Manufacturing Performance Team: Meet Our Experts
Eric Thornton - Principal
With over 30 years of experience in major industrial areas such as stamping, forging, die-casting, machining, heat treating, and powder metal, I have developed strong manufacturing expertise. This includes nearly 10 years in product design and manufacturing management, where I focused on tooling, product, and process design. My background in leading an industrial engineering team has allowed me to successfully guide products from concept to market through various stages, including prototype development for both small and large volume production.
Mike Herrick - Associate
With over 30 years of experience in manufacturing and utility operations, our industrial engineering team specializes in the development of process documentation, including training manuals and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). We leverage our manufacturing expertise to create comprehensive end-to-end process maps for manufacturing, field operations, and administrative functions. Utilizing Lean Six Sigma qualifications, we apply line balancing and workflow optimization methods to enhance efficiency and reduce labor costs. Through process observation and workflow analysis, we consistently identify opportunities for operational improvement.
Ryan Schaad - Associate
With over 16 years of experience across the manufacturing landscape in multiple roles, I offer deep manufacturing expertise. As a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, my Lean Six Sigma qualifications are centered on deploying advanced quantitative methodologies, conducting Root Cause Analysis, and applying waste reduction principles to generate measurable financial outcomes. I am recognized for building robust quality frameworks, leading compliance with ISO 9001/14001, FDA, NHTSA, and FMVSS standards, and implementing rigorous risk management and change control protocols. My role within the industrial engineering team has equipped me to align engineering specifications with strict regulatory requirements, allowing me to resolve critical product discrepancies and elevate overall manufacturing precision.