Tom Richards Email & Phone Number

Vehma is an automotive sheet metal supplier for soft and production tooling programs. Main responsibilities are interaction between the customer and the plant floor. Versed in Draw Dies, Line Dies, Progressive Dies, Simulations, Assemblies, Check Fixtures, and Forming Techniques. Responsible for:Plan and organize programs according to customer requirements.Manage customer requirements in house with shop floor personnel. Verify process for each part will work and timing requirements are met.Manage vendors for quoting, negotiating cost, placing work, doing follow up visits, and buying off finished parts to supplied GD&T.Create a good working relationship with the customer. Build their confidence for a successful program and a continued business relationship.Review forming concerns, run simulation for Draw Die development, and assist in assembly process.Coordinate activities concerned with technical developments, scheduling and resolving issues, getting things done!Responsible for design changes, specifications and drawing releases.Prepare program progress reports and update customer and senior management.Run program budget and control expenditures within limitations of program.Interface between customer and manufacturing plants.Estimating and Planning.Work Orders to the floorAPQP for customer.ISO Procedures.

Director of Automotive Sheet Metal OperationsGTS, an aircraft/automotive tooling supplier contracted by Mercedes Benz to design, build and facilitate the Mercedes W-251 Program, valued at $20 million. As Director of Operations for the W251 Team at GTS, sole responsibility was to lead our diverse team from design through plant install and die buyoff through life of program. Program duration 4 years.Program valued at beginning of project at 20 million USD.Led Estimating and Planning Team to obtain the Mercedes W251 program. Part Layout including progressive and line dies.Manage designs with 20 UG seats in-house at GTS and sub-contractors to customer satisfaction for build.Source complete program for design, build, try-out and tune-in at chosen stamper, while controlling profit margins.Oversee all die designs and layouts approved by customer for build.Weekly visits to die shops to discuss tooling updates, engineering changes including costs and timing.Weekly financial update meetings with President, CEO, and Vice President to review program profit margins, timing, and engineering. Discussed current and upcoming business.Cost all engineering changes including negotiations with vendor and customer.Daily conference calls with Mercedes product engineers to assist with problems on current engineering interference with sheet metal components.Weekly meeting with entire vehicle launch team to discuss concerns and timing of production.

Global source to both Europe and USA for Sheet Metal Development programs. Prototype and Production.Direct report to President. Supervise and allocate program assignments for work performed in Europe, Asian Rim, and USA. Daily technical involvement in proposals for large volume, short-timed programs.Customer base; BMW, Volkswagen, Daimler Chrysler, General Motors, Land Rover, Nissan and Jaguar. International travel to Europe & Australia for status reports and customer visits to view buy-offs and finalization of projects.Trouble-shooting Formability issues, timing and production issues.Timing and quality improvement implementation.Management negotiations for engineering and related fees outside the scope of original S.O.W.(s)Responsible for maintaining budgets, forecasting, non-disclosure commitments for the department.Sales and customer base expansion and development.

A Program Management company that engaged in large International sheet metal programs. Managed the programs from inception to delivery Placed work throughout the Metro area, as well as Canada and Europe.Oversee all business operations pertaining to outsourcing of the project. Managed build and tryout through life of the program.Daily customer interactions and customer liaison to build sites. Daily local visits to facilities contracted to build.Negotiations of "change" money, opening contracts and large proposals.Monthly overseas travel to attend line-up and status meetings.Customer base included but was not limited to Jaguar, Rover, Volkswagen, and BMW.

Company contracted by General Motors to manufacture all prototype tooling through production tooling for Malibu carline. Main objective: Implement new plant start-up. Additional responsibilities included:Responsible party reporting to management on all phases of newplant implementation; equipment, personnel, quality, and strategic planning of workloads and stations.Outsourcing of all Die work to be completed in the Detroit area. Hands-on follow-up. Customer liaison with GM personnel including design and tryout. Estimate and propose engineering changes and negotiations for costs. Supervise and report in update meetings with board members for Defiance. Program initiated at $9 million-completed profitable @$13 million.

Journeyman Tool & Die Maker/Major In Business, Engineering / Manufacturing

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