Johnston, IA
Systems thinking, applied to AI.
30 years turning ambiguous, high-stakes manufacturing problems into clear, data-driven decisions. Now applying the same rigor — structured decomposition, root cause analysis, and precise communication — to AI training, evaluation, and annotation work.
What I bring
Structured Problem Decomposition
Breaking ambiguous, high-stakes problems into clear, solvable components — the same skill that turns a vague prompt into a well-defined task.
Root Cause Analysis
Six Sigma Black Belt training applied to real production systems for 30 years — finding the actual cause, not the first plausible explanation.
Data Interpretation & Insight Generation
Turning large, messy operational datasets into structured, decision-ready insight, consistently and under real deadline pressure.
Decision Modeling Under Uncertainty
Building frameworks for making sound calls when the inputs are incomplete or contradictory — a constant in manufacturing, and in evaluating AI output.
Analytical Communication
Writing and presenting findings so a technical or non-technical audience can act on them immediately, with no follow-up questions needed.
Pattern Recognition in High-Variability Systems
Spotting the signal inside noisy, high-volume systems — the same instinct needed to evaluate model behavior across many edge cases.
Experience
Senior Industrial Engineer
Firestone (Bridgestone)
- —Analyze complex, interdependent manufacturing systems to identify variability drivers and performance gaps.
- —Design KPI architectures (OEE, scrap, downtime, throughput) that improve diagnostic transparency across the plant.
- —Build Power BI dashboards integrating multi-source data to make operational performance interpretable at a glance.
- —Apply statistical and logical methods to find root causes and implement corrective actions that actually hold.
Foreman, Operations Leadership
Firestone
- —Led 24/7 multi-line operations spanning people, machines, and material flow.
- —Designed real-time visual management systems that reduced complex operational states to clear, actionable signals.
- —Built a real-time “10-second overview” system for rapid state assessment and decision-making.
- —Standardized cross-shift communication and reporting to cut ambiguity and improve execution consistency.
Quality Assurance Engineer
Firestone
- —Ran structured process audits to identify defects, variability sources, and compliance gaps.
- —Led Six Sigma projects focused on complexity reduction and defect elimination.
Production Supervisor
Firestone
- —Managed production performance across multiple departments against quality, safety, and output targets.
- —Applied structured problem-solving to reduce operational waste and improve efficiency.
Section Chief
United States Marine Corps
- —Led mission-critical artillery operations requiring precise execution under strict procedure.
- —Managed personnel, logistics, and equipment under high-pressure, high-stakes conditions.
Skills & credentials
Data & Tools
Methods
Visualization
Education
- Master of Engineering — Iowa State University
- Master of Public Administration — Drake University
- Six Sigma Black Belt
- Six Sigma Green Belt
Things I've built
Hands-on proof of the same structured thinking — designed and shipped end to end, not just planned.