Thomas Blackwood
Industrial Engineer
| Phone: | (555) 847-2931 |
| Address: | Detroit, Michigan |
| Website: | https://linkedin.com/in/thomasblackwood |
| Email: | [email protected] |
- Industrial Engineer with hands-on experience in lean manufacturing implementation, reducing production cycle time by 18% during co-op placement at Meridian Automotive
- Proven expertise in statistical process control and Six Sigma methodologies, with demonstrated ability to identify bottlenecks and optimize workflows using data-driven analysis
- Strong technical proficiency in simulation software and ERP systems, combined with cross-functional collaboration skills developed through leading kaizen events and presenting findings to executive teams
Work Experience
Meridian Automotive Solutions
Manufacturing Engineering Co-op
January 2023 - August 2023
- Analyzed production line efficiency using time-motion studies across 4 assembly stations, identifying 6 bottlenecks that when addressed increased throughput by 18%
- Implemented 5S methodology in 15,000 sq ft warehouse section, reducing item retrieval time by 32% and improving inventory accuracy to 99.2%
- Designed Excel-based inventory tracking system with VBA macros, decreasing stock-out incidents by 45% and reducing manual data entry time by 3 hours daily
- Facilitated cross-functional kaizen events with production, quality, and maintenance teams, resulting in $85,000 annual cost savings through waste elimination
- Created value stream maps for 3 product lines using Visio, identifying $120,000 in potential savings through lead time reduction initiatives
Great Lakes Logistics
Process Improvement Intern
Summer 2022
- Conducted spaghetti diagram analysis of warehouse picking operations, discovering 40% of travel time was non-value-added movement
- Proposed zone picking system and new slotting strategy based on SKU velocity, reducing average pick time by 25% and increasing productivity by 30 picks per hour
- Assisted in implementing kanban system for MRO supplies, reducing work-in-process inventory by 35% and eliminating stockroom overstock
- Developed standard operating procedures for 8 warehouse processes, improving training efficiency and reducing onboarding time by 40%
University of Michigan
Senior Design Capstone Project
September 2022 - April 2023
- Led 4-person team in facility layout optimization for mid-size electronics manufacturer, analyzing material flow for 500+ SKUs using systematic layout planning methodology
- Designed alternative layout reducing material handling distance by 35% using AutoCAD, validated through discrete event simulation in Arena software
- Confirmed 20% throughput increase and 15% reduction in labor costs through comprehensive simulation modeling with 95% confidence interval
- Presented findings to company executives and university panel, with recommendations implemented in Q3 2023 resulting in $180,000 annual savings
Education
University of Michigan
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering
May 2023
GPA: 3.7/4.0
Magna Cum Laude
Relevant Coursework: Lean Manufacturing Systems, Statistical Quality Control, Operations Research, Ergonomics and Work Design, Supply Chain Management, Production Planning and Control, Engineering Economics, Simulation Modeling
Senior Design Project: Facility Layout Optimization for Electronics Manufacturing
- Analyzed material flow patterns and designed new layout reducing handling distance by 35%
- Validated design through Arena simulation, confirming 20% throughput increase
- Project recommendations implemented by sponsor company with $180,000 annual impact
Technical Skills
CAD/Simulation: AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Arena Simulation, ProModel
Data Analysis: Minitab, R Programming, Advanced Excel (VBA, Solver, Statistical Functions, Pivot Tables)
ERP Systems: SAP MM Module (certified), Oracle SCM (academic exposure)
Statistical Software: SPSS, JMP, Statistical Process Control charting
Lean Tools: Value Stream Mapping, 5S Implementation, Kaizen Facilitation, SMED, Poka-Yoke
Quality Systems: Six Sigma DMAIC, Statistical Process Control, Design of Experiments
Analysis Methods: Time-Motion Studies, Root Cause Analysis (5-Why, Fishbone), Ergonomic Assessment
Planning Systems: Material Requirements Planning (MRP), Kanban, Production Scheduling
Cross-functional collaboration (worked with production, quality, and maintenance teams)
Data visualization and reporting (created executive dashboards for process metrics)
Root cause analysis facilitation (led 5-why sessions and fishbone diagram workshops)
Process documentation and standardization (developed SOPs and work instructions)
Certifications & Professional Development
Six Sigma Green Belt Certification
American Society for Quality (ASQ)
March 2023
SAP MM Module Certification
SAP Training Center
August 2023
OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Safety
U.S. Department of Labor
June 2022
Lean Manufacturing Fundamentals
SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers)
January 2022
Awards & Recognition
Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) Outstanding Student Award
IISE
2023
- Recognized for leading campus sustainability project reducing cafeteria waste by 40% through process redesign
- Selected from pool of 200+ industrial engineering students nationwide
Dean's List for Academic Excellence
University of Michigan
2021-2023
- Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023
- Achieved while managing 25-hour/week co-op position at automotive manufacturer
University of Michigan Engineering Expo - First Place
University of Michigan
2023
- Senior Design Competition winner for "Smart Factory Layout Optimization" project
- Judged by industry professionals on technical merit and practical application
Publications & Technical Writing
Implementing Lean Principles in Automotive Assembly Operations
IISE Annual Conference Proceedings
May 2023
- Co-author, IISE Annual Conference Proceedings, May 2023
- Presented findings showing 18% reduction in cycle time and 25% improvement in first-pass yield
Statistical Process Control in High-Mix Low-Volume Manufacturing
University of Michigan Engineering Review
December 2022
- Lead author, University of Michigan Engineering Review, December 2022
- Analyzed SPC implementation challenges and solutions for small-batch production environments
Professional Affiliations
Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE)
Student Member (2020-2023), Professional Member (2023-Present)
2020-Present
American Society for Quality (ASQ)
Student Member (2021-2023), Associate Member (2023-Present)
2021-Present
Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)
Student Chapter Vice President (2022-2023)
2022-2023