Douglas C. Myers
Engineering Manager / Program Manager
45090 Glengarry Rd.
Canton, MI 48188
(734)-981-6474 (home) or (734)-536-0306 (cell)
Dmyers2225[at]wowway.com



Career
Summary:A detail oriented and disciplined, methodical Mechanical Engineering professional with extensive experience in design, development, and management of design of automotive components and systems at both the automobile OEM and Tier 1 supplier level. Broad and in-depth knowledge of chassis design including: DFMEA/PFMEA, DVP, prototyping, quality procedures, and vehicle launches. A team contributor who takes pride in leading teams that design quality products and in leading launches without incident. An experienced manager of engineering teams that perform within budgets and produce products on time, produce products with excellent quality. Experience includes:
Leading teamsApplication designsMaking decisions with FEA results
Developing PeopleNew DesignsInnovative products
Handling BudgetsAnalyzing/Improving DesignsTaguchi & Traditional DOE
Program ManagementComponent/Vehicle LaunchesQuality Procedures - APQP

Professional
Experience
01/08 09/09Link Engineering CompanyPlymouth, MI
Link is a $50 M company that designs and builds test equipment and tests chassis components both in the laboratory and on vehicles.
Senior Manager01/08 -09/09
Responsible for a new Link Engineering Services function which was formed to perform test and design services for OEM and Tier 1 companies. Led a group that had 2 people and had a cross- matrix structure to the vehicle test group.
Performed analysis and testing on pedal feel and ABS stopping distance for Ford created a new market for Link
Launched new Biaxial Wheel Test Machines product for Link created a new wheel test business for Link

07/98 01/2008Ford Motor Company/Visteon/Automotive Components Holdings Dearborn, MI
Ford is a major OEM automobile company / Visteon is the $20 B former Ford internal component supplier / ACH was the $5 B company that held plants Visteon returned to Ford for sale/closing.

ACH - Steering Manager10/06 -01/08
Responsible for leading a group of 5 engineers designing power steering pumps for Ford and Chrysler. This group covered all Ford/Mercury/Truck power steering pumps produced for N. America and Europe. It covered 3 truck lines for Chrysler as well.
Released designs and incorporated $50K cost reductions that were important in keeping ACH Steering supplying steering components beyond the ACH close date of 12/08.

Visteon /Ford - Engineering Manager Corner Modules & Brakes07/98 10/06
Responsible for leading a group of 4 to 6 engineers designing an advanced corner module, that included steering knuckles, bearings, driveline half-shafts, brake rotors, and brake calipers, for OEM customers. Responsible for leading a group of 2 to 6 engineers that designed and released brake production rotors and advanced rotor designs.
Designed corner module for the Ford Focus from clean sheet of paper through prototype modules. Built demonstration vehicle as a sales tool to sell Ford on corner modules. Resulted in 4 patents.. This design was coordinated with German counterparts at Visteon.
Designed aluminum metal matrix rotors for Lincoln LS which reduced weight by 50 60%. Designed new concept Al MMC rotor for FreedomCar program that advanced the state-of-the-art. Two patents resulted.
Team improved cast iron rotor designs by pioneering use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for rotor design which decreased cost and improved warranty performance. It also improved Visteon competitiveness.

09/93 07/98Ford Motor CompanyDearborn, MI
Ford is a major OEM automobile manufacturer. Worked in the Chassis division.
Design Engineer09/93 -07/98
Responsible for advanced brake designs and quality improvement.
Led a design team with Lucas and Technical University of Dresden (Germany) that worked on low drag calipers to improve off brake roughness and fuel economy. Led other supplier teams.
Helped lead the F150 Roughness Task Force resulted in a $4+ million warranty reduction and the team won the Presidents Trophy for the best warranty reduction for 1996.
Brake Health Chart improved the test prove-out process for Ford which reduced warranty on all carlines by 35%. This Robust prove-out process improved all future Ford warranty.
Mentored Vehicle Center design engineers by providing them with training on brake design in the long view this improved all designs at Ford.
Wrote Rear Drum Brake and Front Disc Brake Design Guides defined important design parameters, guidelines for good design, and proper prove-out for excellent design results.

05/91 09/93Kenmar CorporationSouthfield, MI
Largest Manufacturers Representative firm (multi-million dollar) in the Detroit area. Represent various firms as sales representatives on many major components for OEM and Tier 1 suppliers.
Sales Representative/Engineering Liaison05/91 -09/93
Responsible for Varga North America caliper sales to Ford and Chrysler. Responsible for Engineering liaison between Varga, Lucas (Varga technical support), and the customer.
Supported production designs of calipers to this Brazilian supplier.
Launched several new products (Mustang, Crown Victoria, and Thunderbird)

01/88 05/91AlliedSignal (now Bosch)South Bend, IN
AlliedSignal was a major supplier to Ford, Chrysler, AMC, and GM. The company had several automotive supplier plants that made various automotive components for automobiles.
Project Engineer (1st Level supervisor)05/84 -05/91
Responsible for groups of from 4 to 9 engineers, CAD designers, and test technicians that designed, released, and tested disc brakes, drum brakes, and tilt steering columns. These groups supported up to 12 different vehicle platforms. .
Book shelved a new rear disc brake design that resulted in future business on 3 high volume vehicles at Ford and Chrysler ($28 M in business). This rear disc brake team built a prototype vehicle to sell the assets of rear disc brakes to the customers which helped land the business.
Releases of rear drum brake designs on multiple vehicles reduced cost (several dollars/vehicle), improved fuel economy, and decreased warranty cost (5 10%).
Team worked with Nissan/Akebono (rear drum brake) and Hyundai (new cast iron no-pin brake) to release new products that increased sales for company.

Education:
BSME - Mechanical Engineering (mechanical design)
Michigan Technological University

MBA with Finance major
Eastern Michigan University