Joseph John Swatt III

831 Arboretum Way Burlington, MA 01803

309-282-6800 - Home
309-255-8881 - Cell
A distinguished Vice President with a proven outstanding record of accomplishmen
ts and progressive advancement in the highly competitive commercial vehicle indu
stry. Extensive international exposure within Europe, Asia and Latin America wit
h a multi-disciplinary background including Executive Management, Operations, En
gineering, Sales, and Quality.
Passionate Six Sigma Master Black Belt leader able to articulate strategy and tr
anslate into results that has strong analytical problem solving, communications
and team building skills with the financial knowledge of business planning, budg
eting, P&L, purchasing and cost reduction. Profound experience in manufacturing
and engineering with 20 years experience driving lean initiatives resulting in s
ubstantial improvements in WIP and reducing the cost of non-quality.
Engineering and Operational knowledge includes metals & plastic, mechanical prod
ucts, electrical & electronics, fuel systems, assembly, forging, folding, formin
g, cutting, punching, pressing, stamping, heading, machining, drilling, grinding
, welding, quenching, heat treating, and nitrating. Lean methods including work
cells, single piece flow, value stream mapping, seven wastes, Lean Enterprise Su
pplier Networks, SMED (cycle time reduction), Kaizen events, JIT/Kanban, 3P, 5S
analysis, statistics/projections, TPS, TS/QS/ISO.
Education and formal training: Bachelorâ s Degree in Computer Science, with emphasis
in Architectural Design and International Finance, Pace University with an ample
amount of credits for a dual Masterâ s degrees in Advanced Quality Management and He
alth, Safety and Environmental Sciences, University of North Carolina and Medica
l University of South Carolina.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
~ Acting champion who led, motivated and cultivated over 50 cross-functional tea
ms to address mission-critical issues and to achieve strategic and financial obj
ectives through Lean based continuous improvement saving corporations $100â sM.
~ A primary decision maker for the past 11 years of the key dynamics driving the
leading global commercial vehicle industry which improved customer warranty cos
t at multiple corporations ] $10M to [ $3M.
~ Customer awards received under my direction: Volvo Best Supplier of the Year,
GM Performance Excellence, Chrysler Gold Masters of Quality, Lincoln Silver, Fre
ightliner Masters of Quality and Ford Q1.
~ Ability to predict customerâ s needs, discovering business opportunities and delive
ring creative ideas and value added solutions to financially challenged and soun
d manufacturing environments and saved $100â sM in corporation lawsuits.
~ Improved PPMâ s (internal and external) from 70-90% at 5 different companies.
~ Analytical, results-oriented, and customer-focused with a quality excellence a
pproach which has secured the trust of several multi-million dollar corporations
that will invest in any business venture that is overseen by my administration.
~ Start-up and new product launch experience as Vice President and Director of C
hinese, Japanese, and German parent companies and improved labor costs by $5M an
d scrap costs by $250M.
~ Multi-lingual in English, French, German, Spanish and Chinese languages.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Fuwa Heavy Industry Company, Ltd. / Trax Americas / Trax Mechanical Systems - Ta
ishan City, China
Vice President of Global Quality 2009 - Present
Responsible to the President/CEO for the start-up design, development and imple
mentation of the corporate TS-16949 and ISO-14001 quality system to include Stra
tegic Quality Planning and objectives, Key Performance Indicators, Technical Lea
dership in overseeing and directing the quality staff of 140 individuals, interf
acing with customers and suppliers, development of quality procedures and manual
s, quality documentation and record control system, design of Supplier Quality D
evelopment systems and the design and directing various testing equipment labs,
stations and applications throughout all facilities to maximize product performa
nce and reliability, but always minimize the cost of non-quality.
Working closely with other Vice Presidents of Operations and Engineering, Qualit
y and Plant Managers to design, develop, optimize and approve strategic quality
plans and objectives that are comprehensively aligned with customer and business
objectives while staying compliant with the TS 16949, and ISO 14001 Quality Sta
ndards and Requirements.
Develop, define and specify the improvement and implementation of Quality System
s Standards, methods and processes, qualification, testing and validation of the
precision, accuracy and reliability of company products.
Provide Quality Assurance leadership direction, management, expertise and techni
cal support in all aspects of Quality in the manufacturing of all products throu
ghout all manufacturing facilities. Design and lead the resolution of issues wit
hin the customers and supply chains and the use of data to make decisions. Facil
itate development of partner relationships cross-functionally among manufacturin
g, product management, research and development and externally with customers, s
uppliers and subcontractors. Ensure that corrective and preventive action proces
ses were implemented and validated by identifying the root cause of issues withi
n the plants and designed quality systems were effective and problem resolutions
are final.
NTN-Bower - Macomb, Illinois 2008 - 2009
Director of Monozukuri / Continuous Improvement / Quality
Responsible to the CEO and COO for quality planning and objectives to maximize
product and process performance, optimize and execute policies having business-w
ide effects which include ISO-9001, TS-16949 and ISO-14001 systems, provide tech
nical Leadership, direction management and expertise in all aspects of quality i
n the manufacture of products, lab consolidation testing applications, and probl
em solving/resolution applications. Design, develop, manage, and reporting on qu
ality objectives and continuous improvements throughout all global locations.
Responsible for development of strategic quality plans, objectives, and the deve
lopment of procedures to maximize product performance, reliability and minimize
the cost of non-quality which included the Presidentâ s cost savings project (totalin
g $1.4M) for direct and indirect materials. Participate with other global operat
ional Directors and as acting champion in the establishment of the MAiN Audit te
am for 5S and Visualization, strategic quality plans and objectives in collabora
tion with manufacturing plants, and subcontractors. Oversee the management of co
rrective actions, quality systems documentation processes, preventative maintena
nce programs, design of multiple structured training programs, identify gaps, de
sign, implement, support and drive continuous improvement to enhance the plantâ s qua
lity systems performance. Managed and directed two teams of ten advanced quality
industrial, process and capability engineers, providing support and sound techn
ical direction on all 5S and visualization activities, manage consolidation of t
esting and CMM lab, Led development of ISO 14001 and TS 16949 quality systems.
Blue Moon Architectural & Quality Services LLC - Charleston, South Carolina 1999
- 2008
President / CEO
Established consulting practice providing services to 20 architectural, manufac
turing, production and contracting facilities for operation improvements, busine
ss development and planning, customer/supplier quality improvements, process/pro
duction audits, training, budgeting, costing/estimates, statistics/ projections,
scheduled draws for City, County, State, and Government contracts and the revis
ions of architectural plans and specifications when needed.
TRW Automotive (BMAQS) - Lavonia, Michigan 2006 - 2008
Director of Quality - (consulting contract) Responsible to the CEO/Chairman for
the implementation and maintaining of a complete TS-16949/ISO-14001 Quality sys
tem.
Quality Manager:
Responsible for the start-up of a new casting facility which included overseeing
the design and plant layout with new lean production lines, set all specificati
ons and control limits in the metallurgic and sand labs with bar charts for all
known element properties, tapping temperatures, and compact ability tests. Desig
n of all controlled documentation to include procedures, work instructions, proc
ess and procedure audits, FMEA, DFMEA, PFMEA, process flows, control plan, PPAP,
limit and boundary samples, daily production sheets, graphs, logs, charts, mont
hly QIP, EQUOS, ECN, VIN reports, and a safe launch plan presented to Ford, Chry
sler DCX, General Motors, and Toyota. Successfully PPAP and launched five high r
unning components, with 6% to [ 3% PPM and internal scrap by over $1.8M.
Robert Bosch Corporation (BMAQS) - Charleston, South Carolina 1999 - 2005
Senior Quality Assurance Manager (consulting contract) - Responsible to the Dir
ector of Diesel Unit Injector for the maintenance of the corporate TS-16949 and
ISO-14001 quality systems to include Strategic Quality Planning and objectives,
Key Performance Indicators, Technical Leadership in overseeing and directing the
quality staff of 80 , interfacing with customers and suppliers, development of
quality procedures, manuals, and other quality documentation, maintaining of Sup
plier Quality Development systems and the design and directing of various testin
g equipment labs, stations and applications throughout the facility to maximize
product performance and reliability, but always minimize the cost of non-quality
. Designed and implemented an advanced JIT/Kanban system. Designed and implement
ed a quality inspection computerized system which utilized bar code scanners and
factory link tags to track every fuel injector through each production station
using date and time fields with the employeeâ s ID badge number. This system displaye
d a three dimensional step by step inspection process for all fuel injector type
s and cross referenced them to all PQI, Limit Samples and Quality Alerts. With t
he implementation of this system I was able to save the company $140M in a $200M
lawsuit. Designed and implemented several new fixtures, tools and gages based o
n lean line design studies for CNC and Robotics machinery on the production line
s which improved quality, decreased the amount of scrap and the reduction of cyc
le time. Modified Process Flows, Control Plan, PFMEA, DFMEA and PPAP documentati
on. Created new and modified existing Product Quality Instructions, Limit Sample
s, and Quality Alerts. Preformed and documented first time yield studies and par
ticipated in 5S audits. Leadership responsibility for the implementation of the
cross functional QIP Team which observed a 300% decrease in defects found in the
pack-out area. Improved the process and established new standards for all 2800
gauges being returned weekly for calibration within the department and observed
over a 400% decrease in overdue and lost gages. Supervised NDT quality testing o
f diesel fuel injectors being X-rayed with a source of gamma radiation. Implemen
ted employee involvement and continuous improvement teams. Resulted in 75% reduc
tion of quality problems, 25% improvement in efficiency.
Oakwood Corporation - Greensboro, North Carolina 1990 - 1999
Senior Quality Manager
Responsible to the Vice President of Engineering and Vice President of Quality f
or the overall design, implementation and maintenance of the QS-9000 quality sys
tem and OSHA standards and regulations to standardize production in four facilit
ies which later carried over to the other 47 plants in North America. Approved s
ales changes to drawings (ECN). Interfacing as company liaison with NTA for appr
oval of drawings according to 3280 for HUD requirements. Instituted weekly print
and quality audits to maximize efficiency in the plant production. As a direct
result production tripled after the first six months in all four plants.
ADVANCED SKILLS
~ Six Sigma - Master Black Belt.
~ CQE, CQA and CQM
~ Multiple site operations experience.
~ Kaizen, 5S, Visualization, Muda and Choki-tei events - Training and implementa
tion.
~ Lean Manufacturing and Lean Line Design - This includes research and developme
nt, value stream mapping, time studies, spaghetti charts, PDCA/ Action Plan, des
ign and positioning of new tools and Poka-Yoke fixtures, safe guarding product d
uring production, and the implementation of new KanBan systems.
~ TS-16949, QS-9000, TQS, and TPS - Strategic systems development in the start-u
p of new facilities and maintaining existing quality systems. This would include
controlled documentation, process flows, control plans, work instructions, PFME
A, DFMEA, limit and boundary samples, quality alerts, new presentations for prod
uct safe launch, first time yield and structured continuous improvement projects
.
~ ISO-9000, ISO-9001, ISO-14001 - Extensive training in maintaining a process wi
thin the regulation and guide lines.
~ APQP, PPAP, SPC, ECN - Extensive training and implementation of systems.
~ MSA - Gage R&R, GD&T - Extensive training and implementation for all level PPA
P and establishing and maintaining gage calibration schedules.
~ VIN, EQUOS, 8D, CAR, QRCM and Customer Development - Able to train and perform
root-cause analysis, fish bone, 7S, 3 legged 5 why, quality containment, 3rd pa
rty quality sorts and holds for customer complaints and warranty returns.
~ Process and Capability Studies - Able to train and perform PK, PpK, CK and CpK
~ Supplier Development -The ability to train, perform and monitor the 4-step pro
cess effectively.
~ Audits - Able to perform and train layered process and production audits on in
ternal and external production, supplier audits (prequalifying and existing) and
customer audits.
~ Champion of first-pass quality product. MRB and PPM reduction.
EDUCATION
BSCS: Emphasis in Architectural Design, Minor: International Finance, Pace Unive
rsity, White Plains, New York - Honors: Cum Laude GPA: 3.68
Course Studies and Certifications: Emphasis in Quality Engineering and Managemen
t, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, North Carolina
Drafting in Auto CAD, Micro Station, Dacis, and Argos, Project Management, Build
ing Codes and Standards, Housing Building Technologies, OSHA Standards and Regul
ations, ISO 9000, 3280 Building Codes and Structures, Communication Skills for T
echnical Professionals, and Making Presentations with Confidence and Power.
~ Six Sigma Green and Black Belt, CQE & CQA, Lean Manufacturing, TQM, Kaizen, Ka
nBan, White Shirt, Leadership on the Line, Lead Auditor, ISO-9000 Certifications
.
Certifications: Emphasis in Advanced Quality Management and Environmental Health
Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
~ Six Sigma Master Black Belt, TPS, TQS, TS-16949, CQM, ISO-9001, ISO-14001, HSE
Certifications.