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Patricia Harwood

Business Operations Professional

Summary

Business oriented Industrial Engineer offering manufacturing, project management, continuous improvement, and training experience, looking to improvement business outcomes for organizations.

Work experience

20162017

PROJECT MANAGER

Nebraska Health Network, Omaha, NE
  • Defined project proposals.  Facilitation lead for clinical and population health teams to define and complete projects 
  • Set up a Microsoft SharePoint team site.
  • identification of Medicare Shared Savings Program requirements  for compliance, created training.
20132016

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST

Malnove of Nebraska, Inc., Omaha, NE

Responsible for identification and facilitation of process improvement projects and training/workshops to drive cultural change.

  • Improved operational costs by 30% on customer product and increased customer satisfaction.
  • Designed and managed a Continuous Improvement Program with an annual savings of $370,000.00.
  • Led cross-functional teams in Kaizen events to identify quality errors and customer requirements to increase customer satisfaction.
  • Created training course content for Malnove University. Trained cross-functional teams on business process changes, Six Sigma and Lean tools.
  • Identified KPI’s, created visual KPI boards, worked with Managers/Associates to improve KPIs.
20082013

PROCESS ENGINEER

Oilgear, Fremont, NE

Provided project management and problem solving skills concentrated in improving processes, quality, cost and delivery of customer product.

  • Reduced a quality issue by 62% that had been in existence for nearly 30 years.
  • Led & facilitated continuous improvement projects in process and product quality, using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies.
  • Redesigned assembly process for a 30% improvement.
  • Identified process KPI’s, led Kaizen events to improve process outcomes.
  • Managed engineering interns.
20062008

BUILDING SYSTEMS ANALYST

Weyerhaeuser, Omaha, NE

Provided engineering and cost accounting analysis evaluating the productivity and costs associated with componentized structural framing systems.

  • Provided training on client software.
  • Delivered data analyses on operational performance to the management on KPI metrics.
  • Led cross-functional teams in Kaizen events and improvements to operations to increase productivity and decrease costs.
20002006

PROCESS IMPROVEMENT / PRODUCT ENGINEER

Connectivity Solutions / Avaya / Lucent Technologies, Omaha, NE

Improved business processes using project management, Lean and Six Sigma tools.

  • Led projects resulting in project savings ranging from $10K to $150K with an aggregated total in excess of $1M.
  • Facilitated Kaizen events with internal and external customers to improve customer quality outcomes.
  • Designated SAP “Super User.” Served as technical expert for the corporation.   
  • Led cross-functional teams in business process improvements and training on Six Sigma and Lean tools.
  • Presented operating performance reviews to upper management.
19972000

MANUFACTURING ENGINEER

Eaton / Vickers, Inc., Omaha, NE

Responsible for all improvement activities concentrating on process throughput and quality related initiatives.

  • Developed/designed new process flow layout for shipping area utilizing line-balancing techniques/ workflow analysis; realized 50% increase in throughput.
  • Managed and motivated a team of 35 maintenance technicians.
  • Initiated a series of cost reductions resulting in reduced parts inventory by 25%.
  • Created documentation for a training grant from Nebraska Workforce Development.

Education & Training

20102012

Masters of Business Administration

Bellevue University, Omaha, NE
19831990

Bachelors of Science Industrial Engineering & Technology

University of Nebraska College of Engineering & Technology

Dean's List & Protege Program Participant, 1989