Expert Details
Thermal Systems, New Product Development, Finite Element Analysis
ID: 722680
Michigan, USA
The effective design and development of a refrigerant compressor includes knowledge of many functional areas of engineering expertise. Among these are machine design, stress analysis, bearing design (rolling element and hydrodynamic), lubrication, tribology, materials analysis and selection, induction motor design and motor protection, fluid flow, heat transfer, thermodynamics, noise and vibration, performance testing, reliability testing, packaging and shipping, air-conditioning applications, heat pump application, and refrigeration application.
In addition to his compressor and related HVAC experience, Expert was vice president of engineering for a company that manufactured heat exchangers for domestic and commercial refrigeration products. He has knowledge of the design and manufacture of refrigerant heat exchangers, domestic refrigeration appliances (white goods), and commercial refrigeration equipment.
Expert has extensive experience developing new mechanical and heat transfer technology with 17 years in progressive engineering management positions, including vice president of engineering. He also has five years experience managing numerous consulting projects. Expert is a strategic thinker with vision and innovative solutions to complex technical and managerial problems. He has strong expertise and a proven track record at
developing new technology, new methods and new systems in complex engineering environments. He is an inventor on over 29 patents.
He developed a new web-based system to find and display engineering drawings to any authorized person in the company, greatly improving communication and reducing errors. He developed a new web based engineering change management system improving communication, eliminating errors and reducing average
approval time from 31 to 11 days. This system was adopted for electronic document approval throughout the company.
Expert developed a new web-based product cost estimate system reducing average completion time from 40 days to 15 days. He implemented a new project management system incorporating stage/gate processes to better communicate, manage and ensure strategy alignment of all engineering projects. All projects completed under budget and on schedule. He selected and implemented computer aided engineering tools including Computer Aided Design (CAD), Product Data Management (PDM), and Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Implementation of these tools improved team communication, product quality and reduced product development time.
Expert has over 30 years’ experience in product development, including 17 years in progressive engineering management positions culminating with seven years as vice president of engineering. During this time, he focused heavily on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the engineering process by eliminating errors and reducing time to market. This was accomplished by developing and implementing state of the art tools aimed at creating a process oriented, procedure driven engineering culture. These procedures and processes included a well-defined stage gate project management process based on design and manufacturing reviews, integrated project teams, concurrent engineering and six-sigma product design.
As part of the executive management team, Expert also implemented the tools and procedures to develop product and technology strategy in support of the business strategy. This included portfolio planning and project matrix analysis. Taken all together, these tools and processes constitute Integrated Product Development whereby he was able to improve the entire product realization process by minimizing non-value added effort while reducing time to market and improving customer satisfaction.
A client developing a new vending machine was having "freeze up" problems with a rotating shaft. Two days of his on-site consultation resulted in a determination of the cause of the problem, a redesign of the shaft seals, and a happy client.Designed 75-200 T liquid and air cooled chiller line using screw compressors and brazed plate heat exchangers. Designed 50 T water cooled chiller for domestic water heating application.Analyzed, designed and tested air source swimming pool heat pumps to meet increased minimum efficiency standards in Florida.Designed forced air refrigerated food service table to meet new NSF temperature requirements.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1975 | Degree: B.S. | Subject: Mechanical Engineering | Institution: University of Nebraska - Linclon |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2003 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Owner | Department: |
Responsibilities:Is owner and principal consultant of this engineering consulting and technology development company. He has extensive experience developing new mechanical and heat transfer technology with 17 years in progressive engineering management positions, and five years experience in managing numerous consulting projects. He is a strategic thinker with vision and innovative solutions to complex technical and managerial problems. He has strong expertise and proven track record at developing new technology, new methods and new systems in complex engineering environments. He is an inventor on over 29 patents. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1999 to 2003 | Employer: (Undisclosed) | Title: Vice President, Refrigeration Engineering | Department: Refrigeration Products |
Responsibilities:Managed the refrigeration business unit engineering department. This included product research, design and development, manufacturing engineering, fabrication engineering, engineering laboratory, sample shop and all engineering records and support functions. He developed the engineering organization into a self-directed, procedure driven, project oriented team with greatly increased resource capabilities, including both people and facilities.* Initiated Six Sigma at Brazeway resulting in $2M savings in the first two years. Trained as Six Sigma Executive, Champion and certified Green Belt. * Focused engineering Six Sigma effort on Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) utilizing Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and Design of Experiments (DOE). * Developed a new welding process using Design for Six Sigma tools and techniques with a production defect rate less than 50 ppm for a direct annual cost savings of $1M. This offers realistic elimination of leak testing and an additional $2M cost savings potential. * Completed engineering material and quality cost reduction projects resulting in $1M annual cost savings. * Developed new web based system to find and display engineering drawings to any authorized person in the company, greatly improving communication and reducing errors. * Developed new web based engineering change management system improving communication, eliminating errors and reducing average approval time from 31 to 11days. This system was adopted for electronic document approval throughout the company. * Developed new web based product cost estimate system reducing average completion time from 40 days to 15 days. * Implemented new project management system incorporating stage/gate processes to better communicate, manage and ensure strategy alignment of all engineering projects. All projects completed under budget and on schedule. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1996 to 1999 | Employer: (Undisclosed) | Title: Vice President, Product Engineering | Department: North American Compressor Group |
Responsibilities:Was responsible for entire refrigerant compressor product engineering department of 120 people with an annual budget of $15M. This included design engineering, engineering records, test laboratory, engineering tool room, model shop and sample shop.* Implemented accelerated life test techniques, greatly improving product reliability and durability while reducing product development time. * Selected and implemented computer aided engineering tools including Computer Aided Design (CAD), Product Data Management (PDM) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Implementation of these tools improved team communication, product quality and reduced product development time. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1975 to 1996 | Employer: (Undisclosed) | Title: Manager, Engineering | Department: Various |
Responsibilities:1990-1996 Manager – (Undisclosed)Managed a concurrent engineering team developing a new residential scroll refrigerant compressor. Responsible for developing the compressor design, manufacturing processes and production implementation of those processes. Expert developed basic scroll compressor technology resulting in extensive patent portfolio used as an asset in forming a joint venture partnership with a major competitor. 1986-1990 Manager – (Undisclosed) Managed the scroll compressor development engineering department. He designed and developed the world’s first commercial scroll refrigerant compressor. Supported production implementation, meeting all development goals and expectations. Compressor design was in profitable production for over ten years allowing Trane Company to increase market share and margin on products utilizing this technology. 1975-1986(Undisclosed) Successfully served as development engineer and test engineer prior to managerial promotion. |
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International Experience
| Years | Country / Region | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Years: 1982 to 1992 | Country / Region: Japan | Summary: Was responsible for technology transfer and technical support of four compressor licensees in Japan. |
| Years: 1996 to 1998 | Country / Region: Brazil | Summary: Lead an effort to develop global specifications, engineering procedures, and product platforms with a satellite compressor engineering department located in Brazil. |
| Years: 1996 to 1998 | Country / Region: France | Summary: Lead an effort to develop global specifications, engineering procedures and product platforms with a satellite engineering department located in France. |
| Years: 1999 to 2003 | Country / Region: Great Britain | Summary: Was responsible for technology transfer and technical support of a heat exchanger licensee with headquarters in Great Britain and operations in Turkey and China. |
Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| Expert is a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). He active in many technical committees; currently a member of TC 8.9 Residential Refrigerators and Freezers; TC 8.1 Positive Displacement Compressors; and is Chairman of SPC 179P Methods of Test for Life Testing Positive Displacement Refrigerant Compressors. He is also a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| He is an inventor with over 29 U.S. patents. |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| Expert has contributed as expert witness in legal cases involving refrigerant compressors, compressor reliability, compressor manufacturing, and heat exchanger manufacturing. This experience includes document review, expert witness reports, giving depositions, and providing testimony in federal court. He has also participated in providing expert reports as part of due diligence involved with the purchase of a refrigerant manufacturing facility. He also provided expert analysis to support a company considering bringing a law suit against a supplier. |
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| Presented multiple seminar papers at ASHRAE technical conferences covering compressor design and selection basics for refrigeration and air conditioning applications. |
| Vendor Selection |
|---|
| Expert has spent much of his career developing new products. As such, he has a great deal of experience identifying, qualifying, and working closely with suppliers of numerous materials and components. |
| Marketing Experience |
|---|
| As an integral part of his new product experience, he has taken products from concept development and feasibility studies to full volume production including production quality and cost reduction support and technology licensing. |
Fields of Expertise
compressor design, bearing design, design engineering, heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning equipment, machine design, development engineering management, integrated product team, design process, design review, integrated product development, new product development, machine design review, project management, stage gate process, thermal technology, new product planning, HVAC engineering, heat transfer technology, business management, incentive compensation plan, high volume, low cost product design, ideation, air conditioning compressor, joint venture, design-for-quality, rapid product development, design for cost, engineering design, new product design, HVAC equipment design, HVAC noise, design for manufacturability, design for assembly, computer-aided design, energy-efficient design, air-conditioning equipment, design for manufacture and assembly, product design, engineering design productivity, house of quality, air conditioning, heat pump, concurrent engineering, air conditioner