Raymond Assaf
Verified Expert in Project Management
Project Manager
Irvine, CA, United States
Toptal member since May 1, 2024
Raymond is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt with experience in E2E operational excellence from R&D inception to product delivery. He always cultivates strong partnerships with suppliers and vendors, coaches and mentors staff to foster a Lean mindset, and encourages colleagues to contribute ideas for improvement. Raymond has a strong track record of embedding quality into processes, striving for zero incidents and minimal downtime, and managing total preventive maintenance.
Project Highlights
Expertise
- Change Management
- Leadership
- Lean
- Lean Manufacturing
- Materials Management
- Operations Management
- Safety
- Supply Chain Management (SCM)
Work Experience
Business Process Excellence Manager
Ceva Santé Animale
- Implemented Lean processes, improving throughput by 80%.
- Trained staff globally, achieving strict certification targets.
- Led Kaizen projects for cost-saving, safety, EHS, ergonomics, and green initiatives.
- Conducted routine safety walks to educate staff on safety measures and find improvement opportunities.
- Created floor layouts to enhance product flow and safety.
Business Consultant
Self-employed
- Improved operational efficiency and financial stability for small businesses in wine distribution, retail, and playhouse rentals industries.
- Streamlined processes, reduced waste, and optimized resource utilization.
- Increased client satisfaction by implementing tailored solutions for their unique business needs.
Manufacturing Operations Manager
MKS Instruments
- Led Lean operational excellence implementations, enhancing staff efficiency and achieving improved KPIs.
- Reduced inventory shortages and implemented strategic cost containment measures, resulting in a 50% reduction in overtime variances.
- Monitored direct and indirect sale costs, ensuring optimal economic management.
- Enhanced production planning by 20% through improved load-leveling based on forecasts, work order routing, capacity planning, and cross-training initiatives.
- Maintained a 0% accident rate by performing routine safety walks and ensuring strict compliance with business policies related to EHS, OSHA, employee retention, and performance standards.
- Fostered open lines of communication with all departments, promoting a collaborative work environment focused on achieving company objectives.
Operations and Supply Chain Manager
OleumTech
- Led Lean initiatives and supply chain optimization efforts with no budget, fostering creative thinking among staff.
- Achieved favorable KPIs, including a 40% overtime reduction, scrap decrease, and shipment efficiency improvement from 80% to 98%.
- Managed supplier relationships, negotiating contracts for improved pricing and terms.
- Ensured compliance with rules, regulations, EHS, and safety controls.
- Introduced an internal reward strategy for quality performance and teamwork, promoting continuous improvement.
Manufacturing Engineering Lead
Clear-Com
- Led a 7-member manufacturing engineering team supporting defense, aerospace, and commercial communications application programs.
- Innovatively created pictorial work instructions, achieving a 100% manufacturing quality rate.
- Conducted new product introduction (NPI) training sessions for manufacturing personnel.
- Represented the manufacturing team in the material review board committee, addressing supplier quality, production, and customer experience issues to improve KPIs.
- Spearheaded training in Lean, health and safety, and ergonomics, inspiring the team to generate innovative ideas and leading the adoption of a Lean management system.
- Performed Lean and safety audits to find opportunities for staff training and ideas for improvement.
- Facilitated various Kaizen process mapping and improvement projects.
- Executed ISO 9001 audits, ensuring compliance and improving process selection.
Manufacturing Operations Manager
Boeing
- Managed 85 aerospace technicians, overseeing upgrades, bonding, and repairs for the 787 Dreamliner.
- Implemented process improvement projects, optimizing construction flow and reducing waste.
- Spearheaded efforts toward achieving full regulatory compliance by thoroughly familiarizing myself with relevant industry standards and ensuring their consistent application throughout manufacturing.
Product Development Lab Manager
pSemi
- Managed a team of engineering and manufacturing technicians supporting various new product development programs.
- Implemented an efficient scheduling process for the use of lab resources by the 200 R&D staff.
- Saved the company more than $100,000 on capital equipment, total productive maintenance, repairs, and calibration.
Project History
Lean Training
Conducted successful Lean training sessions and prepared effective Lean training materials for staff.
New Product Introduction (NPI)
Set up the standard for a new product introduction process.
Vendor Management Inventory (VMI)
Established strong relationships with key vendors and suppliers.
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Management
Western Governors University - Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Associate Degree in Electronics
Green River Community College - Auburn, WA, USA
Certifications
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
Six Sigma Global Institute
Certification in Operations Resource Management
California State University, San Marcos
Project Management Certification
The Computing Technology Industry Association
Skills
Tools
Zoom, Skype for Business
Paradigms
Lean, Change Management
Industry Expertise
Supply Chain Management (SCM), Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Lean Six Sigma, Electronics
Other
Leadership, Operations Management, Materials Management, Manufacturing, Training, Lean Manufacturing, Vendor Management, Safety, Vendors & Suppliers, Project Management, Engineering, Product Development, Auditing, Teams, Business Management, Repairs, GNU Multiple Precision (GMP), Remote Work, Travel, Resource Management, Supply Chain, Warehouses, Kaizen, ISO 9001, Program Management, Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA)
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