John Bliden

(248) 345-2688

www.linkedin.com/in/JohnBliden

Renton, WA 98058
jebliden@yahoo.com

Senior Quality and Continuous Improvement Leader

Senior quality assurance and continuous improvement leader with track record of career advancement based on
driving results in demanding and challenging roles. A foundation built on world class quality tools and processes.
Experienced in leading large and small teams, global and local. Highly versatile with experience in Automotive,
Aerospace, White Goods and Retail Food.
Lean and Six Sigma

High Performance Teams

Customer Focused Organizations

Regulated Industries (ISO/TS, ISO, FDA, etc.)

University of Pittsburgh BS Mechanical Engineering Technology

ASQ Certified Six Sigma Green Belt
ASQ Certified Manager of Quality and Operational Excellence
ASQ Certified HACCP Auditor
IRCA Certified Provisional Auditor
Professional Experience
STARBUCKS COFFEE COMPANY, Seattle, WA
$13b USD global retailer of food, coffee, juice and tea products.
Quality Manager, Senior
2012-2015
Reported to Global Quality Director. Responsible for the CRM complaint management process and the Quality
Management System
Quality Program Manager
2010-2012
Reported to Supply Chain, Quality Director. Responsible for driving improvement projects in areas such as
customer quality, supplier quality and waste reduction.
DANA CORPORATION, Kalamazoo, MI
$1-$1.6b Global manufacturer of drive axles, steer axles and drive shafts for the commercial truck and automotive
markets.
Quality Director
2006-2010
Reported to Division President, 5 direct reports, and total quality organization > 75. Directed all aspects of quality
and warranty (15 mfg sites: US, Mexico, Europe, and SA). Leader of global initiatives in customer satisfaction and
warranty reduction. Warranty responsibilities include direct pay administration of claims, claim approvals, financial
planning, etc.
Re-engineered warranty improvement leveraging six sigma methodologies resulting in >20% reduction in
Cost per Unit (2009 claims costs down globally $6 mm USD)
Utilized improved defect metrics combined with team building and lean methodologies to: reduce external
PPMs > 50% (from 185 to 80) in 12 months with continued improvements year over year, and to reduce
inter-company PPMs 80%
Implemented financial control processes to manage $40mm USD reserve account minimizing required
adjustments and subsequent unplanned variation in financial results
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John Bliden
(248) 345-2688

www.linkedin.com/in/JohnBliden

Renton, WA 98058
jebliden@yahoo.com

RIETER AUTOMOTIVE, Farmington Hills, MI

Global manufacturer of textile machinery and automotive acoustic/thermal insulation products.
Quality Director
2002-2006
Report to CEO, up to 3 direct reports, and total quality organization > 25. Directed all aspects of quality for NVH
business (6 sites). Leader of global initiatives in customer satisfaction and operational performance improvement.
Accountable to drive lean based culture change to achieve an efficient and effective organization.
Partnered with Operations to attain positive annual EBIT in 36 months after being negative for 5+ years
through creation and deployment of lean based Business Operating System methodology
Reduced PPM 94% (from 1406 to 81) in 12 months through improved quality metrics and elevated focus
on the voice of the customer and specification management
In 24 months reduced labor costs by $2.5m and scrap costs by $1.3m.
Increased continuous improvement savings by $1.5m in 6 months by redeploying resources and launching
improved lean transformation through use of SAE J4000 lean assessments, value stream mapping, Kanban,
etc.
One of ten suppliers recognized by GM for excellence in performance in 2005 based on superior levels of
quality, delivery and commercial results
Chrysler Group Gold Award 2005, based on superior levels of quality, warranty, delivery and commercial
results
Third party registered to ISO/TS 16949 in 12 months.
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INERGY AUTOMOTIVE, Troy, MI
$1.6b Global Tier 1 supplier of fuel systems for DaimlerChrysler, GM, BMW, Renault, PSA, and Nissan.
Quality Director
2001-2002
Reported to VP Business Unit, up to 4 direct reports and 6 indirect. Directed quality, cost reduction and efficiency
with DaimlerChrysler products manufactured at 6 sites in 5 countries.
Globally deployed Customer Scorecard methodology to drive improved customer focus
Deployed VE/VA program into the organization to drive product improvements
Quality Manager
1998-2001
Reported to VP Quality with 4 direct reports. Managed warranty reduction for all NA customers.
In 6 months implemented a best in class warranty (staffing, databases, procedures, etc.), customer role
model. Over three years saved customer $7.5 million in warranty expenses.
Additional Relevant Experience
Valeo, Quality Manager
United Technologies Automotive, Quality Manager
White Consolidated Industries, Quality Manager
Allied Bendix Aerospace, Quality Engineer
Keywords: Kaizen, Lean, TQM, Six Sigma, Shainin Red X, APQP, Problem Solving, Program Management, Process Mapping, 8D,
DMAIC, machining, forging, heat treat, casting, plastics, injection molding, blow molding, extrusion, welding, fabrication, assembly,
automation, electronics, HVAC, water jet, paint, Supplier Quality, Auditing, HACCP, Food Safety, GMP, QMS, Management
Representative, GFSI, BRC, Continuous Improvement, FMEA, PPAP, MSA, SPC, TPS, SMED, warranty, VAVE, reliability, BOS, policy
deployment, SAE J4000, A3, Weibull, Pareto, fishbone, LPA, poke-yoke, NHTSA, Repeatability and Reproducibility, SWI, SOP, IRCA,
ISO 9000, ISO/TS 16949, FSSC 22000, FDA, USDA, CPSC, FMVSS
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