Dan Bertschi: Sr. Design Engineer in Hartville, OH

I combine customer & sales input with my advanced SolidWorks surfacing & design skills to create industry leading molded fiberglass truck caps and tonneau covers. Utilizing parent company and vehicle OEM resources during the design process, my prototype designs are near complete at first test-fit. Final designs confidently move to production mold fabrication. All application hardware, including custom formed glass, are included in a comprehensive design process resulting in successful products and satisfied customers.

Led and contributed to the Engineering and New Product Development team. I recognized opportunities, provided tools, and encouraged innovation. With proper engineering documentation systems, IP consideration & protection, we used 3D modeling, 3D printing, and various rapid prototyping methods to minimize our development cycle without compromising the product. Coordinating the skills on our team enabled concurrent development of multiple products. I connected with OEM customers and provided integrated solutions to their needs. Under my technical leadership, the following system improvements have been implemented: - Innovation - Formal process for inviting & conducting New Product Development. - Engineering Changes - Formal process for submitting, reviewing, implementing design changes. - Engineering Requests - Formal process to effectively utilize engineering resources.

Designed & tested new process safety products to meet customer needs. Cooperative efforts with Sales and direct communications with customers ensured specifications and goals were met. SolidWorks 3D CAD modeling tools were used for product design. - Introduced 3D Printing to the development process. - Developed 2 new products and created several iterations of existing products, - Created online 3D model product library for customer download. - Improved product designs for manufacturing and/or assembly.

Provided CAD design & drawing support using PTC Creo and AutoCAD. Served on Creo user group to assist with CAD administration. Worked with KBM/PDM/ERP systems to ensure accurate product structure & manufacturing BOMS. Supported manufacturing with tooling fixture & equipment design.

Provided full-time, contract design, project management & CAD management services to a wide range of customers while maintaining positive business relationships. Consulted with customers and their suppliers/vendors to improve engineering, 3D CAD, and documentation processes. - Created custom model & drawing templates, and product model library creation. - Provided Enterprise PDM implementation assistance, including workflow customization. - Conducted engineering process reviews & guided teams to improve processes. - Managed all aspects of small business operation.

Provided desk-side and remote technical support to engineers and designers. Created model templates and design tools. Developed best practices & training solutions. - Initiated Models to Mfg using CAD models in manufacturing, reducing man-hours 30-50%. - Conducted PDM solution study & provided recommendations. - Optimized computer hardware specifications, reducing designer ‘wait times’ and saving man-hours. - Introduced 3D model tools & benefits to purchasing department & suppliers.

Applied product and mold design skills to create living hinge closures with dispensing options. Created 3D CAD models used for flow analysis, mold creation, and marketing literature. Managed products entering production and verified integrity of product & processes. - Co-invented a one-piece liquid dispensing closure, the LiquiFlapper. US Patent D476,892. - Devised a product inspection method that reduced mold certification time by 30%. - Published 3D product library CD used by Marketing to partner with container manufacturers.

Designed molds using SolidWorks 3D CAD to design of all surfaces to be CNC machined. Optimized OEM automotive and medical product designs for efficient tool design and part processing. - Improved mold designs and saved $75K per year and shortened mold design time by 50%. - Simplified mold concepts, designed stronger plates, and standardized mold designs. - Created Engineering Standards System and Engineering Change Request Database that led to successful ISO Certification.

Designed, tested, and improved new and existing air filtration products, which included agricultural, locomotive, compressor intake, and precision HEPA exhaust filters. - Refined product designs and material selections to reduce overall cost of manufacturing. - Prototyped new product designs & conducted accelerated, destructive testing.

Designed truck components and electrical/pneumatic systems & schematics. Created engineering drawings and documentation required for manufacture and assembly. - Designed custom vehicle components & systems using ComputerVision CADDS 4 & 5. - Developed informational tools and reference documents for the engineering department.

Operated, maintained & repaired robotic cells and other automation equipment used to build lamps. This included quartz bulb former, filament building, and lamp assembly cells along with an intelligent conveyor system. Work included PM checks, product quality inspection and repair & programming to keep the cells producing lamps.

Served as Sergeant in a satellite ground station. Supervised, trained, and scheduled airmen to conduct data recovery missions. Repaired, installed, and operated aeronautic & aerospace telemetry equipment.