MANUFACTURING & INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING CONSULTING FOR APPLIANCES 

About  John Deradoorian

John brings over 8-years’ experience in the Tool & Die field. He has significant experience in machine shop processes and workflow optimization within die shops. In addition, he has worked extensively in implementing lean principles into die and tooling manufacturing to reduce man-hour costs. John has experience working with progressive dies, transfer dies, and specialty machines. He has also worked comprehensively in the manufacturing of perishable die tooling.

Education

• Associates in Applied Science, Oakland Community College
• Department of Labor Tool and Die Apprenticeship
• Bachelor’s degree, Industrial Technology & Management, Ferris State University

Experience

• 4-years in Die Shop Management
• 4-years as a Graduated Tool & Die Maker
• 8-years Machining

Skills

• CAD/CAM systems
• CNC Machining, Wire EDM, Surface Grinding, Hard Milling
• Die Manufacturing and Try-out
• Process Engineering

About Jaime Hernandez

Bio

Jaime has been supporting the Phoenix Group since 2015 in multiple roles that have included; Die and Formability Engineer, Technical Customer Service Engineer and Sr. Application Engineer. Jaime has supported multiple Stampers, Mills, and Processors of aluminum/steel in their stamping process. A few of his roles included providing problem solving, TCS Support, launch support, forming solutions using formability science, training, assessments, and formability system implementations. Jaime took the lead of Mexico Operations for Phoenix in June of 2017.

Before coming to The Phoenix Group, Jaime invested more than 10+ years working in Magna Cosma International, first in Die Maker position, and then as a Die & Formability Engineer in charge of a formability team to solve forming issues and metal saving implementations.

Education

• B.S Mechatronics Engineering- Kino University. Graduated with Honorable Mention.
• B.S Electronic and Automation-Technological University of Hermosillo

Experience

• 15+ Years of experience in the Stamping industry

Skills

• Great understanding of Stamping Process (inputs and outputs)
• Use of the formability science to solve forming issues, including die evaluations and the action plan elaboration
• Management and Leadership
• Technical Customer Services
• Root Cause Analysis
• Die Optimization and Problem Solving

Key Projects

• Ford CD3 Dies Maintenance
• Ford CD4 Launch Support and Maintaneance
• T1XX Project, Launch Support during 2018 & 2019
• MP16 project Jeep Compas, Launch Support

About Larry Przekora

Bio

Joining our team in 2015, Larry brought over forty years of manufacturing, manufacturing engineering, quality, production troubleshooting and cost reduction experience.  Before coming to work for The Phoenix Group he spent thirty eight years with General Motors on Manufacturing assignments including machining, press operations, assembly activities and testing of all finished products.  He was also instrumental in the startup of three new product lines and instituted Lean and Global Manufacturing Systems in several GM facilities.

Education

• BA – Management of Human Resource, Spring Arbor University

Experience

• 40 years Manufacturing (machining, assembly, stamping, heat treat and welding), Safety and Quality Management, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Project Management, Material Handling and Logistics Management, Labor Relations

Skills

• Global Manufacturing System/Toyoda Production System Implementation
• Principles of Lean Manufacturing
• Statistical Process Control/6 sigma
• Red X Problem Solving
• Safety & Quality Management
• Team Concept Implementation
• Buffer and Constraint Management
• Level 2 containment; 2nd party audits
• Waste Reduction
• Workplace Organization
• Tooling Control

Certifications

• Global Manufacturing System
• Red X Problem Solving
• Lean Manufacturing
• Team Concept Implementation
• Six Sigma
• Statistical Process Control

Key Projects

• Formability Project Leader – Tier 1 Supplier, 2015 - 2016
• Ford Tool Die Council, 2016 – 2018
• AK Steel – Due Diligence Team, 2017
• Quality Containments – Tier 2 Supplier, 2017 - 2019
• Plant Assessments – Tier 2 Supplier, 2017 - 2019
• Data Collection and Problem Solving, Tier 2 Supplier, 2019

About Craig Jankowski

Bio

Craig brings to us over twenty five years’ experience in the Tool & Die trade, working at Tier 1 & 2 and Chrysler Tool and Die facilities.  At Chrysler, Craig spent thirteen years as a die maker working on large steel and aluminum body panels with several of those years operating the Argus optical measuring system. He also worked as Manufacturing Engineering Operations Support Analyst and Formability Engineer for stamped aluminum parts, circle grid and thinning analysis, and support for material blanking.

Education

• Associates Degree (General Studies) Baker College, Auburn Hills, MI
• Bachelor’s Degree, Industrial Management, Baker College, Auburn Hills, MI
• MBA, Baker College Center for Graduate Studies, Flint, MI

Experience

• 22+ years Die Maker
• 2 years, Manufacturing Engineering Operations support analyst
• 1 year, Formability Engineer
• 4 years, Director of Forming systems

Skills

• Die Build, Die Tryout, Draw dies
• Soft tooling binder development
• CGA, TSA, Formability systems installation, GMAW, GTAW

About Wilfred Fras

Bio

Since 2005 Wil has brought The Phoenix Group his expertise in stamping die/part quality improvement, throughput improvement, material utilization, strain analysis, die optimization, installation of formability and reference panel systems, new vehicle launch process analysis, and Tool and Die training programs. Wil spent eighteen years with General Motors Corporation in manufacturing development and prototype die tryout, strain analysis software development for automotive stamping dies and stretch form bead development and improvements.

Education

• Associate Degree, Baker College (Applied Technologies)
• Online continuing education process at GM in CDA/CAM, materials application and tooling development
• Classes through Stanford, GMI (Kettering University)
• Attended classes at Wayne State University, Oakland University, Oakland and Macomb Community Colleges.

Experience

• 45 Years as a Journeyman Tool & Diemaker, Die Tryout & Follow-up
• 20 years of providing instruction in die design and stamping process control improvements/stabilization

Skills

• Die Optimization and Problem resolution
• Strain Analysis (surface and thickness strain)
• Trained and Certified Formability analysts in 13 Automotive manufacturers
• Conducted engineering training classes in sheet metal basic, formability, design for Manufacturing in Stamping, and Trim, Flange, Pierce and Hem die basic designs.

Certifications

• General Motors Technical Education Program, Silver Certificate in Advanced Technology

Key Projects

• Trained formability lab analysts and Installation of formability lab for Automotive Bodyside Scrap reduction project at OEM resulting in >35% scrap reduced to < 4% in 6 months 1999 and permanent formability capability. 5 GM stamping facilities between 2000 and present.
• Training of formability lab analysts and Installation of formability lab at OEM Stamping facilities, 2002-2005, 3 CHY, CHY-Bentz, stamping facilities
• Training of formability lab analysts and Installation of formability lab at OEM Stamping facilities, 2006-2009, 7 FMC, stamping facilities
• Contribute to technical content of WAS AHSS User Guidelines 2011-2013
• Provide overview training of that material to WAS engineering community members. 2014-2015

About Russ Balzer

Bio

Since 2007 Russ has provided expertise in various roles at The Phoenix Group. Russ began his career with Phoenix as a Lab Supervisor, then took on responsibility for Safety and Quality Compliance. In addition to supporting our Quality System services projects, Russ currently serves as Technical Director for WorldAutoSteel, a global consortium of steel producers serving the automotive market. As Technical Director, Russ manages a variety of engineering projects, and has tactical and strategic responsibilities in WorldAutoSteel’s efforts to use and promote Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

Education

• B.S.S. Environmental Compliance, Ohio University

Experience

• 15+ years Mfg. Operations Management
• Engineering Project Management
• Safety & Quality Management Systems

Skills

• Materials Testing
• Project management
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
• Safety & Quality Management Systems
• SQA - Level 2 containment
• 2nd party audits

Certifications

• Lead Auditor ISO9001:2015
• Lead Auditor IATF16949:2016
• Life Cycle Assessment Certified Professional

Key Projects

• QMS Auditing:

Midwest Fabricating – internal audit
Hayes Performance Systems – internal audit
AK Steel (AW) – internal audit

• Project Management:

WorldAutoSteel – manage global Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) policy project, including advocacy, and education, across a wide range of stakeholders (government, academia, industry).
WorldAutoSteel – manage modeling and engineering projects including component design, benchmarking, LCA and cost modeling.