SHERMAN RILEY
St. Johns,FL
Summary
CAREER SUMMARY Manufacturing & Operational Leadership: Spearheaded large-scale manufacturing operations, optimizing production efficiency, reducing costs, and implementing Lean Six Sigma strategies to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence. Supply Chain & Process Optimization: Transformed supply chain performance by resolving multimillion-dollar backorder crises, enhancing demand forecasting, and implementing automation solutions that minimized downtime and improved order fulfillment. Talent Development & Cross-Functional Leadership: Led and mentored high-performing teams across engineering, production, and process excellence, fostering a culture of innovation, employee engagement, and STEM workforce development. CORE COMPETENCIES Manufacturing & Operations Supply Chain & Logistics Lean & Six Sigma (Green Belt) Continuous Improvement (CI) Strategic Planning & Execution High-Volume Production New Product Introduction (NPI) Operational Excellence (TPM) Cross-Functional Leadership Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Talent Acquisition & Development Regulatory Compliance & Safety KPI & Performance Analytics Budget & Cost Management Automation & Smart Manufacturing Production Scheduling & Forecasting Employee Engagement & Team Building Engineering & Maintenance Reliability Order Fulfillment & Backorders STEM & Mentorship Programs
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Manager Process
Johnson & Johnson
Jacksonville, FL
05.2023 - 11.2024
- Directed cross-functional engineering teams: Optimized process excellence initiatives, boosting operational efficiency by 11% through Lean Six Sigma methodologies and data-driven decision-making
- Developed and implemented a Continuous Improvement framework: Enhanced Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) by 5% by strategically focusing on equipment uptime, quality enhancement, and throughput maximization
- Engineered a standardized root cause analysis system: Integrated automation and real-time visibility tools, reducing Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) by 6%, minimizing downtime, and improving production continuity
- Led large-scale operational transformation projects: Drove sustainable process improvements, resulting in cost reduction, increased production reliability, and alignment with Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles
- Championed workforce engagement strategies: Spearheaded initiatives that increased employee engagement scores by 20 points, strengthening collaboration and fostering a high-performance culture across a 650-member cross-functional team
- Spearheaded data-driven process optimization initiatives: Aligned business goals with manufacturing excellence and supply chain resilience, streamlining workflows and ensuring cost-effective operations
- Mentored and led a team of Process Excellence engineers: Established best-in-class methodologies to drive innovation, enhance manufacturing capabilities, and elevate enterprise-wide operational performance.
Manufacturing Manager
Johnson & Johnson
Jacksonville, FL
05.2020 - 05.2023
- Optimized supply chain strategies: Resolved a $55M customer backorder crisis by implementing a real-time tracking system, successfully eliminating backlog within 10 months
- Managed multi-million-dollar production budgets: Oversaw a $2M annual budget, ensuring financial objectives were met while maintaining high product quality and on-time delivery
- Developed workforce training and retention programs: Created a talent acquisition and training framework, reducing turnover by 10% and securing full hiring targets during the height of COVID-19
- Led high-impact manufacturing operations: Directed large-scale production and supply chain processes, optimizing efficiency and ensuring seamless end-to-end workflow execution
- Spearheaded talent pipeline initiatives: Designed and launched a STEM internship program, introducing 120+ high school students to operations, leading to 13 full-time hires in Manufacturing and Quality roles
- Drove operational excellence: Implemented continuous improvement initiatives to enhance production efficiency, reduce waste, and strengthen overall manufacturing performance.
Engineering Project Manager
Johnson & Johnson
Jacksonville, FL
08.2017 - 05.2020
- Spearheaded Engineering Initiatives for Product Development: Directed the design of experiments (DOE) for a groundbreaking Moist Astigmatism Contact Lens, successfully overseeing Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ), and Performance Qualification (PQ) to ensure a seamless market introduction
- Executed High-Value Capital Projects for Manufacturing Optimization: Led a $3M capital project for the installation of five sterilization machines on Acuvue Contact Lens production lines, ensuring on-time execution, budget compliance, and alignment with stringent quality and customer demand requirements
- Optimized Production Efficiency Through Defect Mitigation Strategies: Led a comprehensive design and analysis project to address edge defects in the curing tunnel, resulting in a 4% reduction in quality defects and a significant increase in manufacturing yield
- Championed Sustainable Manufacturing Practices: Led a large-scale plastic waste recycling initiative for Acuvue Contact Lens production, achieving an 89% material reuse rate and reinforcing corporate sustainability commitments
- Enhanced Process Reliability Through Data-Driven Decision Making: Conducted in-depth statistical analysis to identify process inefficiencies, implementing corrective actions that improved production stability, reduced downtime, and enhanced overall equipment effectiveness (OEE)
- Led Cross-Functional Teams to Drive Continuous Improvement: Collaborated with engineers, quality assurance, and production teams to implement lean manufacturing principles, resulting in streamlined workflows, cost savings, and measurable gains in operational efficiency.
Value Stream Manager
Johnson & Johnson
Jacksonville, FL
03.2014 - 08.2017
- Optimized production workflows: Led a cross-functional team to streamline manufacturing processes, reducing cycle time by 15% and improving overall operational efficiency
- Accelerated time-to-market for new products: Reduced Acuvue Oasys contact lenses' time-to-market by 20% by aligning engineering, supply chain, and production teams for seamless New Product Introduction (NPI) execution
- Drove continuous improvement initiatives: Spearheaded the deployment of the Johnson & Johnson Production System (JJPS), achieving an 8% increase in Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE) through lean manufacturing strategies
- Led high-performing cross-functional teams: Managed and mentored engineering and manufacturing teams, fostering collaboration that resulted in process optimization and enhanced production capabilities
- Enhanced manufacturing and quality talent pipeline: Supported the onboarding and development of 13 full-time hires in Manufacturing and Quality roles, strengthening operational workforce capacity
- Implemented data-driven process improvements: Utilized advanced analytics and lean methodologies to enhance manufacturing efficiency, reduce waste, and drive cost-saving initiatives.
Production Supervisor
Johnson & Johnson
Jacksonville, FL
09.2011 - 03.2014
- Optimized Performance Monitoring: Implemented an automated dashboard for real-time KPI tracking, enhancing visibility and increasing performance monitoring efficiency by 10%
- Led High-Volume Manufacturing Operations: Managed the end-to-end production of Acuvue Contact Lenses, directing a workforce of 150+ employees across multiple shifts to meet production targets
- Enhanced Cross-Functional Collaboration: Coordinated with engineering, quality, and supply chain teams to streamline workflows, reducing production bottlenecks and improving overall efficiency
- Improved Production Scheduling: Developed and executed strategic scheduling frameworks to optimize workforce utilization and ensure seamless production flow
- Strengthened Process Compliance & Safety: Enforced regulatory and safety standards across operations, maintaining a high-compliance manufacturing environment while minimizing operational risks
- Drove Workforce Engagement & Efficiency: Led employee training and development initiatives, boosting team performance, engagement, and retention in a fast-paced production setting.
Production Manager
PepsiCo
Kissimmee, FL
08.2008 - 09.2011
- Led high-performing teams in a 24/7 production environment: Managed a dedicated workforce while maintaining a zero-injury record, optimizing team performance through proactive training and engagement initiatives
- Optimized labor efficiency and cost management: Increased operational flexibility to meet peak demands while reducing labor costs by 30% through efficient scheduling and workforce optimization
- Implemented Lean Six Sigma methodologies: Spearheaded continuous improvement projects that reduced waste, enhanced production flow, and led to significant cost savings while maintaining high-quality standards
- Reduced production downtime through process optimization: Executed strategic initiatives that decreased downtime by 15%, ensuring seamless manufacturing operations and increased throughput
- Enhanced operational efficiency through data-driven decision-making: Utilized performance metrics and real-time analysis to improve production processes and meet key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Developed and sustained a culture of safety and compliance: Enforced stringent safety protocols, ensuring regulatory compliance and fostering a zero-incident workplace environment.
Continuous Improvement (TPM)
PepsiCo
Kissimmee, FL
06.2006 - 08.2008
- Led Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) initiatives to enhance reliability: Directed strategic TPM projects, improving equipment reliability and reducing breakdown incidents by 20%, which significantly increased operational uptime and product quality
- Optimized manufacturing processes through cross-functional collaboration: Partnered with engineering, maintenance, and operations teams to embed TPM best practices, resulting in improved efficiency and streamlined production workflows
- Implemented data-driven maintenance strategies to minimize downtime: Leveraged advanced analytics and predictive maintenance techniques to proactively identify and mitigate equipment failures, reducing unplanned disruptions
- Enhanced operational excellence and site-wide performance: Spearheaded continuous improvement initiatives, leading to recognition for operational excellence and reinforcing best-in-class manufacturing standards
- Strengthened safety and compliance measures in manufacturing operations: Enforced strict regulatory and safety protocols, ensuring a secure work environment and maintaining industry compliance standards.
Supply Chain Management Trainee Program
PepsiCo
Kissimmee, FL
04.2005 - 06.2006
- Executed critical safety upgrades to enhance workplace efficiency: Led a $153,000 engineering project that significantly mitigated employee risk while increasing production efficiency and operational safety
- Optimized maintenance operations to improve equipment reliability: Supervised 18 maintenance technicians, overseeing Break Down Analysis (BDA) processes, which resulted in a 30% reduction in equipment failures and a 1% boost in production output
- Implemented cross-departmental communication strategies: Established a structured reporting system to enhance collaboration between engineering, production, and maintenance teams, leading to smoother workflow coordination
- Drove data-driven decision-making to reduce downtime: Analyzed maintenance trends and operational bottlenecks, introducing process improvements that reduced system breakdowns from 5% to 3.5%
- Developed scalable maintenance strategies to enhance production stability: Designed proactive equipment maintenance programs, ensuring consistent production output and reducing unexpected disruptions.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Industrial Engineering
Florida State University
4.2005
Affiliations
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
Certified Practitioner, Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME)
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Board Member – Big Brothers Big Sisters, Jacksonville Urban League, Knots4Kids
Member – Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)
Mentor & Advisor – Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc. Manufacturing and Engineering Academy
Skills
Strategic planning
Cross-functional collaboration
Operations management
Cross-functional team coordination
Timeline
Senior Manager Process
Johnson & Johnson
05.2023 - 11.2024
Manufacturing Manager
Johnson & Johnson
05.2020 - 05.2023
Engineering Project Manager
Johnson & Johnson
08.2017 - 05.2020
Value Stream Manager
Johnson & Johnson
03.2014 - 08.2017
Production Supervisor
Johnson & Johnson
09.2011 - 03.2014
Production Manager
PepsiCo
08.2008 - 09.2011
Continuous Improvement (TPM)
PepsiCo
06.2006 - 08.2008
Supply Chain Management Trainee Program
PepsiCo
04.2005 - 06.2006
Bachelor of Science - Industrial Engineering
Florida State University
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