Thomas Merrill Email & Phone Number

I am currently employed at PepsiCo as the Maintenance Coach/Planner for the small PET bottle line and Bag in Box (BIB) at our new High Point facility. Recently, I achieved certification as a Certified Reliability Leader.Throughout my career, I have held various roles, including Manufacturing Maintenance Supervisor, where I led a team of 24 mechanics and machinists. I developed and maintained effective preventive and predictive maintenance programs to ensure overall equipment efficiency. Utilizing SAP, fluid analysis, vibration, sonic, and motor analysis, I predicted imminent failures and implemented replacements to avoid unnecessary downtime. I also created and maintained work instructions, lockout/tagout procedures, and conducted training for mechanics. Additionally, I developed team members to advance into technician roles and other positions within our group, provided 24-hour support for our facility, and managed operating and capital budgets.Previously, I worked as a Technician in the Extrusion/Casting & Drafting and Tenter Stretch sections of our Polyester division. I investigated and installed new technologies to decrease downtime and improve product quality. The equipment I worked with, dating back to the 70s, required constant upgrades as parts became obsolete or new technologies emerged. I led a team of mechanics during machine shutdowns for preventive maintenance activities, ensuring timely and issue-free restarts.At Carestream and Kodak, I served as a Group Leader for both production and maintenance teams. For two years, I spearheaded the establishment of Lean Manufacturing practices for the maintenance team. As a Trainer/Certifier in production, I ensured employees adhered to set practices and produced products to corporate standards. Recently, I have received rigging and signal training, Level 1 and 2 vibration analysis training, and am currently responsible for maintaining our vibration database.