Andrew Mills

Experience

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  General Dynamics

  May 1991 - Sept 1997

  Aerospace Senior Electrical Systems Engineer

  General Dynamics Corp. at Military Facilities WSTF, NAWCWD and Naval Base GuamWhite Sands, NM; Point Muga, CA; Anderson AFB GuamOn-orbit operations, trending and support and Launch Team Member Johnson Space Complex, TDRSS Facility, White Sands, NM. TDRSS Systems Launch Team for on-orbit payload activations and testing. Did RF Link measurements, eclipse, battery reconditioning, telemetry analysis, command plans, orbital maneuver support (station-keeping) and anomalies recovery for TDRSS Constellation. Held COMSEC Security Clearance. TDRSS- Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System.At company request, relocated to NAWS (Naval Air Weapons Station -Oxnard/Point Mugu Naval Base CA) when on-orbit support contract was awarded. Designated as "critical support", key person tied to the contract award. Supported day-to-day, on-orbit geosync satellite operations of FLTSATCOM Constellation & UHF Follow-On Constellation. Trained military personnel. Quarterly Report Editor for FLTSATCOM constellation readiness report (DoD Joint Chief of Staff.)Again, per request, relocated to USA Territory of Guam for a 3 year on-orbit support contract. Installed systems for command & telemetry services. Did RF Link testing. Supervisory role for company and Naval employees. Monitored satellites on-orbit station-keeping & telemetry. Made rudimentary construction inputs for Kevlar fabric radome (typhoon damage risk mitigation). Show less

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  Northrop Grumman

  Sept 1997 - Mar 1999

  MILSTAR Technical Specialist IV

  Formerly the program was administered by TRW Space & Defense. Assembly Integration and Test Leader for MILSAT- MILSTAR DoD Program. RMO (rubidium master oscillator / CPU timing expert). Commmunication Payload convoluted message traffic analyst lead. Performed tests to validate the effectiveness of the payload. Held COMSEC Security Clearance.

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  Space Systems LORAL

  Mar 1999 - May 2002

  Supervisor Assembly Integration and Test

  Team Lead for geosynchronous (commercial) satellites fabrication, testing and test phases on all build process operations. Section Head for 26 Engineering Techs. Generated content for RFPs/RFQs new business. Hired and trained personnel ("Brass Ring" events). Developed training plan to reduce mandatory staffing on satellite test platforms; allowed for personnel absence without impact to testing schedules. Acting Dept Mgr. when necessary due to PTO, etc.

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  Sensor Electronics

  Jun 2007 - Feb 2008

  Production Coordinator & Supervisor

  Did production coaching to the PCBA production assembly & testing team. Imparted knowledge of assembly, testing, soldering, ESD precautions and GMP work to technicians. Did engineering testing & verification of electro-chemical gas sensors, infrared gas sensors, and galvanic gas sensors. Had oversight for sales orders being timely filled, quality control checks and product testing. Resolved defects and made recommendations. Worked with electronic contract manufacturers on defect resolution issues. Show less

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  Oshkosh Defense Corp

  Feb 2008 - Sept 2011

  Facilities Maintenance Engineering Manager

  Managed the engineering maintenance repair team for an 80,000 sq-ft metal parts, fabrication and cylinder factory. The factory was equipped with premium, large-scale CNC machine centers: 17 total (HAAS, Okuma, Mazak, MS Machining Systems, 8 auto-Weld Robot Cells (IGM, Panasonic), 70 weld portables and 80 hoists and cranes along with a 400’ wash, dry prime paint, finish paint and bake oven process. Implemented and directed the Predictive and Preventative Maintenance programs. Implemented "Green" & "Lean" Programs. Managed the Hazmat Waste Program. Managed the Workplace Safety Program. Managed the Janitorial Staff. Show less

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  Bobcat Doosan Corp.

  Jan 2012 - Jan 2014

  Senior QA/New Product Introduction Manufacturing Engineer

  P/DFMEA on new products design and testing: M500 Loaders, electronic engine and quick accessories fit-attach. Did strategic RAN for warranty/DPPM cost projections. Supported daily build of 80 construction loaders. Conducted OFAT & DOE studies to resolve manufacturing issues. Developed strategies to improve (cp/cpk) process. Communicated daily information to production line stations. Reported daily on FPY/ RTY. Analyzed defect data for trends -Pareto analysis, Pivot Charts /process regression. Managed R&R queue (rework and repair) to assist in repair and resolution of mfg issues. Conduct EOL audits. Worked off-shifts to bring product quality to production. Resolved weld & powder paint QC issues. Worked closely with Local USW 560 Union. Show less

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  Benchmark Electronics, Inc.

  Jan 2014 - May 2015

  Senior ECM Quality Control Engineer

  Supported PCBA smt contract manufacturing; statistical review & product build quality. Monitored product quarantine inventory & reports financials. Focused on process improvement via DPPM/DPMO, Risk Assessment Numbers, VOC, and Lean Six Sigma. Resolved RI/WIP/FINGOODS quality issues. Interfaced with vendors on defects resolutions & issues CAR/compliance notifications for 8D resolution. Held IPC-A-610, 600, J-STD-001 Certifications.

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  Killdeer Mountain Manufacturing, Inc.

  May 2015 - Sept 2016

  Quality Assurance Manager | AS9100 | PCBAs EMS OEM

  Responsible for quality program compliance at Aerospace Electronics CCA Class 3 Manufacturing Facility per AS9100, AS9102, ISO9001-2015, IPC-A-600, IPC-A-610, IPC-A-620, J-STD. Conducted training & staff oversight at a 100 employees’ facility. Annual sales were $25.1MM (30,000 CCA shipped annually). Directed program quality goals for customer satisfaction VOC (CTC+CTQ). Coordinated corrective actions: CARS, SCARS; ANDONS, Kaizens, RCCA, PDCA, FMEA, FAI events. Managed Receiving and Final Inspection. Directed defect resolution activities to include 5Why, SWOT, PDCA, Hoshin-Kanri, Ishikawa-Fishbone, Affinity Diagrams, Inter-Relational Causal Diagrams. Skilled in Productivity Time Management (Franklin Covey). Trended quality KPIs. Managed internal & external audits. LEAN-6s Champion. SPC DPPM/DPMO six sigma (CPK/CP) skill. Analyzed COPQ for causal & cost reductions. Wrote SOWs for program compliance. Show less

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  Benchmark Electronics, Inc.

  Dec 2016 - Jul 2024

  Product and Process Engineer ECM

  Process Product Engineering support on PCBAs build to AS9100, ISO-9001, IPC-A-600; 610; 620, Class 2 & 3 specifications. Responsible for proactive product quality, process mapping/routes, customer interface, project support teams, CAPA-RCCA resolution, product defect analysis, quality KPI metrics and customer scorecard review, SCAR Responses. Responsible for NPI (new product introductions) and FMEA, RAN, 8D activities. Key CFT contributor to $120MM revenue stream; two (2) key DoD clients.

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  Blue Origin

  Jul 2024 - Feb 2025

  Aerospace Continuous Process Improvement Quality Assurance Engineering

  Role was to ensure the highest standards of quality and efficiency at Blue Origin.Responsibilities included monitoring, inspecting, and proposing improvements to our space systems, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. Strong understanding of aerospace engineering principles and quality assurance methodologies required. Quality Assurance: Evaluated and inspected aerospace systems and components to ensure they meet quality standards and regulatory requirements.Process Improvement: Identified, investigated, and resolved quality issues during production and after delivery. Developed and implemented quality control processes to ensure consistency and reliability.Supported testing processes & procedures to ensure they meet performance and safety standards. Supported audits and inspections to assess compliance with quality standards and aviation regulations.Data Analysis: Analyzed production data to identify trends and potential areas of improvement. Used the industry standard 7 Quality Tools to analyze, monitor & improve manufacturing processes. Strong understanding of aerospace engineering principles and quality assurance methodologies required.Collaboration: Worked closely with design and production teams to integrate quality assurance procedures. Excellent communication & collaboration skills required.Documentation: Documented and reported quality assurance activities and findings. Ensured compliance with government regulations and industry standards. Ensured that products, materials, and processes meet requirements and were interoperable across government agencies, standards & departments: Working knowledge MIL-STD, FED-STD, MIL SPEC, ANSI, ASTM, ASTM, NIST, and IPC spec docs.Continuous Improvement: Drove initiatives to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of aerospace processes. Implemented methods for performing root cause analysis (RCCA) and took corrective and preventive actions. Show less