Charo Bilhartz

Advanced manufacturing company focused on developing next generation tactical weapon systems and autonomous targeting technologies for Aerospace and Defense.

Aalo Atomics will be launching a new modular nuclear reactor, the Aalo Pod, which is a 50 megawatt electric nuclear power plant designed to power anything from an AI datacenter to a city. Aalo's mission is to eventually achieve 3¢ / kWh electricity.

Global Pioneer in production of battery free Uninterrupted Power Supply UPS for data centers, hospitals, casinos, and robotic manufacturing facilities.

FlowBelow is a leader in manufacturing aerodynamic products for OEM Trucking. Led and developed procurement staff, focusing on injection-molded components for NA truck manufacturers and large fleet operators. Created strategic roadmap and tactical processes. Established relationships with top suppliers to ensure performance and leverage better pricing with longer forecasts. Drove the implementation of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) @FlowBelow to verify drawing revisions for RFQs and improve new product launches and ensure IATF quality compliance and eliminate wrong revision drawings and obsolete parts.

Ultra provides temperature and pressure sensors for Nuclear Power Plants, Aerospace/Defense. Resolved escalations from buyers and supplier performance issues impacting manufacturing operations. Worked with internal stakeholders to improve efficiency and better workflows between departments. Led the implementation of a comprehensive Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), that became the flagship for 7 other Ultra plants. Handled all CAPEX PO's with a detailed tracking system. Participated as SME in many Kaizan/Sprint events with global Ultra locations.

Managed the purchasing team and helped the team identify opportunities to reduce purchasing/material total cost of ownership spend, and improve on-time delivery. Reviewed and approved POs if required. Implemented department KPIs. Recorded and handled all the Capital Expenditure purchases. Managed any long-term agreements (LTA) with suppliers. Engaged daily with engineering, quality, and operations on bills of materials (BOM), ASME requirements etc. Established new calibration and service suppliers for all our calibration and test equipment.

Identified, vetted, and onboarded new sourcing opportunities. Responsible for all procurement activities in the solicitation of detailed and complex supplier proposals, negotiating all contract documents (price, terms, SOW, specs etc.) and working with cross-functional stakeholders, both internal and external, to meet company goals. Responsible for planning and purchasing all composite parts for customized interior solutions for aircraft. Purchasing stakeholder for site ERP system upgrade. Developed the pricing history dataset as a team member that implemented standard/average price across multiple Sikorsky manufactured company production parts and sites.

Responsible for planning and purchasing all assigned global commodity parts for the production of tactical and armored military vehicles for multibillion dollar Department of Defense contracts. Executed and implemented corrective measures aimed at improving supplier performance for on-time delivery, lead-time, quality and inventory. Complied with all ISO and QA management systems, including IATF audits to comply with ISO 16949 requirements. Selected as the purchasing stakeholder in the upgrade to a new ERP system, as well as implementing a new Supplier Portal that would work with our ERP. Represented purchasing department as a SME in multiple Sprint/Kaizen, continuous improvement working groups with cross-functional departments.