Aaron N Phillips
Upper Marlboro
Summary
Visionary leader with extensive experience in creating and expanding operations across emerging industries, including meal-delivery services and cannabis. Proven track record of driving revenue growth, enhancing quality, and reducing costs through strategic project management from conception to completion. Skilled in coordinating design teams, managing budgets, and ensuring compliance with regulations while fostering collaboration among stakeholders for successful project outcomes. Committed to promoting diversity and inclusion to leverage varied perspectives for enhanced innovation and success.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Engineering And Operations
Holistic Industries
Capitol Heights
06.2024 - Current
- Scope of excellence to take Flag Ship site and implement World Class productivity though the implementation of Lean methodologies, KPI development, Automation , and leadership training and accountability
- Lead facility to record breaking annual units produced over 5 X pervious year in 10 months
- Cost Reduction by Standization of labor 110 K
- Reduced inventory on hand levels over 50 % though JIT manufacturing strategies
- Increased Cultivation density resulting in 17 % higher yields
- Implementation of 6 automated projects over 2 million Cap Ex projected to increase revenue to 45 million in 2025
- Scaled Operations with more internal promotions in history of Capitol Heights followed up with professional development to enhance careers
- Revamped portfolio of over 100 SOP's and Playbooks to streamline operations
- Reduced microbial biomass failures over 90 % with implementation of CGMP pharmaceutical protocols
Director Of Operations
Plantible Foods
San Diego
02.2022 - 06.2023
- Commissioned company's first commercial-scale facility in Western TX, including build-out, hiring, developing operational procedures, and managing $350M P&L
- Direct team of 50
- Create strategic plans and KPIs and lead all quality initiatives
- Manage pilot facility in San Diego, collaborating with product development and chemistry teams to develop new products
- Streamlined operations and provided direction for every business unit via development of complete operational document for every phase of operations across facility
- Saved $10M initially through negotiating better deal for sourcing consumable chemicals from China
- Enabled company to grow and harvest 80 greenhouses with equivalent of 30 metric tons of biomass per week by building out $60M plant
GM Manufacturing Operations, Automation, Process Improvement
Curio Wellness
Baltimore
09.2020 - 02.2022
- Developed quality system management and retooled manufacturing process flow
- Managed build-out of $50M cannabis manufacturing facility campus
- Synthesized stakeholder requirements and industry research to forecast product demand and generate facility budget and material estimates while collaborating with design engineers and suppliers to procure resources
- Supported recruitment of 40-person team including 5 unit managers in expansion
- Led CGMP facility certification for Linthicum Heights campus
- Ensured plant personnel received skills training and certification to meet industry standards via coordination with regulatory bodies
- Increased throughput 32% as pilot of automated pre-roll machine project to meet market demand
Director of Manufacturing & Engineering
Flow Kana
Redwood Valley
03.2019 - 09.2020
- Oversaw construction and process development for $20M cannabis extraction manufacturing facility
- Navigated and secured appropriate licensing, ensured regulatory compliance, and implemented world-class manufacturing standards and processes
- Engaged with executive leadership to establish and prioritize business objectives, define project plans, and develop full-scope business cases to analyze and categorize project requirements and operational gaps
- Developed all processes aligned with established standards, policies, and procedures via coordination with various regulatory bodies
- Successfully completed build-out of new manufacturing facility running 5 months behind schedule by implementing team utilization of Asana project management
National Engineering Director of Automation, Process, and Quality Systems Management
HelloFresh
Richmond
09.2016 - 03.2019
- Researched, developed, and implemented continuous-improvement pilot programs to scale business across NY, NJ, TX, and CA facilities
- Established informed business cases to roll out large-scale automation plans to drive process efficiency and build sustainable, streamlined business operations
- Saved $24M, eliminated 85% of customer complaints, and rectified order picking issues through rollout of $9M company-wide automation plan, which included streamlining inventory-management system
Owner & Consultant
Aaron N Phillips Consulting
Hartford
11.2015 - 09.2016
- Secured and maintained wide range of food and beverage production clients, providing manufacturing, process, and quality improvement expertise
- Authored facility FDA food defense plan
- Increased monthly revenue $100,000 in first quarter as interim service manager of meat-packaging company by redirecting supply chain and streamlining product line
- Slashed product loss from 18% to 2.3% while saving $70,000 monthly following operational gap analysis and implementation of Lean Six Sigma principles to create continuous-improvement program
National Senior Manager of Growth, Process, Quality & Engineering
Blue Apron
San Francisco Bay Area
05.2012 - 11.2015
- Directed team of 8 supervisors and 220 cross-functional employees to support scale and expansion
- Oversaw strategic recruitment and development, internal process-automation projects, process-improvement initiatives, and overall operational leadership
- Improved kitchen operation efficiency 43% and generated $250,000 in cost savings by implementing new automated plant operations
- Delivered $20,000 quarterly cost savings, 25% reduction of labor costs, and 16% quarterly average volume boost following implementation of 5S best practices to minimize packaging waste and streamline operations
Plant Superintendent
Coleman Natural Foods
Petaluma
10.2008 - 05.2012
- Lead 6 salaried supervisors and 280 hourly teammates
- Negotiated Union grievances and supported Plant Manager
- Assigned accountability, built teams, hired, developed, evaluated, trained, disciplined
- Analyzed KPIs, managed budget, planned human capitol, interfaced and facilitated interdepartmental support, executive support
- Met with CEO weekly
- Provided the day-to-day operational leadership for plant personnel and utilized new technology and Lean manufacturing principles and processes available to maximize efficiency
- Ensured the adherence to Perdue/Coleman Natural policies, practices, and procedures
- Developed, monitored and ensured timely completion of plant goals/action plans, both short and long term and assisted Plant Manager in making operational improvements to reduce costs and to increase productivity
- Oversaw plant activities including ordering, processing, packaging, sanitation, and shipping
- Developed a continuous flow process, harmonizing 1st and 2nd processing, equating to a 18% improvement in operating efficiencies
- Championed process automation in a 21-million-dollar plant renovation
Quality Assurance Manager/ Production Operations Manager
C-Care
02.2004 - 09.2008
- Ensured the quality control release from quarantine, mainly analytical & physical testing, of incoming FG and RM goods and White Glove P&G manufactured products
- Reviewed and approved QC generated raw data and analytical results of commercial testing of products manufactured, including the associated raw materials
- Ensured the random inspection as per internal SOPs and planned the activities for the QC internal and external testing, reviewing data against goods specs, and products release within specify time frame, most commonly within 48 hours of the receipt of goods
- Communicated with the vendors (internal & external) on documentation requirements needed for timely release of goods in quarantine
- Supported all activities to continuously maintain the GMP status of the QC Laboratory and to continuously follow the rules of FDA/Health Canada and safety specific QC procedures and to maintain good standing with the regulatory compliance in regard to documentation, SPC measures, and also participate in the audits
- Championed World Class Quality measures to reduce holds, recalls, and product contamination by 63% resulting in cost savings of $300K
District Director Biomedical Engineering
DaVita Clinical Research
04.2001 - 02.2004
- District Engineering Director of Renal Lab Units with 6 supervisors reports and 20 hourly Lab Techs
- Developed time based Preventative Maintenance Schedules to reduce parts PO cost by 5k monthly
- Oversaw projects from idea generation to implementation
- Ensured Research & Development's (R&D's) compliance to domestic and international regulations and governing bodies including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), TNO, TUV, and UL, allowing for the ability to market all new and existing products globally
- Documented compliance (not limited to) in the Engineering Change Requests (ECR's), Variances, Design Controls, Design Plan(s), Design Input, Design Reviews, Design Output, Design Verification, Design Transfer, Design Validation, Risk Analysis, Testing, and Controlled Drawings
- Managed multiple Project Coordinators by assigning and ensuring completion of various tasks and requirements in fulfilling Design Protocol and R&D Processes
- Developed strong working relationships with all functional teams including Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Sales and Distribution
- Managed adherence and conformity to our design control policies/procedures, planning, execution and coordination of new products as required
- Provided scheduling, coordination and recommendations to a multi-departmental product development team in conformance with operating procedures and current practices
- Communicated to multiple teams with R&D such as Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Designs, Drafting, Test Lab and Machine Shop
Sr Quality Manager
Conagra Brands
Macon
10.1998 - 04.2001
- Sr
- Manager of Quality Macon GA facility
- Managed all activities of the Food Safety department in a manner which resulted in consistent food safety results as measured through the company matrix and regulatory mandates
- Developed, documents and implements food safety processes and procedures to ensure product safety is always monitored and maintained
- Leads all food safety and regulatory efforts at the plant
- Enforces the company's food safety standards as outlined in the plants HACCP, SQF standards and other programs
- Maintains the required documentation
- Serves as the catalyst for leading continuous improvement through technology and scientific research in an effort to take the plants food safety program(s) to the next level
- Provided leadership and is an active member of all project teams to ensure food safety concerns are addressed at assigned plants
- Maintained open communications with corporate QA, plant management, sales and marketing staffs to ensure each are aware of any potential food safety related concerns with product or product requirements and specifications
- Developed a professional working relationship and served as a plant liaison with USDA staff
- Developed QA/Food Safety staff through appropriate mentoring and continuing education efforts
- Ensures the company's food safety programs are properly communicated and plant associates have a working knowledge of the programs through training and mentoring
- Provided timely, accurate and relevant data and analysis to plant and corporate management
Automation and Process Excellence Supervisor
Tyson Food Company
Vienna
05.1994 - 10.1998
- As the Automation Methods and Optimization start-up team supervisor at Tyson Foods I was responsible for identifying automation and process improvement opportunities, performing financial modeling, driving the automation roadmap, and executing automation projects
- We will also define and facilitate a governance model to ensure we leverage Tyson's full scale as a Fortune 100 company as we engage external partners and suppliers, simplify our automation solution catalog, and help streamline supportability and solution maintenance
- My team played a crucial role in leading the definition of standard processes, governance, and tools to streamline the roll-out of Automation solutions across Tyson's enterprise
- Essential duties included: Define, implement, manage processes and standards regarding automation solutions across the entire Tyson enterprise
- Partner with business operations, engineering, and IT to define automation equipment standards and approved vendors resulting in a solutions catalog
- Propose processes and controls related to equipment purchases and assist in the governance of these processes (i.e
- Procurement controls)
- Analyze the financial and efficiency impacts of automation opportunities
- Define solution design documentation templates and setup documentation repositories for automation solutions
- Document the technical design of automation solutions in partnership with engineering, business operations, and IT
- Partner with industry leading technology companies and emerging technology startups to source and apply the new technologies
- Developed rigorous process discipline and documentation practices as well as excellent cross-functional communication skills to assure functionality, safety, reliability and quality of the product
Education
Bachelor of Engineering - BE - Industrial Engineering
Texas Tech University
Bachelor of Engineering - BE - Biomedical Engineering
Morris Brown College
Skills
- Operational Manufacturing Practices
- Performance Management
- Lean Six Sigma
- Operational Management
- Inventory Control
- Compliance Management
- Business Cases
- Team Leadership
- Employee Development
- Operational Gap Analysis
- Process Improvement
- Quality Control
- Project Management (PMP Certified)
- Six Sigma Black Belt (Lean Certified)
- Safety Initiatives
- Strategic Planning
- Forecasting
- Change Agent
Certification
- California Food Handler Certification
- Hazardous Waste Management.
- OSHA 10 and 30-Hour Certification.
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (ICBB)
- SQF Practitioner Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3.
Personal Information
Title: Director of World-Class Operations
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Director of Engineering And Operations
Holistic Industries
06.2024 - Current
Director Of Operations
Plantible Foods
02.2022 - 06.2023
GM Manufacturing Operations, Automation, Process Improvement
Curio Wellness
09.2020 - 02.2022
Director of Manufacturing & Engineering
Flow Kana
03.2019 - 09.2020
National Engineering Director of Automation, Process, and Quality Systems Management
HelloFresh
09.2016 - 03.2019
Owner & Consultant
Aaron N Phillips Consulting
11.2015 - 09.2016
National Senior Manager of Growth, Process, Quality & Engineering
Blue Apron
05.2012 - 11.2015
Plant Superintendent
Coleman Natural Foods
10.2008 - 05.2012
Quality Assurance Manager/ Production Operations Manager
C-Care
02.2004 - 09.2008
District Director Biomedical Engineering
DaVita Clinical Research
04.2001 - 02.2004
Sr Quality Manager
Conagra Brands
10.1998 - 04.2001
Automation and Process Excellence Supervisor
Tyson Food Company
05.1994 - 10.1998
Bachelor of Engineering - BE - Industrial Engineering
Texas Tech University
Bachelor of Engineering - BE - Biomedical Engineering
Morris Brown College
Similar Profiles
Fernando PazFernando Paz
Packaging Supervisor at Holistic IndustriesPackaging Supervisor at Holistic Industries
Elizabeth SpenceElizabeth Spence
Wellness Guide at Holistic IndustriesWellness Guide at Holistic Industries
Jessica BelfioreJessica Belfiore
Sales Manager, Western Massachusetts at Holistic IndustriesSales Manager, Western Massachusetts at Holistic Industries