Patti Engineering

Entire Region, Indiana November 2016 to Current

(Patti Engineering, Inc. is a CSIA Certified control systems integration company offering high-caliber engineering and software development services.)

Electrical Engineer

 Primary engineer for the Indiana Office of Patti Engineering.  Provide industrial automation system solutions for a variety of industries, develop specific solutions to increase value for our customers, and provide onsite installation and support.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Kokomo Casting Plant

Kokomo, Indiana January 2011 to November 2016

(KCP is one of the largest casting plants in the world producing castings for the FCA Powertrain operations.)

Plant Controls Engineer

 Lead engineer for MY2017 250K Eight-Speed case launch. Provide production support for controls and automation of die cast machines, tool room CNC machines, and facilities. Manage and execute non-new model projects. Attack production losses via the Focused Improvement methodologies of World Class Manufacturing (WCM). Perform electrical design to improve existing production equipment and processes.  Make programming improvements on Rockwell based equipment and Fanuc/ABB robot systems.

Specific Accomplishments

• Introduced the Siemens TIA Portal controls architecture to the plant by implementing Siemens controls on new Die Cast Machines and cell equipment and spearheading the training initiative.
• Upgraded the Tool Room with Sinker and Wire EDMs, Ultrasonic Caustic Cleaning systems, and CNC lathes on time and on budget.
• Replaced an inclined scrap conveyor system on time and on budget.
• Implemented SMED on vertical trim presses.  Reduced average changeover time from 36 minutes to 9 minutes.

Manufacturing Technology, Inc.

South Bend, Indiana     February 2009 to December 2010   

(MTI specializes in the design, development, support, and installation of machines integrated with automated solutions for Friction Welding sometimes referred to solid state bonding including rotary friction welding,  friction stir welding, and linear friction welding.)

Controls Engineer

 Perform electrical design of friction welding machines and accompanying automation.  Perform all required PLC, CNC, Robotics, and PC programming for the machines.  Perform startup, configuration, and debug of machines while assuring quality.

 Specific Accomplishments

• Introduced visual management techniques to assist in daily communication progress to stakeholders.
• Harmonized new product line start up procedures with the existing lines.
• Gained competence in multiple products lines: friction stir welding, rotary friction welding including both Automotive and Aerospace lines.

Transbotics Corporation

Charlotte, North Carolina                 April 2005 to February 2009   

(Transbotics Corporation specializes in the design, development, support, and installation of automation solutions with an emphasis on Automatic Guided Vehicles.)

Products Manager/ Project Manager/ Project Engineer

Managed all aspects of AGV and AGC projects from Sales handoff to Service handoff.

Provided direction and support for development of the AutoMotion product lines.  Provided assistance to sales organization for the AutoMotion product lines.  Provided project management for the AutoMotion products and projects sold.  Provided programming for all equipment.

Specific Accomplishments

• Spearheaded technical integration of a new business unit and its products with existing operations.
• Managed day-to-day development of controls for a new product line of Automatic Guided Carts.

Thomson Displays Mexicana

Mexicali, Mexico               November 2001 to January 2003    

(Thomson Displays Mexicana is a television picture tube manufacturer specializing in large and very large tubes with estimated annual revenues of $140 million.)

Senior Electrical Engineer / Project Manager

Managed engineering and maintenance concerns of final installation and initial start up of factory front-end.  Directed and managed capital improvement projects resulting in production throughput improvements, and lower equipment downtime.  Orchestrated and controlled front-end factory start-up.  Implemented lean manufacturing techniques into front-end of factory and trained employees in single-minute exchange die (SMED), and 5S.

Specific Accomplishments

• Increased daily-going rate from 110 units per day to 4200 units per day.
• Reduced product changeover time for bottleneck area from 40 hours to 8 hours by introducing SMED concepts.  Estimated savings of $300,000 per changeover were achieved.
• Secured a price reduction of new equipment from $600,000 to $240,000 by developing a new Korean vendor.
• Successfully managed over 50 projects simultaneously in a multicultural environment.

Thomson Displays Mexicana

Mexicali, Mexico              January 2001 to November 2001

(Thomson Displays Mexicana is a television picture tube manufacturer specializing in large and very large tubes with estimated annual revenues of $140 million.)

Project Leader/ Member of Technical Staff

Responsible for all aspects of an integrated module of a new automated factory.  Responsibilities included equipment checkout and approval, installation and integration management, commissioning management, team management, budget control, and multi-vendor dispute arbitration.

 Specific Accomplishments

• Trained maintenance engineers and technicians to program and debug ABB robotics.
• Programmed six robots thus reducing project costs by $20,000.
• Successfully completed (on time and on budget) a $15 million project for production equipment including transfer of new technologies.

Thomson Consumer Electronics

Lancaster, Pennsylvania          February 2000 to January 2001

(Corporate headquarters of a television picture tube manufacturer specializing in large and very large tubes.)

Project Leader/ Member of Technical Staff

Responsible for all aspects of an integrated module of a new automated factory.  Responsibilities included team management, team selection and hiring, equipment layout design, employee layout design, specifications, vendor selection, mechanical and electrical controls design, vendor negotiations, budget control of $15 million, equipment checkout and approval, integration management, and multi-vendor dispute arbitration.  I was also responsible for technical and engineering support for two other modules.

Specific Accomplishments

• Reduced specialized Degaussing Coil systems costs from $200,000 to $10,000 by motivating specialists to improve performance resulting in huge unexpected costs savings.
• Designed cutting edge lean manufacturing equipment and employee layout for module resulting in a $1,000,000 cost savings compared to traditional layouts employed in other factories.
• Introduced waterless cooling system for vacuum equipment of exhaust ovens.  Estimated maintenance costs savings of $20,000 per year.
• Standardized factory barcode system hardware. Up front savings of $30,000 and an estimated maintenance costs savings of $10,000 per year.

Thomson Consumer Electronics

Marion, Indiana              January 1997 to February 2000

(Thomson Consumer Electronics is a television picture tube manufacturer specializing in large and very large tubes with estimated annual revenues of $252 million.)

Project Engineer / Member of Technical Staff

Managed automated equipment design, procurement, installation, commissioning, and training.  I designed, developed, and programmed automated equipment for production lines.

Specific Accomplishments

• Reduced conveyor modification project costs from $1.4 million to $750,000 by introducing a new more efficient vendor.
• Cut robotic modifications for a new product introduction from $40,000 to $1,500 by using in-house skill.
• Consistently evaluated as ‘exceeding expectations’.
• Programmed two data tracking systems, which improved quality control by 10% and reduced headcount from 12 employees to 7 employees.

Siemen’s Energy & Automation            

Alpharetta, Georgia               May 1996 to August 1996

(Siemens Energy and Automation by provides complete electrical, engineering and automation solutions.)

Engineering Intern

Tested control panels and wiring for functionality prior to shipment to steel rolling mill job sites.  Worked with ISO 9000 procedures.  Performed I/O testing of equipment, field devices, and PLC’s at a compact strip steel rolling mill installation.

C&S Erectors

Noblesville, Indiana               May 1993 to August 1995

Ironworker

Worked as a professional ironworker doing building construction, welding, and connection work.  Supervised site team.