Michael R. Claxton
Verified Expert in Project Management
Project Manager
Stow, OH, United States
Toptal member since April 9, 2024
Michael is an expert at overseeing and streamlining business operations, focusing on process optimization, cost reduction, and efficiency enhancement across all business functions. An adept strategist, he leads high-performance teams toward operational excellence, using robust management skills and proficiency in Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to drive continuous improvement and waste minimization. Michael also elevates business processes and team leadership for maximal efficiency.
Project Highlights
Expertise
- Change Management
- Lean Manufacturing
- Lean Six Sigma
- Organizational Leadership
- People Management
- Process Design
- Project Management
- Strategic Planning
Work Experience
Senior Vice President
Sun America
- Drove sales growth from $23 million to $53 million within five years and stabilized a struggling baking cup and packaging manufacturer in the first two years through substantial restructuring of business operations.
- Converted a warehouse into a thermoforming operation for paper and plastic, installing new ancillary machinery to support sales of over $80 million.
- Deployed a world-class thermoforming operation, including installing six additional high-speed, high-volume thermoforming lines, bringing the total capability of supporting sales exceeding $80 million.
- Improved on-time delivery from 73% to over 98%, maintaining results year over year (YOY).
- Presided over various training programs, including quality management systems (QMSs), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), good manufacturing practice (GMP), food safety, Lean methodologies, and Microsoft Office.
- Established multiple warehouse locations to bolster manufacturing operations, utilizing the just-in-time (JIT) methodology.
- Designed an educational program for management highlighting the correlation between manufacturing excellence and company financial performance.
Project Manager
FirstEnergy
- Spearheaded development, training, and standardization for the power outage investigation process at FirstEnergy's transmission group across six states and multiple companies.
- Developed a project charter and key metrics to assess the effectiveness of the new process, which is vital for reducing historical power outage frequency and duration.
- Established the foundation for process standardization, documented current and future states, developed training guidelines, and identified the new standardized process in close collaboration with the team.
Vice President of Operations
Rohrer
- Managed the multi-location manufacturing operations, customer service, technical services, new product development, and capital spending. Ensured safety, environmental, and corporate compliance.
- Obtained and integrated our largest competitor, maintaining smooth business and customer service continuity.
- Enhanced profitability, sales, and throughput and improved on-time delivery from 73% to 98% in 90 days by optimizing manufacturing processes.
- Developed and implemented an employee gainsharing program, which was 100% funded by exceeding budget and company financial performance expectations.
- Headed the design and delivery of Lean methodology training across all company operations.
- Devised KPIs and reporting systems to monitor progress and align outcomes with financial performance.
- Organized standard data collection processes across multiple manufacturing locations, establishing a baseline for data-driven decision-making.
- Led the company-wide development and deployment of the procurement-to-payment (P2P) process, reducing missed discounts from over $300,000 yearly to under $10,000, with sustained results year-over-year (YOY).
- Formulated strategies to continuously improve the implementation of Lean methods, enhancing workflow, efficiency in problem-solving, and cutting waste, which directly improved profits.
Project History
New Plant Installation
Converted a subcontracted business into an in-house, world-class manufacturing operation based on Lean Six Sigma methodologies.
Paste Wax Line Process Improvement
Designed and implemented filling equipment modification for a nationally recognized car wax products supplier, resulting in superior products for the automotive consumer market.
North America Plant Improvement Project
Implemented Lean Six Sigma methodologies across all North American manufacturing operations, achieving significant improvements.
Compounding Operation Improvement
Turned around a struggling compounding operation, improving product quality, reducing turnover and scrap rates, and controlling costs to enhance the company's financial performance.
Certifications
Managing Change Management
Sterling Institute
Design of Experiments
Aeroquip
Statistical Process Control
Aeroquip
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
Lean Six Sigma Academy
DuPont Stop Safety Program
DuPont
Skills
Tools
Visio
Paradigms
Key Performance Metrics, Change Management
Industry Expertise
Lean Six Sigma, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
Other
Microsoft Office, People Development, Process Design, Organizational Leadership, Project Management, Facilitation, Meeting Briefings, GAP Analysis, Board Reporting, Customer Success, Lean Manufacturing, Safety-critical, Environmental Impact Assessments, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), People Management, Process Control, Training, Soft Skill Training, Interpersonal Skills, Balance Scorecards, Safety, Safety Documentation, Process Documentation, Manuals & Documentation, Manufacturing, DMAIC, Warehouses, Microsoft Teams, Strategic Planning, P&L Management, SAP Supply Chain Management (SCM), Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP), Technical Design, Engineering, Statistical Process Control Tools, Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), Public Safety, MPS
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