Kevin Laws

The Technical Customer Service (TCE) Applications Engineer will be responsible for developing and maintaining automotive body sheet applications in cooperation with customers and internal departments (marketing & sales, plant product & process development, quality, R&D and others) to ensure efficient implementation at the customer and CBG production sites.

Follows tooling build for the metal stamping business to assure design meets FNG standards and produces product meeting customer specifications. Responsibilities -Evaluates new product design and performs design reviews with Program Managers and tool shops to assure design meets FNG standards. -Technical resource in reviewing tool design and tooling estimates and recommends alternative processes to improve production performance and reduce raw material usage. -Evaluates potential tooling suppliers and recommends sources based upon adherence to time line, equipment, manpower, knowledge, competitive pricing and capacity. -Recommends solutions to product problems relative to design. -Evaluates and approves tooling design at die shop before build and follows the build process. -Is the technical resource during the tooling process from design through build through first piece tryout. -Attends die tryout at plants to identify and correct any final issues.

Manage current tooling maintenance for six Hot Stamping lines and four Transfer press lines. Supervise all hourly and salary personnel in the Tool Room.

Responsible for early up-front engineering & feasibility; support product feasibility through technical assistance as required. Provide timely, competitive cost and timing information for all engineering changes. Lead die and tooling progress meetings with Die Shops and Program Management. Manage regional and international die construction sources for cost and die delivery. Serve as primary communicator between die design, stamping engineering and die construction source for resolution of design and process issues. Lead and facilitate tooling reviews per Global Die Buyoff Procedures. Develop technical solutions and provide corrective action plans for all early Build Issues. Facilitate preliminary part reviews and final part / die buyoffs.

Responsible for all new model transfer, tandem, and progressive die tooling for all plants leading the die build process from product conception, CAE simulation, prototype part build, 3D die design, machining, die construction and tryout, home line tryout and launch. Also responsible for continuous improvement projects, transfer die tooling, engineering and process changes, material (steel) savings, HSLA formability issues, and cost optimization of all actions associated with die tooling.

Tooling Specialist – F150 & Super Duty Pick Up Trucks (100% Aluminum Stampings) Responsible for early up-front engineering & feasibility; support product feasibility through technical assistance as required. Provide timely, competitive cost and timing information for all engineering changes. Lead die and tooling progress meetings with Die Shops and Program Management. Manage regional and international die construction sources for cost and die delivery. Serve as primary communicator between die design, stamping engineering and die construction source for resolution of design and process issues. Lead and facilitate tooling reviews per Global Die Buyoff Procedures. Develop technical solutions and provide corrective action plans for all early Build Issues. Facilitate preliminary part reviews and final part / die buyoffs.

Program Manager - 2013 P471; 2014 B299; 2014 CD391 Flex Tool (Flat Rock)