Adam R. Ficken
PROFILE
Experienced Industrial/Manufacturing Engineer with business development and project management experience, exiting latest entrepreneurial business venture, seeking to further advance career opportunities and experience in an engineering management or business development position within a challenging, growing, and rewarding industry. Areas of expertise include new product development, outside sales, high level statistical analysis, and continuous process improvement.
EDUCATION Auburn University Auburn, AL
Dec 2011 Masters of Industrial and Systems Engineering &
Masters of Business Administration (Dual Degree - GPA 3.6)
Sept 2006 Villanova University Philadelphia, PA
Six Sigma Black Belt Certification
May 2003 Auburn University Auburn, AL
Bachelor of Industrial and Systems Engineering
EXPERIENCE
May 11 – June 12
Carbon Nanotube Engineered Surfaces, LLC. (CNTES) Auburn, AL
Vice President of Operations
Responsible for leading and advancing engineering, business development, and manufacturing scale-up activities associated with the production of multi-walled carbon nanotubes directly on the surfaces of engineered/composite materials (carbon fiber, Kevlar, glass fiber, etc.) for a startup venture owned by Auburn University and based on academic research/technology developed by Auburn University’s Polymer and Fiber Engineering Department
2012 Finalist in the Alabama Launchpad Business Plan Competition held by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama Foundation.
Developed a written, detailed 5 year business plan providing an analysis of the company's critical business requirements, market entry, financial forecasts, comprehensive cost/pricing models, market projections, potential risks, competitors, and cost-effective manufacturing solutions for enhancing competitiveness, increasing revenues, and improving customer service offerings
Presented the startup company’s core technology and business plan to potential outside investors (VC’s & Angel Networks), industry consultants, and institutional technology development/commercialization officers
Established a product testing agreement with a global, industry leading carbon fiber producer where CNTES provided product to the carbon fiber producer for evaluation in consideration of a potential supplier/producer partnership
Negotiated the purchase and fielding of a $125K industrial conveyor microwave system on behalf of the Auburn University Polymer & Fiber Engineering Department
Designed and built small scale microwave processing/handling equipment used to simultaneously treat all exterior surfaces of a carbon fiber fabric, reducing processing time by 50% and improving product quality/uniformity
Provided engineering and statistical evaluation/analysis/support in the assessment of alternative carbon nanotube production methods
Held managerial duties and leadership responsibility for coordinating multiple project activities among a 5-10 member, direct report, associate team
Oct 06 – Aug 09 REHAU, Inc. Cullman, AL
Tier I Automotive Supplier – Plastic Injection Molding and Painting Operations
Project Engineer – Business Development Division
Project/Manufacturing Engineer responsible for Mercedes Benz (MBUSI – Vance, AL) new product development (front & rear bumper assemblies) for new vehicle/model launch (GL Class model: 31,600 annual units in 2010; $15.8M annual sales for the project)
Responsible Project Engineer for Nissan (North America) new exterior trim product(s) development for new program/vehicle launch - $27.5M annual program sales
Responsible for business development and engineering sales support activities including, product development/new business quoting, customer presentations, defining purchasing agreement terms, hosting customer visits, and supplier evaluation audits/visits
Coordinated new product development across multiple divisions - includes tool/process/system design, prototyping, testing, etc. through the manufacturing development phase and the transfer of activities/responsibility within the plant to assure customer’s quality requirements are fulfilled, delivery requirements are met according to schedule and within budget, and continuous process improvement/refinement post launch
Led warranty investigations and REHAU/customer financial responsibility negotiations - successfully reclaimed a $64,000 single payment in warranty costs from an OEM and established a new 5 year agreement in which the OEM assumed an 80% financial warranty responsibility
Successfully introduced a recycled, “green polymer,” as an automotive exterior substrate (this was the first use of this positive engineered material in the automotive industry), efforts included polymer material(s) research, trial/prototype testing, business case analysis, OEM approvals, and collaboration between OEM and material/resin producer
Led an emergency, customer requested, 2 week, on site satellite operation to sort, quarantine, and repair a sister plant’s non-conforming product, resulting in a combined $225,000 in operational, transportation, and product savings – this operation generated a secondary award of business/contract with the customer
Managed strategic supplier relationships, including cross functional supplier audits/site visits to ensure “Quality” expectations are met and value improvement opportunities are capitalized on, creating mutually beneficial process/operational savings <...
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