Rick Kauten

Background

About Rick Kauten

QUALIFICATION SUMMARY 15 years in manufacturing with over 9 as a Program Manager overseeing the development and release of high-tech products ranging from telecommunications software to large capital equipment. A record of success leading cross-functional teams, multiple geographic locations, to meet and exceed budgetary, schedule and quality goals. Proven communications, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills for both the customer and program team. • Excellent understanding of manufacturing technologies including sheet metal, plastic injection molding, PCB fabrication, and SMT. • Responsible for the planning and execution of software release including defect review, release planning, meeting corporate compliance requirements, and quality goals. • Budgetary responsibility for projects in excess of $20M. • Alignment of Agile process between Hosted Collaboration Business Unit and OEM vendor • Superb relationship building skills at the individual, departmental level, and customer relationship management. • Systems design including hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical, and controls. • Streamlined engineering release process and configuration management processes resulting in a 6 week reduction of schedules with annual rework and expedite fees savings of over $300K. • Lead the integration of a $500M acquisition, to meet all of Cisco manufacturing and ERP requirements including restructuring, branding, and supply chain strategy. Participated on the acquisition teams for the merger of three additional acquisitions. Specialties: acquisitions, brand management, budgeting, cad, Cisco, computer associates packages, configuration management, contract management, cost analysis, development, documentation, drafting, erp, financial, functional, gsm, inventory management, layout design, management, materials management, mechanical, mrp, networking, personnel, process engineering, purchasing, quality control, strategic, supply chain, typing,