ROBERT M.

GROSS 989 Snowshill Lane Home: 205-298-7552

Birmingham, Al. 35242 Cell: 205-706-5567 bg15bf1ae@westpost.net

SUMMARY Experienced professional in Sales, Purchasing, Operations, Process Optimization and Improvement, Lean Principles and Practices for Manufacturing and Services Bu siness, Quality Systems, Strategic Development, Kaizen Events and developing Tra ining Programs. EXPERIENCE Deshazo Crane Company 2008-2010 President Alabaster, Alabama Direct P & L responsibility, Managed a 100 person work force including sales, en gineering, and manufacturing. * Introduced the team approach to process improvement, problem solving, and engi neering. * Introduced the ISO 9001-2000 quality system. * Eliminated the old paper systems and made them digital. This greatly reduced time searching for sales, engineering, and manufacturing files. * Initiated a research and development group to find ways, through engineering, to reduce manufacturing costs and develop new product lines. * Developed a new design for tubular end trucks, and newly designed wheel which reduced the cost from $1,400 to $700. Potential savings of $750,000 per year. * Developed our own small package hoists in the 5 to 10 ton range. This will el iminate the need to buy these hoists from competitors who now dominate that mark et. This would be a new product line and market for Deshazo with potential sale s of $2,000,000. * Initiated competitive bidding in purchasing and developed new sourcing in chin a and India. This new sourcing cut our wheel and sheaves costs in half with pot ential savings of $1,000,000 per year. JEMISON DEMSEY METALS 2000-2007 Corporate Vice President of Operations 2006-2007 Birmingham, Alabama Managed physical facilities and plant operations in four locations. Had 90 direc t reports including Director of Operations, Director of Quality, production plan ners, and costing specialists. * Reduced Operating expenses by $1.2 million in first year while increasing prod uctivity as measured by tons per man hour. Results moved company to upper quart ile of industry peer group, as measured by operating expenses as a percentage of revenue. * Oversaw the development of a system to quickly review future orders and shipme nts enabling sales and operating groups to find and correct errors prior to day of shipment. Led to reduced errors, overtime, and excess freight. * Continued to introduce Lean Principles and Practices in the plants through tra ining and Kaizen events. Led to increased productivity, lower costs, and fewer rejected materials. * Oversaw the installation of a third blanking line in the South Carolina plant. * Began to introduce Six Sigma methodology to the company. Corporate Vice President of Strategic Development and Quality 2005 -2006 * Developed training programs for newly formed corporate inside sales team. * Developed corporate-wide quality system including training, standards, procedu

res, and work instructions. * Began to introduce Lean Business Principles and Practices through Process and Value Stream Mapping and Kaizen events. President, Cleveland Division 2002-2005 Demsey and Associates was acquired by The Jemison Investment Company of Birmingh am, Alabama in 2000 and became Jemison Demsey Metals. * Had direct P & L responsibility for the Cleveland division. * General management of all phases of the business including sales team and plan t operations. * Division grew from $30 million to $48 million by the end of 2004. DEMSEY AND ASSOCIATES Vice President Sales and Operations 1985-2002 Cleveland, Ohio Managed 5 person sales team and the 25 person plant operation. Directed the act ivities of the sales staff in a 5 state area surrounding Ohio. * Developed a $3.5 million market in the South and Southeast as a supplier to ot her Steel Service Centers. * Oversaw the addition of the company's first $2 million blanking line, providin g precision sheets and blanks to the marketplace. * Installed second blanking line in 1995. * Handled 50% of steel negotiating and purchasing activities. * Initiated and oversaw the team which developed the first formal quality system leading to ISO 9001 certification in 1990. Sales Representative 1980-1985 * Created and grew sales territory from $0 to $9 million, accounting for 25% of the company's annual revenue. EDUCATION AND ORGANIZATIONS B. A. Cleveland State University M.B.A. Baldwin Wallace College Lean Six Sigma Certificate Villanova University 2006 Six Sigma Black Belt Certificate illanova University 2007 Masters Certificate In Six Sigma illanova University 2007 American Society For Quality (ASQ) - Senior Member Association Of Iron and Steel Technology (AIST) Lean Enterprise Institute 1970 1984

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