Dean Trexel

Mechanical Engineer for the design and production support of Challenge's line of hydraulic guillotine paper cutters and on-demand paperback book trimming machinery. Updating and improving small-scale automation machines that moves books from binder to trimmer, utilizing belt conveyors and pneumatics. Understanding and meeting CE and ISO standards. Using Pro/Engineer Wildfire 4.0 and AutoCAD.

Designed 2018 Toyota Avalon door trim on-site at Toyota's design facility in Ann Arbor. Was responsible for the door substrates, the largest and most complex components, as well as other smaller components. The launch was very successful with few hiccups, and garnered the praise of Toyota management for a well-developed and smoothly-launched product.

Developed Ford-designed door panel trim, with JCI as contract manufacturer. My role was to push for JCI manufacturing requirements to be included by Ford in their design. On the customer side, I worked with Ford project engineering in Dearborn and Ford design in Mexcio, and coordinated activities at home in Holland, MI, with full manufacturing and tooling team to ensure buy-in was achieved and all requirements were met.

On contract at Johnson Controls, developing instrument gage cluster for upcoming Ford vehicle. Responsible for the mechanical side of the product -- developing the housing/enclosure for housing the electronics. Working with JCI design staff in Sofia, Bulgaria. Enojying learning a new product with a cross-functional team of manufacturing, electrical, and programming engineers.

Back on contract at my former company, Johnson Controls. Working on the door panels for the Fisker Nina project -- the same car that I was working on as DRE at Fisker in California!

Senior Design Engineer working on-site at local Tier 1 automotive supplier. Developing new technologies in automotive seating. Using Catia V5.

Design Release Engineer position -- brought Fisker Karma door trim assemblies from development to prototype builds, and prepared for production. Began development of door trim surface and feasibility for Fisker's 2nd vehicle.

Took voluntary buy-out from Johnson Controls in order to broaden career experience. Did 5 months of volunteering during this 'downtime' during the recession. Took Catia V5 refresh class to stay current.

• Developed auto interior trim assemblies from studio A-surface through production for various domestic and international automakers. • Communicated studies, proposals, and design changes in clear Powerpoints that were well received by both coworkers and customers. • Provided detailed feasibility studies and layouts for quoting new projects. • Involved in the first implementation of new, proprietary technologies such as CrafTec (molding plastic behind vinyl) and Multi-Color Injection (2-color plastic molding.) • Skilled at CATIA solid modeling, surfacing, and drawings. Worked remotely within customers’ VPM data systems and provided quick turn-around to customers. • Ranked as one of the top design engineers.

• Improved door panel assembly equipment by adding barcode scanners and color sensors. Implemented system to track assembly accuracy. Replaced batch building with flexible build-in-sequence system. Oversaw preventative maintenance duties of assembly personnel. • Modified existing equipment to accept new tooling for new product line.