Earl (Jake) Sturges

1915 Terrace Ct.

Davenport, IA 52802
Home: 563/449-6599
EMAIL: jsd76a88@westpost.net
PROFILE: Creative and confidant performer with over 15 years of diversified Ope
rations Management experience, which includes project and program management, Ma
nufacturing Management, Operations Management, EHS Management, Quality Managemen
t, Metal Fabrication Management and Paint Management. Strong Manufacturing Manag
ement experience involving operations and control, utilizing LEAN principles, AP
CIS, quality process and procedures, and implementing and training of EHS, LEAN
principles, and Quality policies and procedures. Goal driven and resourceful tea
m leader with strong organization and planning skills for quick problem identifi
cation and resolution. Open management style.
OBJECTIVE: Sr. Management Position
HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS
a Business Administration
a Operations Management
a Quality Management
a P&L/Budgeting
a EHS Management
a Metal Stamping Operations a Project Management
a Program Management
a Manufacturing Management
a PG & A Management
a Warehouse Management
a Plastic Molding Operations
SELECTED ACHIEVEMENTS
a Revamped facility to a lean producer of painted product to John Deere Harveste
r, Seeding, Davenport Works and Dubuque Works. Implemented key lean techniques a
nd processes to reduce FPY by 1300% and increase monthly EBITDA by an average of
14%. Implementing changes also reduce monthly direct labor cost from 38.6% to a
n average of 24.2% consistently.
a Developed integrated Quality Training program for new hire and seasoned employ
ee. Training encompassed the development of facility specific training in coordi
nation with facilities quality initiatives. Implementation of training effectiv
ely reduced weld rework by 67% in the first year, which saved the company $733,0
00 in warranty work and rework expenses from the previous year.
a Revamped entire Safety program to include development of manager and front-lin
e safety committees. I attended formal safety training including 70 hrs of OSHA
and EPA compliance training, which help me effectively reduce the OSHA DART rate
from 27.8 to 4.1 within 2 years of its inception. Savings of $1.1 million in an
nual insurance premiums.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Metokote, Davenport, IA 2007 a" Present

Plant Manager
Oversee all aspects of paint operations, ensuring plant reliability, site safety
, equipment operation and internal quality assurance for this $25 million provid
er of industrial coatings for various John Deere divisions at a 300,000 square f
oot facility. Developed and implemented ongoing process controls and reengineeri
ng after complex analysis and operational review. Always given different special
 projects to streamline and improve overall productivity.
a Spearheaded the roll-out of Lean practices to increase efficiencies and produc
tivity, resulting in 47,000 additional square footage coated and over $100,000 p
er month in new revenue with 30% going to EBITDA.
a Coordinated a team of 17 managers in different areas with over 140 FT and 100
seasonal employees.
a Established new processes and procedure in all areas to move business from Con
ditional standing to Partner Standing in John Deere Achieving Excellence Award P
rogramalargest change in John Deere history within 3 year time span.

Earl (Jake) Sturges

1915 Terrace Ct.
Davenport, IA 52802
Home: 563/449-6599
EMAIL: jsd76a88@westpost.net
Electrolux World-Wide, Webster City, IA (Plant Closed) 2007 - 2007
Operations Manager
Current Job Duties
a Oversea all areas of appliance production including Metal Press department con
sisting of 63 transfer and progressive presses running 3 shifts 24/7, Paint depa
rtment consisting of 4 powder coat and 2 liquid lines running 3 shifts/6 days, 5
assembly lines with cycle times average 17 seconds running 5 days/ 2 shifts, Pl
astic press department consisting of 20 plastic presses running 3 shifts 24/7, Q
uality Engineers, LEAN training, EHS departments, Industrial Engineers, Mechanic
al Engineers, Maintenance, Receiving and Shipping.
a Coordinate tactical and strategic goals for daily thru yearly agendas. Direct
reports from 27 Area managers and indirect reports of 136 facilitators with an o
verall responsibility of 337 salary employees and ~1600 union employees.
a Manage and staff all areas of LEAN manufacturing processes and principles and
personally taught 117 Lean workshops to date. Developed a staff of seven Change
Agents consisting of Industrial Engineers and two Lean Coordinators who teach Ka
izen events and implement all LEAN manufacturing events and change processes.

Kolberg Pioneer, Inc., Yankton, SD 2005 - 2007

Quality & Safety Manager; Heavy Capital Equipment
Current Job Duties
a Oversee all aspects of quality and safety for heavy manufacturing facility. Ov
ersee Engineering, Quality and Safety departments with 147 indirect reports and
13 direct reports. Coordinate and conduct weekly FMEA meetings designed to recog
nize opportunities for improvement. Work with internal/external vendors making s
ure product conforms to facilities requirements. Use fatigue analysis and metal
lurgical testing techniques to understand problems with weld processes and proce
dures. Conduct, design and implement continuous safety and quality training for
managers/supervisors and all front-line employees. Ensure proper training of emp
loyees, both on old and new assignments. Evaluate, indirectly, 425 employees to
ensure safety and quality methods are used. Promote safety and quality when cros
s-training. Communicate with all employees their expected performance and evalua
te performance frequently. Inspect quality and quality of output. Generate daily
, monthly, and yearly reports to all levels of management identifying safety and
quality trends, and areas of opportunity. Monthly presentations to Executive Bo
ard reviewing safety and quality issues.
Polaris Industries, Inc., Vermillion, SD 2002 - 2005
Operations Manager; Power Sports
Job Duties
a Provide leadership for incoming/outgoing daily shipping/ receiving operations
with direct contact and communication with customers, dealers and vendors. Direc
t and monitor approximately 225 full time and seasonal employees. Establish set
standards and metrics allowing positive mentoring and leadership for 7 direct re
ports from first line supervisors. Give direct input to Executive members for th
e future direction of the supply chain which allows me to work closely with buye
rs, forecasters and vendors. Work closely with all members of management to help
develop long and short-range planning, policies, programs and objectives to kee
p the distribution center within cost objectives and a positive quality standing
. Give daily, weekly and monthly presentations consisting of distribution center
operational standings. Proficient in dispute resolution, corrective action, tra
ining and performance management. Control PG & A budget for all Receiving operat
ions including labor expenses, facility up-keep, OSHA standards, monthly cost co
ntrols which all affect the GL.
a Implemented quality metrics which set standards for employee performance, pick
ing and packing quality, common customer issues and shipment improvements which
increase the quality standing to 98.9%, an increase of 13%.

Earl (Jake) Sturges

1915 Terrace Ct
Davenport, IA 52802
Home: 563/449-6599
EMAIL: jsd76a88@westpost.net

EDUCATION
Doctorate of Business Administration
University of Phoenix
MS, Applied Science in Operations Management and Safety Management
Embry Riddle University
Bachelor of Applied Science in Professional Management
Embry Riddle University
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS
Certification in Lean Processes in Manufacturing
APICS certification classes
Toyota Production System Certification
LEAN 101 Trainer a" effectively taught 117 lean classes to date
Certified Master Aircraft Structural Technician (Sheet Metal Master Technician)

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Access, Outlook Express, Netsc
ape, ASI 400 Systems, RP Warehouse Management System, Visio, CAMS, & Office prog
rams, TQM, Theory of Constraints, Six Sigma, LEAN, EPA/OSHA Regulations, Balance
d Scorecard.