Richard Straube

As part of the Global Procurement organization, focus on leading internal/external cross-functional teams to resolve sophisticated technical issues threatening supply continuity utilizing robust project management principles while fostering cross-functional collaboration and building of positive relationships with internal partners and external suppliers. Ensuring improved supplier performance by assisting in installed capacity improvements, process capability studies, and cost reduction opportunities. Performs supplier capability assessments and injection mold tool assessments for performance and OEE improvements including CapEx recommendations. Aids in improving supply base and supplier performance for Baxter manufacturing sites within Medical Products and Therapy business segment.

Leads a Supplier Engineer team by ensuring adequate resources and technical skill sets are available for supporting New Product Development Projects and Product Cost Reduction objectives. Supports Continuous Improvement of Supplier Engineering Processes and Systems in collaboration with Spencer Leadership Team and Global Sourcing colleagues. Promotes Global Sourcing Strategies at Spencer Site for Endoscopy and Urology Divisions. Manages 17 total Supplier Engineers with 9 direct reports and 8 indirect reports.

Leads large scale cost improvement projects under guidance from Global Sourcing and Operations organization. Leads project teams including collaboration with cross functional members to qualify and improve supplier processes for material cost reductions. Assess value and financial impact for new business opportunities and Material Value Improvement Projects (MVIP). Leads Plastics Category engineering team including two direct reporting mid-level supplier engineers focused on supporting new product development projects and material value improvement projects. Supports strategic initiative projects within Plastics category including injection molding, micro molding, extrusion, chemicals, and resins.

Supports cross-functional new product development teams to assure new medical device component delivery within all commodity/sub-commodity and supplier activities are timely for accomplishing device design validations and market launch. Collaborates closely with global sourcing organization and divisional R&D to efficiently select, qualify, and manage all levels of suppliers to consistently meet product quality, service, and cost requirements. Works to mitigate supply chain risk and develop preferred and strategic suppliers. Presents optimized costing through multiple supplier quoting and selection. Researches technical capabilities of new and existing suppliers and manages all tooling procurement with suppliers for injection molding, extrusion, and metals.

Manage business improvement projects for Urology, Interventional Cardiology, and Endoscopy business segments. Project lead for mold in-sourcing projects from mold assessments through process validation. Collaborate with divisional representatives for new product development and new mold builds. Assess process capabilities and prioritize process improvement opportunities. Perform process development and qualification activities for new and transfer injection molding tools. Perform risk assessment and FMEA reviews within process validations.

Provide sustaining engineering support for injection molding department. Investigate and resolve product defects related to part design, mold design, material, and molding process. Process development and optimization using scientific molding methods. Monitor tool performance and justify improvements through scientific methods and root cause analysis. Procure and qualify ancillary equipment including dryers, colorant blenders, grinders, pick and place units. Perform moisture content analysis and implement audit procedure for qualified hygroscopic resins. Lead sustaining engineering activities and projects for Insulin Syringe (IS 27G-31G), 3 way stop cock (3WSC), SURFLO® Teflon I.V. Catheter, and SurFlash® Polyurethane I.V. Catheter injection molded components.

Responsible for analyzing and assessing supplier and in-house processes to determine process capability. Identify and drive process improvements. Support supplier assessment and selection process. Direct external resources and contractors as required. Collaboration with team members on test protocols to evaluate alternative materials for molding medical infusion disposables. Manage and support molding qualifications at molding suppliers including creation of installation, operational, and performance qualification protocols.

Responsible for managing all aspects of the injection molding department including efficiency improvement projects, shift leads, operators, technicians, tool maintenance, products, and processes. Direct daily activities including priority assessment, planning, scheduling, resource allocation, and meeting corporate and departmental goals. Responsible for the development of injection mold and insert mold processes including first article inspection, process capability studies, and mold qualifications (IQ, OQ, PQ). Researched and implemented scientific molding techniques for developing and documenting processes. Product development team member responsible for development of single use disposable medical device kits for large medical device companies. Member of Material Review Board (MRB) to determine corrective actions for quality issues and production inefficiencies. Responsible for research and implementation of mold preventative maintenance and tracking system to reduce cost due to reactive repairs and unscheduled maintenance causing machine downtime.

Responsible for the procurement of new and modified injection molds, tooling, and machines for new medical device components. Responsibilities include general mold specification writing, budget management, vendor selection, tool trialing, process development, and documentation for safe and effective molding operations. Injection molding process development including process decoupling, engineering capability studies, process analysis, product evaluation and inspection, and statistical reporting. Project leader for process validations, operational qualifications, and technical transfer packages of injection molding processes. New injection molding tool management including spare parts, design changes, and part fabrication. Responsible for management of two engineering technicians.

Development of extrusion and expansion processes for heat shrink and medical grade tubing. Process development for prototype manufacturing of blown film medical packaging and co-extruded medical tubing products. Managed and directed research and development programs to meet organizational needs. Managed development project phases and established criteria for manufacturing integration (MI) packages. Planned and managed the manufacturing of prototype orders for sales and marketing. Technical representative for research & development on new product cost quoting, medical applications review, and process capabilities with sales and marketing department. Responsible for assignments of two R&D technicians.

Parameter expansion management and process development for new contact lens products. Responsible for pilot lab management and three R&D technicians. Technical representative for operational performance verifications (OPV) and process validations in Waterford, Ireland for new process scale-up. Developed and qualified equipment modifications to improve lens manufacturing yields and process capability.Provided cast mold contact lens process engineering support on injection molding technical issues necessary to continuously produce quality lens molds. Statistical Process Control Techniques, Process Capability Studies, Factorial Design of Experiments, Cause and Effect Analysis, GR&R studies and Metrology improvements.