The candidate is seeking an engineering position with a small company where they can utilize over 30 years of experience in product development, process development, and engineering management. They have a BSME from the University of Illinois at Chicago and have managed multiple engineering teams. Their experience includes product design, manufacturing processes, CAD, and implementing process methodologies. They were most recently a winemaker but are interested in returning to engineering.

1. Objective
Seeking to work with a smaller company that can benefit from someone with 30+
years engineering experience in product development, process development and
engineering management. I retired October 2014 and I have been out of engineering
about 10 years. I would like to get back into engineering where my experience and
background can add value.
Education
University of Illinois at Chicago — BSME, 6/87
Skills and Experience
I am organized, practical, realistic, detail and task oriented. I have been trained in
engineering management and business finance thorough work and certification
programs at SMU and Case Western Reserve University. I have managed multiple
engineering teams. I have been formally trained in team building and program
management. I have significant project management experience. I am proficient in the
basic MS Office tools and MS Project.
Always on the design side of product development, I have been involved with many
manufacturing fabrication processes: turning, milling, grinding, welding, heat treating,
molding, thermoforming, finishing, inspection, etc.. I have experience in injection
molded part design. I have design experience with weldments. Early in my engineering
career, I developed, built and tested a series of seven prototype machines to produce
a plastic globe. I have a fair amount of experience with sheet metal products design
and manufacturing. I have worked with many of the standard inspection tools and
(environmental) testing protocols. For about two years I was involved in the design of
military and aerospace ordinance products testing and manufacturing fixtures/
machines.
I have experience working with product development process methodologies as well
as designing and implementing them. Some experience with PDM systems, why and
how. I was always on the administrative side of engineering so I have little hands on
CAD experience but I have been involved with 3D CAD for more than half my
engineering career. I understand the (down stream) benefits of using a 3D model. At
Reliable Electric I was responsible for recommending and implementing Pro E, a major
CAD change at the time. One of my teams developed the use of FloTherm in modeling
heat transfer characteristics of large electronics enclosures. I’ve done some web site
development but I wouldn't call myself a web developer.
Interests
Family, CrossFit, cooking, nutrition, woodworking, currently learning Solidworks
630-248-2815 mobile
jameszipper@me.com
651 East Belmont Ave
Addison, IL
60101
JAMES ZIPPER

2. Work History
Wine Maker, Fox Valley Winery 7/2006 - 10/2014
After finishing my last contract engineering job I set out to learn winemaking with the
objective of starting my own winery. Under the tutelage of a 30+ year CA wine making
consultant I learned the art of making wine at a production level and took over the
complete wine making/manufacturing process. Improved wine quality from almost
closing the doors to wining 2009 Illinois State Governors Cup for best dry white.
Reduced manufacturing OH by 33%. Decided not to start my own winery.
PDM BOM Specialist, Sterling Engineering, International - 2/2005 - 5/2006
Managed a diesel engine program master BOM in Teamcenter, the master engine CAD
assembly between engineering groups in NX and prototype builds, for an international
customer.
Consultant, Z Engineering - 12/2002 - 12/2004
My own consulting company. Web site development and PDM services marketing.
Program Manager, Marconi, Warrenville Illinois - 7/2001 - 11/2002
Global Product Data Management PDM configuration specification and planning.
RELTEC was purchased by GEC (Marconi) and as such the RELTEC PDM system
program scope expanded to include, along with the three main RELTEC divisions, Fore
Systems based in Pittsburgh and the two main divisions of GEC in the UK and Italy. I
was the NA PM for the program. The program was just about to enter into vendor
selection when the telecom market crashed and the total program was canceled.
Program Manager, RELTEC, Warrenville Illinois - 11/1998 - 6/2001
Designed, implemented and managed a new stage gate product development process
during which ISO9000 certification was also achieved. The program led to the initial
stage of implementing a PDM system across the three main divisions of RELTEC.
Eng. Mgr. Designer, Reliable Electric, Franklin Park Illinois - 10/1988 - 10/1998
Engineering manager, supervisor, product design. Telecom network outside plant
products (outdoor electronics enclosures, copper & fiber optic connectors and
environmentally sealed passive enclosures) involving injection molding, stamping and
sheet metal. Responsible for recommending, specifying and implementing a new ProE
CAD system at Reliable Electric, migrating from 2D drafting (including pencil and paper)
to 3D solids modeling.
Scot Inc, Downers Grove Illinois - 6/1974 - 9/1988
After four months running the dock I was asked to move into the small engineering
department. It was at Scot where I learned the manufacturing basics; turning, milling,
welding, inspection, etc. Experience with aerospace ordinance products manufacturing
fixtures and testing design and fabrication, globe manufacturing and precision avionics
instrument motors design manufacture and testing. It was also during my time at Scot
Inc. I earned my engineering degree BSME going to night school for three years
followed by full time for two and a half years, working summers at Scot.