PLASTICS ENGINEERING MANAGER - TOOLING ENGINEER - Job Needed

[oldtool]

It has been a year now since I have been downsized. Has anyone else out there had any luck in finding jobs?

Greg, have you completed the site to include a jobs listing?

[Will Call]

Oldtool,

I was out of work for 1 day less than a year. I ended up going into an industry that was totally new to me and (sorry to say), not in plastics. I did start getting more responses to my resume but really couldn't afford to pass up "a bird in the hand". Luckily, I didn't have to relocate.

I had the best luck the a recruiter named John Kulka at Southern Star, his email is [email protected] . He has pretty good contacts in the southeast and midwest. If he feels someone is a really good candidate he will work his A$$ off for them. Send him your resume and tell him I sent you.

[oldtool]

Thanks Will, I sent him my resume. Plastics has been my life I would hate to be forced to work in another field but times are very difficult.

[Len]

Old-tool,

Please do everything possible to keep your spirits up during your search. It was difficult for me to remember I had valuable skills and worth after repeated rejections and dead end leads. I hear that the job market is picking up compared to last year, but that's a poor comparison since, 2009 was a real loser.

If I see a job; plastic, rubber, injection, etc. what should I consider passing to you? Where is your interest?

Len

[oldtool]

Len;

Not entirely sure if this is within the rules of this site but I have attached my resume in case you or anyone else wants to pass it on. I only ask that if it is passed on I first be informed as to where so I can prevent dual submittions.

Thank you,
All

THOMAS S. STRAHLER
2401 East McKinney Street, #1537 Cell: 865.591.0330
Denton, TX 76209 [email protected]


PLASTICS ENGINEERING MANAGER • TOOLING ENGINEER

Highly accomplished, results-driven Six Sigma Black Belt with extensive experience managing all operations of engineering departments in injection molding industry. Proven record of improving machine utilization, driving cost-saving initiatives, and increasing profit margins to achieve company goals. Adept at multi-tasking in ISO Certified engineering environment. Advanced communication skills, able to interact at all organizational levels.
Tooling
Investment Casting • Blow Molding • Stamping • Transfer Molding • Thermoforming • Extrusion
Six Sigma • Mold Flow • QS 9000 • ISO 9000 • Pad Printing • Silk Screening • Automation • Paint
Spin Welding • Sonic Weld • Emaweld • Heat Stake • Adhesive • Chrome Plating • MIM • RIM
Specialty Molding • Injection Molding • General Machining • Die Casting
Experienced in the following sectors: Recreational, Agricultural, Appliance, Medical, Horticulture, Computer, Airline, Building Supply, Lighting, Packaging, Electronic, Automotive, and ClosureTooling.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

K&D PLASTICS, Gainesville, TX 2006 – 2009
Engineering company with $14M in annual sales and 150 employees.
Engineering / Technical Marketing Manager / Tooling Mgr
Oversaw engineering department, which included coordinating tool builds and FAI, reviewing and approving tooling designs, and supervising $325K AS 9100 budget. Directed team of seven employees, including Program Managers, Tooling Engineers, Engineering Assistants, Toolmakers, and Tooling PM Specialists. Evaluated customer product design and managed Six Sigma project. Served as Member of Steering Team comprised of CEO, GM, Plant Manager, Engineering Manager, and Controller.

Key Achievements:
• Managed all new tooling and production tooling.
• Produced $15.3M in new sales and secured 3 aviation customers with $10.1M in annual business.
• Boosted sales by strengthening relationships with existing customers and cultivating new customers with targeted growth of 12% annually.
• Reduced tool costs up to 40% by introducing new and reliable toolmakers in Asia.
• Accommodated aggressive sales growth.
• Grew engineering department 100% to accommodate new sales.
• Decreased start-up costs 40% by engineering new First Article Inspection and Process Flow.
• Used Epicor ERP system to track problem tools and projects
• Member of the steering committee for P&L.
• Process Improvement

RAIN BIRD, Tucson, AZ 2004 – 2006
Leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services.
New Product Development Tooling Engineer
Directed plastic product designers in part design and supervised prototype and production builds. Developed Asian toolmaker base.

Key Achievements:
• Transferred tooling to newly opened plant in Shanghai, China, and established secondary operations equipment in Shanghai.
• Managed all new tooling projects both domestically and offshore.
• Improved efficiency and productivity by implementing new technologies.
• Worked with Design Engineers to produce pressure vessels.
• Gained experience with elastomers to produce seals.
• Worked with plastics and additive to resist chemical aspects in water.
• Designed and built Closure Tooling.

THOMAS S. STRAHLER Page 2


MORTON CUSTOM PLASTICS, St. Matthews, SC 1999 – 2004
Plastics manufacturer with $250M in annual sales, 4 plants, and 175 employees.
Engineering Manager (Tooling Eng)
Reviewed customer designs for manufacturability and sustained ISO 9000 in engineering. Led continual improvement, Six Sigma, and 5S projects. Managed team of 10 project engineers, interns, process engineers, and process technicians with departmental budget of $400K. Served as Member of Steering Team comprised of GM, Quality Manager, HR Manager, and Controller. Directed and optimized machine utilization.

Key Achievements:
• Boosted sales 25% through customer design reviews.
• Increased sales $7M by traveling to Japan and China and providing technical expertise to new and potential customers.
• Saved company $5M through process improvements and Six Sigma projects.
• Managed all new tooling builds as well as transfers and production tooling.
• Managed internal tool shop and maintenance
• Used Orical ERP system to track problem tooling.
• Member of the steering committee tracking P&L

PROGRESS PLASTIC PRODUCTS, Bellevue, OH 1996 – 1999
Injection molding company with $24M in sales, 2 plants, and 250 employees.
Engineering / Sales & Tooling Manager
Developed new projects from existing customers. Managed tool rooms and continuous process improvement initiatives in both plants with budget of approximately $300K.

Key Achievements:
• Secured $14.5M in new sales while increasing process improvements 30%.
• Played key role in implementation of ISO 9000, AS 9100, and TS 16949.
• Managed all new tooling as well as production tooling.
• Member of the steering committee on P&L
• Process Improvement

CAREER NOTES: Previous experience as Tool and Die Apprenticeship Instructor with Akron University and Journeyman Tool and Die Maker for 16 years specilizing in Electrical Clip and Closure Tooling.

EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
ALMEDA COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY, Greenville, NC
Six Sigma Certified – Black Belt
ISO 9000 Auditor AS 9100 Auditor

AFFILIATIONS
Society of Plastic Engineers • American Engineering Association
Container Manufacturers Association • Society of Manufacturing Engineers
____________________________________________________________________________________________
HONORABLE DISCHARGE FROM US ARMY
Ending Rank E-5
Vietnam Era Veteran

[Dr. Dick]

Oldtool,

Under been there done that . I have reinvented myself so many times I sometimes wonder who I am. In an old post some years ago I detailed my trip through life which gave proof to the Line from "All About Eve" "Fasten your seat belt, there's a bumpy ride ahead".

You have to figure what your underlying strengths are for any job, what you really like to do, and tailor each resume to match the job you are applying for. All of this you have probably heard before. Did you pick up any skills while in the army. Do you have any hobbies that could be job related?

I think one problem may be that many of your interviewers could perceive you as a threat to their job I assume you are using your SPE network as well as their job site. You would offer the best value in a new or start up company based on your experience. Have you considered consulting services as a reentry method?

Good luck in your continuing search, unfortunately I don't have any leads for you in this area.

[Louis]

Oldtool,

What Len said, keep up your spirits.

[oldtool]

I do try to keep my spirits up but after a while I start to think, who did I pi$$ off that would give me a bad referance. I know that isn't the case but one can't help the negitive thinking after more than a year with little to no activity. I will admit it did pick up some the end of Feb to mid March but it seams to be dying out again. Just a word of advice to thoughs of you with a job right now ... Hang on to it!!!

[Jim]

Best of luck, oldtool....West Michigan is no picnic right now for jobseekers either, but I do think that it is getting better. Stay optimistic and realize that experience makes the difference........

J.P.

[greg]

Oldtool,

No problem posting this. Plastics.com job area here:
http://www.plastics.com/careers/

Suggestion:
If you seriously fear a bad reference popping up, include references that you have called first to ask permission to use their name. Even a bad reference can be turned this way, as people are unlikely to speak poorly of someone they gave permission to use as a reference.

ps; I made the post subject one that'll work better to the searches.

Best Success,

[oldtool]

Oldtool,

No problem posting this. Plastics.com job area here:
http://www.plastics.com/careers/

Suggestion:
If you seriously fear a bad reference popping up, include references that you have called first to ask permission to use their name. Even a bad reference can be turned this way, as people are unlikely to speak poorly of someone they gave permission to use as a reference.

ps; I made the post subject one that'll work better to the searches.

Best Success,

Greg;
By bad referance I mean a former company that I worked for, namely K&D Plastics. There was some ethical, to borderline ethical, issues there.

[Will Call]

oldtool,

If you can get someone to call them for a reference and find out for sure they are giving a bad reference, under most circumstances you can sue them for defamation and win.

Once you find out for sure, a phone call from you or an attorney usually stops it.

In today's world they can not give a bad reference, all thay can do is state that they refuse to give one. That's usually a key for the caller to know that something is wrong.

[Will Call]

Oldtool,

Did you get my email?

[oldtool]

Will;;Yes I recieved it. Thank you. I have not heard anything from them as yet. I did not get any contact info in the email for them.

Thank you

[Will Call]

oldtool,

I sent you a PM with his email address. If I were you, I'd contact him. You can use my name if you want.