(616) 555-0111 ◇ Grand Rapids, MI
gunnar.thorsen@example.com ◇ linkedin.com/in/gunnar-thorsen ◇ gunnarthorsen.com
Production manager with 9 years in furniture manufacturing, running a 2-shift operation of 180 employees across 6 production lines producing about 240,000 units a year. Raised on-time delivery from 84% to 97%, cut scrap 38%, and delivered a recordable injury rate of 1.2 against an industry average of 3.9 across 3 years. Runs production on a daily plan, a visible board, and a habit of walking the floor before the numbers arrive.
Coursework in Production Planning, Lean Manufacturing, Quality Systems, and Industrial Safety.
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt since 2019; completed a 30-hour occupational safety course in 2020.
- Run a 2-shift production operation of 180 employees and 6 supervisors across 6 lines producing about 240,000 units a year.
- Raised on-time delivery from 84% to 97% in 3 years through a daily scheduling review and a finished goods buffer on the 20 highest-volume products.
- Cut scrap 38%, about $620,000 a year, and held a recordable injury rate of 1.2 against an industry average of 3.9.
- Supervised a shift of 45 employees across 2 assembly lines producing about 60,000 cabinets a year.
- Raised line output 21% through standard work, a rebalanced line, and a changeover reduction from 40 minutes to 15.
- Cut turnover on the shift from 48% to 22% through a structured onboarding and a skills-based pay step.
- Documented standard work for 80 operations and built the time standards used for scheduling.
- Led 4 kaizen events that delivered $310,000 in verified annual savings.
- Moved into supervision after 11 months at the request of the plant manager.
On-Time Delivery Programme. Built a daily scheduling review across 6 lines with a 3-day frozen window, a finished goods buffer sized from demand variability on the 20 highest-volume products, and an hourly board on every line, which raised on-time delivery from 84% to 97% while cutting finished goods inventory 12%.
Scrap Reduction. Trended scrap by line, part, and cause for 6 months, found 4 causes accounting for 65% of scrap, and ran a fix for each with quality and maintenance, including a panel saw calibration standard and a finishing booth humidity control, which cut scrap 38%.
Safety Programme. Launched a safety programme with daily pre-shift safety talks, a near-miss reporting target of 20 a month, and 12 ergonomic fixes on lifting tasks, which took the recordable injury rate from 3.4 to 1.2 across 3 years and cut workers compensation cost 55%.
- Member of a regional manufacturing association, attending about 6 plant tours and sessions a year.
- Volunteer mentor for a high school manufacturing careers programme, hosting 4 plant visits a year.
- Coach a youth hockey team of 16 players across a 20-week season.
- Lead a production operation of 180 through 6 supervisors, with 3 supervisors developed from the floor in 3 years.
- Own a $19M annual production budget and present cost, delivery, and safety results to the plant manager weekly.
- Chair the plant safety committee of 12 and the daily production meeting across quality, maintenance, and planning.

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