Don Miller

Experience

• 

  Sony Music Entertainment

  May 1994 - May 2005

  Production Control / Logistics Manager

  • Responsible for the management of 42 hourly and 5 salary employees.• Managed the transportation of over 30,000 packages per day and annual freight cost of $3MM• Reduced annual freight costs by 14% through carrier contract negotiations, increased freight consolidations, elimination of non-value added services, and the implementation of rebate programs. • Championed multiple 6 sigma projects focused on the reduction of shipment errors to customers. • Multi-facility traffic responsibilities are spread throughout 2 Sony Disc Manufacturing facilities, 4 Sony distribution centers, 3 third party warehouses, and 5 outsource packaging facilities. • Responsible for JIT delivery for all inbound, international, and outbound freight movement. On time performance exceeds 99.8%.• Provided management direction to 5 manufacturing and 4 Logistic departments across 2 Sony Disc Manufacturing facilities. Championed daily operational meetings with Manufacturing and Logistics Management to review daily production requirements and eliminate potential process constraints.• Reduced Production Control departmental spend budget by 10% annually.• Responsible for leading company efforts in the implementation of customer focused inventory management system. Utilized 6 sigma processes for controlling inventory, and eliminated full physical inventories. • Championed implementation of the Inventory Management Module of Oracle, WMS and MRP systems. Show less

• 

  Lowe's Home Improvement

  May 2005 - Oct 2021

  • Assisted in the development and design of various new accelerated line review processes. (Strategy Development, Dead Net, Cost Simplification, Markdowns)• Provided coaching and strategic input as a business partner to merchandising teams during APLRs to ensure success in achieving company driven margin and inventory objectives. • Proficient in multitasking multiple APLRs and day-to-day responsibilities while completing project deliverables on or ahead of schedule.• Advised merchants on best practices for balancing multiple key metrics to achieve the best costs on the best products in order to offer “value plus” to our customers.• Conducted formal training sessions to Merchandising Specialists and developed supporting training materials. Show less • Responsible for the $350 million dollar sales budget/forecast including all financials, product pricing, category assortment selection for various Rough Electrical and Lighting product categories. • Led cross-functional team to develop premium packaging and product designs.• Worked with the global sourcing team and import factories to insure consistent product quality and product flow.• Identified, developed and executed various promotional marketing, special value, and new lower price programs resulting in market share improvement while maintaining sales, margin and inventory goals.• Developed specific trend reporting now utilized by Directors and Senior Vice Presidents to monitor product group and assortment performance metrics.• Designed and created a plan-o-gram assignment database utilized during the proof process by Merchandising Specialists and Planogram Specialist that reduces labor and increases assignment accuracy for new and re-merchandised stores. • Assisted in the development of annual sales, turn and margin budgets for assigned product groups and assortments.• Presented packaging design concepts and ultimately collaborated with vendors to develop packaging that simplifies the shopping experience as well as maximizes store and logistics efficiencies.• Continually focused on building and managing long term supplier relationships that cultivate an environment for developing win-win partnerships.• Transitioned heavily weighted domestic vendor base to direct import to maximize financial performance while ensuring consistent product flow.• Provided leadership, training and guidance with the introduction of three new Merchandising Specialists and one Merchandising Director to subdivision.• Conducted various factory visits in mainland China to identify supplier opportunities, strengthen import vendor relationships, and review production quality processes. Show less • Responsible for managing an inventory budget of $400MM ac 17 product groups.• Assist the Merchandising team in item selection, disposition and stock strategies during the line review process.• Responsible for inventory planning, budgeting and achieving turn improvement metrics.• Demonstrated team leadership during the planning and execution phases of line reviews resulting in smooth line review product transition and the avoidance of margin erosion from discontinued items.• Collaborated with Merchandising, Replenishment and the vendor community on a forward looking inventory process resulting in improved in-stock position, promotional execution and vendor planning.• Develop and execute seasonal build and exit strategies that maximize inventory turns and ROI while balancing service level and in-stock metrics.• Implemented a formal process to request, measure and ensure all promotional or incremental buys are executed on time and as planned.• Demonstrate a strong sense of urgency by recognizing and reacting immediately to all field feedback by adjusting inventory settings to improve operational efficiency, sales and stock levels.• Assist merchandising in the negotiation of volume rebate programs resulting in enhanced margin and ROI. Show less

  • Merchandising Director - Rough Electrical

    Nov 2013 - Oct 2021

  • Merchandising Manager - Value Improvement Team

    Feb 2012 - Dec 2013

  • Merchandising Manager - Lighting and Rough Electrical

    Sept 2007 - Feb 2012

  • Logistics Planning Manager

    May 2005 - Oct 2008
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  IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC

  Dec 2022 - now

  Director of Sales, Retail and Industrial North America