Director of Manufacturing Engineering

In Manufacturing Engineering we’re responsible for developing the value-add build process (layout planning, headcount planning, tooling, equipment, documentation) and driving continuous improvement. At a high level, we take the design from Gyro Engineering, break it down into it’s components and determine the best approach to reassemble in a way that’s safe, quality focused, and capable of meeting throughput requirements in the most efficient way possible.

My job is to make sure we have the team and processes in place to support current production, all new product introductions, engineering changes, and Continuous Improvement while driving toward a common vision of Operational Excellence.

Before joining Seakeeper I was the Manufacturing Engineering Manager at Harley Davidson in York, PA where my teams supported both sub assembly operations as well as final vehicle assembly. We had bikes rolling off the line every 82 seconds – pretty different than our gyro throughput pace but I still believe Seakeeper manufacturing is more challenging and more interesting.

August 2021

Honestly there is very little that hasn’t changed. We’ve moved production from Mohnton to our new home in Leesport, implemented a new Manufacturing Execution System called TDM, instituted new assembly lift stands in Sphere, and started kitting all parts for our assembly process areas. Not to mention a significant number of improvements along the way in terms of day to day process changes, and how we prepare for ECN’s and new product launches.

I’m not sure other departments were sure how to best interact with Manufacturing Engineering when I first started and now we play a central role driving continuous improvement efforts in collaboration with Production, Gyro Engineering, Quality, Procurement, Field Engineering, and AMO.

There have been a lot of challenges our team has tackled but I think the implementation of TDM is the one that stands out the most. Systems like TDM appreciate standardization and consistency, two things we didn’t yet have nailed down when we started and had to build in parallel which led to my oft-repeated phrase that we were “building the airplane in the air”. It’s been a great learning experience for myself and the rest of the team as we’ve navigated through implementation phases throughout production. We’re nearly fully implemented through production, but that doesn’t mean we’re near the end, this is just the beginning.

I’ve wanted to implement a line side kitting process since I started as a manufacturing engineer many years ago – we now have one in place for sphere and foundation assembly, and I love it!

There is a lot to like about working at Seakeeper, obviously it’s a strong team made up of great people. Beyond that, I really appreciate that expectations are aligned with reality and we’re not setting folks up for failure. On top of everything, Seakeeper is easily one of the most generous companies I’ve worked for in terms of the various events, food trucks, Christmas gifts, holiday meals, etc….

I’m still trying to get more awareness across the organization about what we do in Mfg Eng to help highlight some of the great work taking place and why it’s important. If only there were a way I could get something out to everyone that describes our core competencies and what we bring to the table…

Embrace change – it’s the only constant.
Engage in meetings and ask questions.

Bob Moser who I worked for prior to his retirement last fall has to this point had the greatest impact on my time here. He set a wonderful example of generosity and kindness while still holding accountability that I strive to embody.

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always be what you’ve always been.”
To me this speaks to embracing change and challenge, it’s okay to be uncomfortable – that’s when growth happens.

I was 37 when I learned how to whistle.