Nicholas Prafke
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Objective: To obtain a rewarding and challenging Engineering position at a stable company where I can fully utilize my ability to design and apply solutions to problems in a product development group.
Profile: Focused and creative individual with a broad range of experience and proven ability to analyze problems from multiple perspectives. Tenacious approach to problem solving that doesn’t allow for giving up easily. Not too proud to ask for help when necessary. A thick skinned person who can handle what is thrown at him.
Skillset Highlights:
• Proficient in CAD, Visio, Solid Works, Excel, MiniTab, Access DB
• Efficiency estimation capability
• Good visualization and spacial orientation
• Creative design and assembly solutions
• Ability to learn new technologies quickly
• Good eye for improvement opportunities
• Works well in a team environment
• Extensive training in six sigma and Toyota production system
• Ability to rapidly research information
Education: Bachelor of Science in Applied Engineering Sciences, with Supply Chain Management Cognate Michigan State University • East Lansing, MI Dec. 2009
Relevant Coursework: Operations Management, Lean Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Processes,
Computer Aided Design, Statistics for Engineers, Economics, Organic Chemistry, Vacuum and Laser Physics, Material Science,
along with general Engineering and business courses.
Experience: Process Engineer
Kaiser Aluminum • Kalamazoo, MI May 2013-Current
Soft Alloy Aluminum Extrusion
• Responsible for all standard product recipes set up and control.
• Monitors quality standards and daily operation of 4,000 ton and 6,000 ton extrusion presses.
• Performs data analysis using database queries and MiniTab.
• Implemented project management structure and information management tools that helped communicate priorities within the manufacturing team that resolved a major out of specification material recall. This resolved dozens of late orders and thousands of pounds of recalled product.
• Improved process parameter calculation tool to better account for material changes during processing, which improved process control and eliminated extrusion overlap scrap on several hundred part configurations, saving approximately $100,000/year.
Production Support Engineer
Gentex Corporation • Zeeland, MI January 2011-January 2013
Manufacturing and Development of Auto Dimming Mirrors, Rear Camera Display Mirrors, Darkening Jet Windows and Fire Protection Equipment
• Responsible for the continuous operation and improvement on 6 different side mirror production lines.
o Set Up and Optimization of ABB production robots, Mazak industrial grinders, laser etching systems, laser vision systems
o Identified process adjustments to reduce the part cycle time by 6%, increasing 24/5 capacity.
o Implemented PLC adjustments that reduced the line bottleneck and increased line output by 10%.
o Using time studies and work balance charts, redesigned part of the production line layout to reduce necessary staffing that will save approximately $500,000 a year in operator expense.
• Ran studies to fully define the part inspection process, looking at time allotment and methodology. Resulted in altering the procedure in a way that will prevent parts from progressing further into a high cost operation of the line with potential defects present.
• Worked in continuous improvement groups, focused on making our production lines as efficient as possible, production yield increased from 77% to 82% during over a 12 month period of time.
• Designed fixture to allow current interior mirror lines to run a new mirror design more efficiently.
• Worked on a vacuum chuck optimization and redesign that could lead to increased quality and speed of the glass grinding operation.
• Conducted material testing that lead to a new design standard for PCB mount boards in rearview mirrors.
• Redesigned mirror testing fixture improving test reliability to nearly 100%, eliminating need for adjustment and maintenance of the fixture.
• Led a group working on defining and improving a specific job function using Toyota Production Methodology and six sigma tools.
o Defined work instructions improving job function a...
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