part time with Martin Marietta while attending college full time and worked for Martin Marietta full time during summers off from college.

Bachelor Of Science (Bs), Mechanical Engineering

Minor, Graphic Communications

Education record