Gary Cooper
Plastics Engineer
Midvale | United States
Skills
No information
Interests
Design for manufacture
Continuous process improvement
Quality control
Healthy culture
In my own words
— GaryEngineer with over ten years of plastic engineering and manufacturing experience.
Aspiring to use my well rounded skills to provide solutions towards successful project completion. Proficient in project management, polymer processing, tool and fixture design, process validation, automation, quality control. Strong mechanical aptitude, understanding of material properties, heat transfer, and structural properties. Motivated to teach and learn new skills, challenge processes, and improve daily operations.
Trajectory
May 2022 — Now
Molding Engineer III · ICU Medical
Oct 2019 — Now
Plastics Engineer · Bison Innovative Products
- Evaluating injection molding processes, machine function, auxiliary equipment function, and
material delivery systems daily to ensure consistency and quality
- Troubleshooting part quality issues, working with Process Techs as needed to resolve
- Executing minor repairs to machines and other equipment, working with Maintenance
Manager as needed for more complex repairs
- Review all Processes for part set-up, refine Processes and program in machines, where
possible.
- Record all Processes and ensure all Process Technicians have access to correct Processes for
all parts
- Monitoring quality trends and work with Process Technicians to address any issues
- Working with VP, identify gaps in QC processes and assist in establishing full QC process for
manufacturing.
- Working with staff responsible for other quality procedures, assist with integrating quality
processes and train all necessary manufacturing staff on QC processes
-Draft documents for QC and other processes, reviewing with VP and other staff as needed
- Working with VP, identify equipment needs and source products
-Assisting in the evaluation and updating of other manufacturing activities at the direction of
the VP
-Provide verbal/written updates of status of projects, technical challenges or
recommendations, and other updates to appropriate staff.
-Assist VP, Process Technicians, Shift Supervisors and other team members as needed with
technical assistance including changing molds, part set-up, QC questions or concerns,
process questions, and other manufacturing activities.
Dec 2017 — Jul 2018
Molding Technician · Trelleborg
Oversee production in extrusion and injection molding areas on second shift (2:00pm - 10:30pm)
Responsible for job completion, hourly measurements, material handling, and process troubleshooting
Contributing to lean initiative through specific machine tool project to reduce set up time
Gaining exposure to intricacies of molding ultra-polymer Torlon (PAI)
Changing over tools as needed to allow for first shift to begin sample or run production
Jul 2015 — Oct 2017
Project Engineer · PTA Plastics
Responsible for new project development through sampling to manufacturing production release
Oversaw tooling projects exceeding $1M in medical,animal research, and firearm industries
Quoted and created work orders for new and transfer tool builds as well as design revisions
Communicated project status with customers and internally with ISO 13485 Validation requirements
Maintained Bill of Materials, engineering change notices, and customer part drawings within the ERP
Lead and launched fixture creation activities with cross functional groups input and expertise
Coordinated validation and sample testing often with customers on site
Aug 2013 — Jul 2015
Molding Technician · PTA Plastics
Coordinated sample and production set up, start up, and process troubleshooting on second shift
Performed Design of Experiments including Gate Freeze, Viscosity, and Hold Time studies
Developed processes with primarily Toshiba injection molding machines ranging from 45 to 610 tons
Learned techniques for molding long glass and carbon fiber filled resins, Acetal, and PC/ABS blends
Contributed to lean initiative with efficient video work instruction recording process
Educated colleagues of scientific molding techniques and general plastic manufacturing guidelines
Oct 2012 — Jun 2013
Technician / Supervisor · Denver Plastics
Coordinated production and changeover of production on second shift
Gained knowledge of various injection molding machines ranging from 75 to 1500 tons
Performed duties of supervisor, quality inspector, molding technician and operator when needed
Learned processing techniques for PEEK, PSU, two-shot and rubber over molding
Experienced working with vertical molding machines and fork lift operation
Mar 2012 — Oct 2012
Plastics Engineer - Process Specialist · Matrix Tool, Inc.
Responsible for 30 molding machines overnight operation and production changeover on third shift
Performed mold set up and process start up for small items such as electrical connectors
Gained working knowledge of electric Nissei injection molding machines ranging from 55 to 237 tons
Learned processing techniques for Liquid Crystalline Polymers, Polystyrene, PC, and ABS materials
Jun 2011 — Mar 2012
Quality Engineer · Kyowa America Corporation
Oversaw the quality of finished automotive part assemblies and components before shipping to customer
Tracked efficiency of manufacturing, painting, and assembly departments daily
Communicated production and scrap efficiency data to management on a weekly and monthly basis
Trained and certified inspectors in the Painting and Assembly departments
Obtained practical knowledge of lean manufacturing methods such as Kaizen, Kanban, and Poka-yoke
May 2010 — Apr 2011
Process Engineer Intern · Viking Plastics
Full time summer internship and part time throughout senior year until graduation from Penn State
Assisted Process Engineers with process start up, development, and improvements
Learned processing techniques for glass filled Nylons, stainless steel filled ABS, and foamed materials
Designed and created booklets with set up and process instruction for new and existing product lines
Improved foamed part production efficiency by 10% by modifying process from baseline
May 2009 — Nov 2009
Manufacturing Internship · Prime Plastics Incorporated
Worked primarily as a machine operator. Also gained experience in material handling, assembly line work, and extrusion blow mold and machine maintenance.
Activity
Education history
Pennsylvania State University
Bachelors | 2007 - 2011
