Chris Watters

• Design for Manufacturing (DfM): Apply deep shop-floor knowledge to design automation cells, checking fixtures and gauges, identifying opportunities to reduce material waste, and ensure efficient manufacturability to lower production costs. • In-House Feasibility: Evaluate automation cell and fixture designs against internal machine capabilities to maximize production capability and minimize reliance on external suppliers. • Technical Consultation: Coordinate directly with customers to manage project timelines and conduct design reviews, ensuring deliverables meet strict specifications

• Operational Leadership: Directed daily CNC operations and production priorities, utilizing a DfM mindset to streamline workflows and improve overall shop-floor productivity. • Mentorship & Quality: Trained and mentored apprentices and machinists in complex multi-axis programming, ensuring high-quality output while achieving measurable results in productivity.

• Collaborative Design Optimization: Partnered with the Lead Designer to review and modify part designs, applying shop-floor expertise to optimize manufacturing processes and keep costs low. • In-House Capability Launch: Recruited specifically to lead the transition of subcontracted machining back in-house to increase operational control and reduce lead times. • Precision Tooling: Designed, developed, and machined precision tooling and die components to support stamping production and R&D for experimental processes.

• High Precision Manufacturing: Programmed and operated multi-axis CNC lathes and 3 & 5 axis milling centers for the aerospace and nuclear industries. • Expertise in Machining Exotic Alloys and Engineered Composites: Machined custom components using Specialized Tooling and Parameters to extremely tight tolerances under strict ISO quality procedures.

• Acquisition Startup Team: Key member of the start-up team following Addison Mckee’s acquisition of Mechtron Innovations in 2008. I collaborated with executives to establish operations from the ground up which included procurement of equipment and machine tools, interviewing, hiring and training a new team of employees • Process Improvement: Led the CNC turning department, coordinating scheduling and job quoting while developing innovative procedures to improve efficiency.