Michael Levins

Background

About Michael Levins

As a seasoned industrial and process engineering leader with over 15 years of experience in the retail distribution sector, I bring a wealth of expertise in driving operational efficiency and leading high-impact projects across multi-state fulfillment center networks. My career has been marked by a commitment to enhancing workflows, optimizing processes, and delivering substantial cost savings through strategic improvements and advanced engineering solutions. I am adept at implementing continuous improvement programs and engineering standards, leveraging methodologies such as Kaizen and 5S to streamline operations and reduce labor costs. My efforts have consistently resulted in improved customer order processes and enhanced overall operational performance. My approach is data-driven and focused on achieving measurable outcomes that align with organizational goals. Career Highlights: • Directed a 10-person engineering team across 8 fulfillment centers for a $12B multichannel retailer (Qurate Retail), driving process optimization projects to deliver operational excellence and cost efficiency. o Executed a multi-pack expansion project that saved $3.44M annually in labor and transportation costs o Launched a pilot labor management program that saved $1.8M in the first 6 months. o Transitioned order summary printouts from peel-and-stick stock to paper, saving $800K annually. • Spearheaded process engineering initiatives for 3 fulfillment centers of a $4B retail company (HSN, Inc.), including driving a Schaefer ASRS integration that reduced labor costs by $5.1M annually. • Led 5 engineering and operations teams at TJX Companies in integrating robust engineered standards and best practices across 2 distribution centers to achieve 12% and 15% increases in throughput, respectively. • Designed a labor management program for 7 distribution centers at United Natural Foods (driving $12M+ in savings) and managed the merger of 2 distribution centers to achieve a 96% fill rate on the first day. • Drove labor reporting programs for diverse distribution clients at Tom Zosel Associates (achieving an average labor savings of 17%) while receiving the company’s first-ever Standard of Excellence Award. My track record includes integrating advanced systems like automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) and developing network-wide cubic capacity models. These initiatives have led to significant cost reductions and increased efficiency, demonstrating my ability to manage complex projects and drive transformational change within fulfillment networks.