LINDA S.

COOPER
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West Bloomfield, Michigan 48322
248.880.3660 * lcb8d942@westpost.net
ENGINEERING AND PROGRAM MANAGER
Engineering and supply chain manager with 20+ years experience. Expertise in ve
hicle and power-train development, crisis resolution, and cross-functional team
management. Hands-on leader recognized for developing innovative initiatives re
sulting in cost savings. Consistent record of success in implementing managemen
t strategies for time-sensitive, multi-million dollar projects. Team player with
excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Program Management * International Business * Operations Management * P&L Respon
sibility
Process Improvement * Product Development * Project Management * Purchasing
Quality Control * Risk Management * Strategic Planning * Total Quality Managemen
t
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CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS
* Managed program budgets exceeding $235 million.
* Managed and launched 6 major programs from design to manufacturing.
* Reduced capital expenditure requirements by 7%.
* Developed and deployed the company's first global strategy for standardizing c
ontainer designs, subsequently reducing engineering resource requirements for 8
vehicle plants.
* Hired, trained, and motivated engineering staff, championing a cohesive produc
t development process.
* Improved vehicle program profit margins by 6% by co-leading and developing str
ategy to transition indirect purchasing from component sourcing to assembly sour
cing.
* Captured $56 million in corporate assets by creating and executing a new asset
recovery project.
* Exceeded financial targets and achieved $8.7 million cost savings by introduci
ng strategic sourcing initiatives within first year.
* Generated more than $1.3 million savings and improved overall operating margin
s by linking non-traditional revenue streams with creative logistics network str
ategies.
* Spearheaded and implemented the creation of inbound transportation cost estima
ting tools for applications utilized to develop program financial targets.
* Generated $22 million savings and $100 million cost avoidance by implementing
global benchmarking initiatives.
* Initiated multiple strategic alliances and partnerships with global suppliers
of major components. Alliances resulted in 20-35% average sales growth for Tier
I suppliers.
* Developed and standardized training courses on supplier quality and containeri
zation completed by more than 350 global employees.
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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
General Motors. Warren, Michigan. 1985 - 2009.
Engineering Program Manager. 2002 - 2009.
* Managed17 North American and 89 global direct reports.
* Provided leadership and technical direction for assigned organizational respon
sibilities, programs, and personnel. Specifically, leaded Integrated Product Dev
elopment Teams in the development of vehicle components and packaging systems fo
r vehicle programs homeroomed in North America and assembly plants in Mexico, Ca
nada, Germany and Brazil and Australia.
* Managed project budgets, schedules, scope and risks.
* Demonstrated leadership in communicating business goals / programs / processes
for business segment.
* Led North American program homeroom meetings for assigned projects through Pro
duct Design and Development Process and Reviews.
* Promoted technical excellence within business team and matrix organization thr
ough participation in design and technical reviews, lessons learned awareness an
d application, and technical innovation / growth fostering.
* Established and maintained relationships with external and internal interfaces
to ensure that customer requirements were understood and achieved.
* Established, modified, and monitored overall engineering program requirements
for responsible commodities, timing, and resources of section and matrix organiz
ation to meet / exceed business objectives and goals.
* Communicated technical and financial aspects of program activities vertically,
horizontally, and globally in the organization.
* Ensured positive actions were taken to encourage growth, technical development
, and improved interpersonal skills among subordinates.
* Implemented initiatives to continuously improve the responsiveness of business
team / organization to customer / business needs.
* Ensured implementation of compliance initiatives and training requirements.
* Collected data and analyzed needs for both local and global sourcing in line w
ith GM sourcing strategies for indirect purchased components.
* Co-led with purchasing negotiations with suppliers and their representatives,
relative to obtaining quotes.
* Analyzed bids to determine favorable bidder, based on quality, delivery and pr
icing; recommended and / or made awards, obtained quotations, and negotiated pur
chases in accordance with specific instructions as required.
* Developed complete understanding of the product development process and the in
teractions within sales and marketing, material planning, quality, regulatory, c
linical, R&D, engineering, and manufacturing / operations.
* Subject Matter Expert with design and test document requirements and procedure
s, new product and process validations, test specifications, BOM and engineering
change orders, and their associated quality implications.
Manager, Transportation and Logistics. 2000 - 2002.
* Supervised 14 central office direct reports and 48 indirect plant personnel.
* Managed logistics global supply chain activities for 29 major programs with bu
dgets totaling more than $136 million.
* Set budgets and forecasts, developed estimates, and managed costs.
Senior Supplier Quality Engineer. 1993 - 2000.
* Managed global supply base for powertrain reciprociating and sealing systems.
Designed, developed and launched processes using working knowledge of engineer
ing disciplines (APQP, FMEA, Control Plans, Process Sheets, etc.); Through the u
se of Lean Manufacturing tools (Value stream mapping, and Master Schedules); QS9
000/9001, delivered innovative processing solutions for Tier1 and 2 suppliers.
* Recognized as key stakeholder with product design and manufacturing engineerin
g teams to meet program targets including timely introduction, cost, quality and
delivery levels.
* Performed as key stakeholder as a member of cross-functional design teams and
project development teams.
* Negotiated and managed contracts and agreements for assigned commodities to me
et program cost and quality requirements.
* Understood, tracked, and forecasted key cost drivers and market factor for ass
igned commodities.
* Led supplier selection process for new products.
* Experience in working collaboration with suppliers to optimize process, costs,
capacity and delivery performance.
* Led quarterly business reviews with key suppliers.
* Led global supply chain teams to establish lean manufacturing and delivery sys
tems.
* Utilized traditional Lean Manufacturing tools (i.e. Six Sigma) including worki
ng within an environment that embraced the daily use of these tools.
* Trained assembly plant personnel and developed supplier personnel in low cost
country quality resources to ensure compliance with the Automotive Supplier Qual
ity Manual.
Production Supervisor / Reliability Engineer. 1985 - 1993.
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EDUCATION
M.S. in Management. Central Michigan University. Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
B.B.A. in Management and Marketing. Adrian College. Adrian, Michigan.
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TECHNICAL SKILLS
Lean Tools: PMP Certified * Strategy / Policy Deployment * Value Stream Mapping
* Standard Work * 5S * Visual Controls * TPM * Set-Up Reduction * Kanban * Heiju
nka * Mistake Proofing
Lean Manufacturing and Process Variation Reduction (Six Sigma) concepts and tool
sets
Blueprint reading skills
Master in Quality Core Tools of PFMEA/DFMEA, control planning, and Manufacturing
Site / Supplier Assessments
QS 9000 / 9001 requirements
Working knowledge of vehicle and powertrain, engine and transmission manufacturi
ng, plastics injection molding industry and metal forming industry
MS Office Suite * MS Project