James Meyer
Lafayette
Summary
Driven Section Manager with a focus on operations improvement, team management, and industrial safety. Achievements include enhancing production efficiency and reducing downtime through strategic initiatives and cross-departmental collaboration.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Section Manager
Caterpillar
Lafayette, IN
07.1993 - 08.2026
- Oversaw cross-departmental initiatives aimed at enhancing production efficiency and reducing periods of inactivity.
- Led cross-functional teams to enhance production efficiency and reduce downtime.
- Developed training programs to elevate team performance and ensure compliance with safety standards.
- Analyzed operational data to identify trends and drive strategic decision-making initiatives.
- Fostered collaboration between engineering and production teams to enhance product quality and reliability.
- Spearheaded project initiatives that aligned with organizational goals, driving overall business success.
- Optimized resource allocation by analyzing data trends, forecasting future demands, and adjusting staffing levels accordingly.
- Scheduled weekly section meetings to review emerging challenges, identify opportunities and recognize high-performing employees.
- Executed quality assurance audits and addressed non-complying issues to improve section performance.
- Championed innovation by encouraging creative problem-solving approaches among team members in pursuit of business excellence.
- Conducted annual employee performance reviews to recognize achievements and identify areas needing improvement.
- Ensured compliance with industry standards and regulations through rigorous quality control measures.
- Improved team efficiency by streamlining processes and implementing effective communication strategies.
- Resolved complex issues through root cause analysis and implementation of effective solutions tailored to specific situations.
- Achieved consistent on-time project completion by monitoring progress, identifying bottlenecks, and taking corrective actions as needed.
- Delivered weekly project updates to management to enhance program visibility and promote improved project performance.
- Assigned employees to ongoing and special projects to realize adequate staffing and meet production schedule parameters.
- Mentored junior employees for career growth, building a strong talent pipeline for the organization.
- Developed and executed strategic plans to achieve company objectives and improve overall performance.
- Fostered a positive work environment by promoting teamwork, open communication, and recognition of individual achievements.
- Developed production schedules to maintain sufficient shift coverage.
- Monitored production targets to meet company and customer demands.
- Supervised, encouraged and evaluated cross-functional teams by coaching and empowering team members to meet production goals.
- Oversaw projects, equipment and manpower needs to properly allocate resources and training.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Management
Indiana Wesleyan University
Marion, INAssembly Apprenticeship Program - Gas and Diesel Principles
Ivy Tech Lafayette
Skills
- Lean manufacturing
- Six sigma
- Continuous improvement
- Operations improvement
- Operational safety
- Safety assessment
- Analytical skills
- Staff planning
- Team management
- Problem solving
- Problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Communication skills
- Project scheduling
Accomplishments
- Supervised teams of 26 to 70 staff members.
- Collaborated with team of 8 in the development of Test Cell Improvements.
- Resolved product issue through Continuous Improvement Process.
- Resolved product issue through special engineering testing.
Certification
Assembly Quality Exercise.
Dupont STOP Safety Program.
SafeStart Safety Program.
Caterpillar STI - Accident Investigation Training.
Caterpillar CPS - Lean Training.
Rapid Event Training
Timeline
Section Manager
Caterpillar
07.1993 - 08.2026
Bachelor of Science - Business Management
Indiana Wesleyan University
Assembly Apprenticeship Program - Gas and Diesel Principles
Ivy Tech Lafayette