James (Jesy) Yeates, MBA

Experience

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  Army National Guard

  May 1996 - May 2006

  Roles of Progressive Leadership

  Varying roles of progressive Leadership►2nd Lieutenant - US Army Combat Engineering School►2nd Lieutenant - Battalion Administrative Officer►2nd Lieutenant - Platoon Leader►1st Lieutenant - Company Executive Office (Unit Excellence Award)►Captain - Company Commander (finalist for Commander of the Year, Unit Excellence Award)►Captain - Battalion Supply and Maintenance Officer (for Iraq activation and shipping of equipment)►Captain - Battalion Battle Captain for Battalion Operations (for deployment into Iraq)►Captain (promotable) - Essential Services Commander for Western Baghdad Province (Bronze Star) ►1997-2006 - Commander for Emergency Military Operations for two parishes in Southern Louisiana. Show less

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  John Deere

  Sept 1996 - Jun 2024

  ► Established and directed expansive global strategic supplier quality operations in China, India, Brazil, Germany, Russia, Poland, Mexico, and the US. This involved crafting a comprehensive strategy, envisioning the future, and leading a team of 39 direct and 100+ indirect reports, collaborating with over 4000 global suppliers.►Managed enterprise quality processes for quality planning and defect management (8D).► Pioneered a foundation for Quality transformation, playing a pivotal role in overhauling a dated quality management system into a new, streamlined business operating system. This system is centered on people, processes, and technology, marking a significant shift in our approach to quality management.►Lead the democratization of supplier quality data to drive priorities and vision with intelligent insights.►Developed supplier quality services strategy leveraging Indian and Mexico resources►Executed 300+ new supplier certifications and audits annually while maintaining the John Deere Supply Quality Manual and all enterprise supplier quality expectations, policies, and quality core tools.►Delivered 250+ supplier quality development projects leveraging Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing practices to return 75% improvement and 35% reduction in operational disruptions►Supported new product introductions (NPI) globally with critical suppliers leveraging scaled AIAG execution processes►Crafted an innovative supplier quality performance rating system linking performance to sourcing strategies. Industry-first, data analytics-based system provides the foundation for an overall supplier improvement strategy of fix, exit, monitor while implementing a performance, risk-based process of supplier quality planning tasks►Developed Quality transformation/digitalization vision and roadmap for APQP/PPAP/FEMA. Leveraged industry-leading technology to lead the redevelopment of processes. Implemented 40K of 160K hours of efficiency for global supplier quality organization Show less ► Pioneered and directed extensive supply management operations, encompassing warehouse, planning, sourcing, supplier development, sales, and operations planning. This initiative facilitated the successful launch of two factory startups in Russia while nurturing supplier relationships in Russia and the Common Independent States (CIS). ►Hired and managed a team of 60 global employees and 25 contractors while implementing SAP.►Developed and deployed processes for Serial Knockdown Kits (SKD) and Component Knockdown Kits (CKD) which became enterprise standards.► Collaborated with the senior leadership team to devise a comprehensive strategy for engaging with the Russian government on localization requirements and the U.S. government on business operations in Russia. ►Collaborated as part of the Russian leadership team to develop manufacturing footprint strategies, including working with government-sponsored economic development corporations and zones.►Led a group of competitors in developing sourcing options in Russia to meet government localization requirements.►Executed/managed multiple real estate contracts, each valued at $8.8M annually.►Negotiated and supported the scope of work development for a $35M development of a brownfield sight in Russia►Implemented logistics strategies to minimize weather impacts and geo-political requirements of moving material into/out of Russia. ►Developed detailed sourcing and cost-reduction strategies to increase profitability within our Russian operations.►Partnered with Quality to develop strategies to support suppliers in Russia while developing them to meet our Quality expectations.►Developed supply strategies to introduce new products to Russia and surrounding countries from our Russian facilities.►Worked with the C-Suite leaders of suppliers critical to localization strategies to localize in Russia.► Led a group of supply management professionals from several industries in conversations on localizing the supply base. Show less ►Directed development and deployment sourcing strategies for $1.5B in transmissions, axles, gearboxes, and other drivetrain components. ►Managed 16 direct reports sourcing in India, China, Mexico, Brazil, Europe, and the United States.►Developed internal manufacturing competencies studies for transmission, gearbox, axles, and gears/shafts to integrate into a global capabilities assessment. This led to the investment into internal drivetrain and casting operations while ensuring minimizing risk for material availability on high-profit products.►Developed technology strategies and joint development agreements for products leveraging internal and external innovation as part of a leadership council for drivetrain strategy.►Drove innovation initiatives leading to significant competitive advantage by executing multiple technology development agreements with key suppliers on key new product introductions.►Worked with supplier C-Suites leaders to manage global footprint growth to localize production into key markets.►Created and implemented data-driven cost models for drivetrain and powertrain commodities; models are now enterprise standards.►Created first commodity and currency-based pricing agreements with suppliers of complex commodities such as axles, transmission, and gearboxes, which are still in use today and have become the standard for the enterprise.►Reduced costs by $220M by implementing a global internal and external sourcing strategy.►Implemented sourcing strategies for engine and drivetrain components to support the launch of a new drivetrain factory in China and the expansion of the India drivetrain factory to allow export to the US, EU, Mexico, and Brazil markets. Show less ►Responsible for all supply chain activities for the global sugar cane harvester product line - warehousing, material flow, planning, new product development and launch, cost management, strategic sourcing, etc. ►Managed a substantial $136M budget and a team of 55 employees, with five direct reports in the US and Brazil.►Led supply management execution, including order fulfillment, cost management, product development, warehousing, material flow, serial knockdown (SKD), component knockdown (CKD), and material planning. ► Led supply management function roles in new product introduction and development, covering two geographic manufacturing locations with different options and product start dates.►Develop localization strategies to support Brazil's governmental localization requirements.►Supported several manufacturing footprint studies, including the expansion of operations in Brazil to support sugar, sprayer, and cotton expansions.►Developed and managed supply strategies that led to material availability when overall industry demand outpaced supply, which supported the business in attaining several points of market share and permanent customer conversions. ►Achieved $2.5M in reduced costs while developing plans to support $50M in Brazilian localization requirements.►Support several factory master plan studies and implementation in the U.S. and Brazil for warehousing requirements, material flow, and indirect materials and services.►Drove significant improvements into standard MRP reporting, including automation to support a 15% decrease in days on hand inventory and a 20% increase in material flexibility with suppliers.►Developed metrics scorecard for my business that became the standard for enterprise supply management. Show less ►Operations - SOIP, production systems implementation, lean manufacturing, factory master planning►Custom Product Engineer - tractors, pineapple harvesters & seeders, three-point hitches, sugarcane loaders.►Standardization Engineer - As the leader of the standardization project, I successfully standardized components across 15 different products/models, from sugar to customer products, resulting in a significant $100K+ in cost reduction and increased flexibility. ►Project Lead, Acquisition Integration - Led the integration activities for supply management, part management, and data management after John Deere acquired the business.►New Product Introduction Program Management - Led the new product introduction program for the localization of telehandlers into the U.S. market from EU Markets.►Tactical Supply Management Leader: Led tactical supply activities, including planning and buying current production parts, warehousing functions, and material flow.►Strategic Supply Management Leader - Led all new product supply chain integration activities.►Cost Management Leader - Led the development of cost tracking, baselining, reporting, and project tracking for all products. Worked closely with financial reporting.►Key leader in the redevelopment of the service parts business led to 15% increase in fill rates. Show less

  • Global Quality Manager - Strategic Supplier and Quality Processes

    Jul 2014 - Jun 2024

  • Regional Supply Chain Manager - Russia & CIS

    Jul 2011 - Jul 2014

  • Global Strategic Sourcing Manager - Drivetrain & Powertrain

    Feb 2007 - Jul 2011

  • Global Supply Chain Manager - Sugarcane Harvestering

    Feb 2004 - Feb 2007

  • Roles Prior to 2004

    Sept 1996 - Feb 2004
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  YC Beesness, LLC

  May 2018 - now

  Business Owner

  Owner and operator of family apiary business in Davenport, IA. We are avid beekeepers with varying numbers of active beehives. We use organic processes to manage our bees. We harvest approximately 1,200 to 2,000 pounds of honey yearly and sell bee nucs to new beekeepers while offering free training. We have an online store that focuses on selling locally. We also make our own honey meads for personal consumption.

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  Manufacturers Alliance

  Jul 2021 - Jun 2024

  Quality Council Member

  I am a Manufacturing Quality Council Member. The council is an industry forum that allows companies to share challenges and best practices in different functional areas across a broad range of industries. As a member on behalf of John Deere, I presented and led discussions related to the transformation and digitalization of quality processes and tools, including providing input to published research articles.

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  Vera French Community Mental Health Center

  Jul 2023 - now

  Board of Directors

  Board members support the development of strategic initiatives centered around growing the organization to a regional health center, housing, and other business requirements.

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  New Way® Trucks

  Dec 2024 - now

  Vice President Supply Chain