RJ Elsing

Experience

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  Shure Incorporated

  Jan 1995 - Jan 1997

  Process Research and Development Engineer

  Conducts research and development on new microphone components and manufacturing lines to reduce costs and increase throughput and efficiency. Provides engineering assistance during startup of process and assembly lines in U.S. and Mexico.

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  MEGTEC Systems, Inc.

  Jan 1997 - Jan 2000

  Lead Project Engineer

  Reporting to the Manager of Graphic Arts platform. Leads team of six newly trained designers and drafters in commercialization of new dryer line and first successful 3D modeling project in company. Provides special engineering assistance, consultation, and design services to external customers and foreign offices.

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  KI

  Jul 2000 - Aug 2007

  Product Engineer

  Managed engineering projects from business plan concept through design, prototyping, testing and eventual manufacture on $20M office furniture product line, a top-three product in sales. • Led multiple cost-saving efforts and incorporated Poke-Yoke designs resulting in $500K annual savings.• Combined key product knowledge with creativity to win over $1M in custom projects.• Directed multiple $100K - $400K projects for ISO certified plants.

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  Dowco

  Jan 2007 - Jan 2008

  Team Leader - New Product Development

  Managed new product development efforts and staff, including engineers, technicians, project coordinators, drafters and prototypers using milestones, Gantt charts and RACI model.• Managed Prototyping Lab including budgeting, acquisition and installation of new equipment. Transformed atmosphere through coaching underachieving, unmotivated employees into top performers, which resulted in extremely high-quality, on-time prototypes.• Integrated department operations and smoothed flow of product development effort between engineers and prototypers, which increased efficiency while slashing costs and development time.• Led development efforts for custom product solutions, reduced materials cost by factor of 10, and increased product profitability while sourcing parts in China, Taiwan, and India.• Scheduled resources to ensure development efforts and Critical Path deliverables on schedule, participated in Kaizen and Lean events. Show less

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  Beachmakers, LLC

  Jan 2008 - Jul 2017

  President/Owner/Founder

  Founded Beachmakers, LLC, researched, and created detailed business plans, attracted R&D funding.Created and brought to market disruptive technology and services to profitably transform unusable beaches buried beneath piles of razor-sharp, bacteria-laden shells back to warm, soft, sandy beaches.• Identified solution to zebra shell problem, designed, prototyped, and patented world’s first machine to accelerate the natural process of transforming seashells to sand, restoring beach utility and beauty.• Spearheaded continuous improvement efforts in product reliability and efficiency while reducing BOM.• Strategized, directed, and implemented market development efforts with consultant and Voice of Customer research resulting in multi-state and international demand for product and service.• Created partnerships and collaborations with University research scientists to show positive environmental impacts of machine, process and gain acceptance by governing environmental authorities.• Established customer demand through extensive research and meetings with customers and potential service providers, created positive cash flow at point of service. Show less

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  BayTek Games

  Jul 2008 - Nov 2010

  R&D Manager

  Managed research, new product development, and personnel; including software, mechanical and electrical engineers, and technicians. Reviewed production costs and product quality, coordinated and managed patent applications, created QC procedures and processes. Led product improvement efforts. Managed all aspects of offsite R&D Lab including software (SDLC), firmware, and hardware development.• Took over and led most technically complex project in the history of company from brink of cancellation to over $1M in sales.• Worked with offshore vendors to deliver complex electro-mechanical assemblies Just in Time (JIT).• Designed and coordinated test programs and protocol for complex electromechanical products.• Provided engineering consulting and mechanical design services for NASCAR game product. • Designed 1/24th scale car chassis capable of lasting half a million laps using DOE and six-sigma concepts. Show less

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  Northern Products Development Group

  Oct 2011 - Jul 2012

  Director of R&D

  Researched and led new business development efforts and personnel. • Developed situational analysis of product proposals including SWOT: developed strategic plans for products. Coordinated and supervised market research efforts prior to accepting product ideas or launching new product development efforts. Negotiated contracts with vendors and consultants.• Negotiated design tradeoffs affecting overall product quality and function. Evaluated progress and results, recommended major changes to achieve strategic objectives, profitability, and customer acceptance. Show less

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  SEURA

  Sept 2013 - Jun 2017

  Director of R&D and Director of Engineering

  Led diverse, multi-disciplinary teams in projects: high-aesthetic outdoor TV’s engineered for extreme weather, Lighted Mirrors, and Vanishing TV Mirror Products. Researched and identified opportunities to implement improvements in product design using Six-sigma and Poke-yoke techniques, in assembly and manufacture. Specified, procured and installed capital equipment and Quality Programs for new products and processes. Used Voice of Customer (VOC) to find, identify, and integrate innovative new technologies into products to solve customer problems.• Identified, evaluated, prioritized, and project-managed international new product development efforts domestically and overseas based on strategic evaluation of business case and ROI.• Led and managed multiple departments and simultaneous high-dollar projects.• Set up incoming QC process and test program for $1M+ product line, created defect reports and suggested numerous process improvements to assist vendor in cutting defect rate by 50%.• Directed and managed engineering and technical staff in projects and day-to-day activities.• Created, directed, and managed test programs for new product introductions (including software and firmware). Assisted V.P of Sales and Marketing in defining new products using VOC techniques.• Identified, developed and created valuable Intellectual Property, created and managed patent portfolio. Show less

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  Parker Hannifin

  Sept 2017 - Nov 2020

  Plant Engineering Manager

  Led Engineering and Maintenance teams responsible for keeping 286K square feet of lean manufacturing and assembly of high-tolerance machined, drawn, formed, and swaged parts and assemblies running profitably. Supervised maintenance and environmental managers, mentored programmers, engineers, and interns.• Led Continuous Improvement efforts using Root Cause Analysis, 5S, Lean and TPM techniques to build trust, achieve breakthroughs and optimize 80% of all parts machined in facility -- which reduced costs, freed thousands of hours of machine time per month, and allowed insourcing of additional SKU’s.• Supported Production Control, Production Management, and Quality to reduce rework, scrap and kanban inventory, which increased customer satisfaction through improved, on-time delivery of quality parts.• Researched / prepared capital acquisition (AFE) for overall plant capital management and requirements.• Led Kaizen teams to increase robotic assembly cell productivity over 10%, implemented audits, TPM and eliminated need to buy parts from outside vendor, reduced tooling costs by six-figures annually. • Developed, managed and maintained plant policies and cultivated culture to boost safety, productivity, and profitability as Staff Team Member while reducing OSHA recordables. Show less

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  Warhorse Munitions Company, Inc.

  Nov 2020 - now

  President

  Provide strategic leadership to position the company at the forefront of the industry and secure robust supply lines to quality ammunition and components during worldwide shortage. Secure investment capital and advance the company's mission and objectives while promoting revenue, profitability and growth as an organization. Oversee company operations to ensure sourcing efficiency, quality, service, and cost-effective management of resources.