TEMPE, Arizona (PRWEB) June 19, 2015
During his first three months with LTM, Manfull’s in-depth knowledge of Lean Six Sigma methodology training and implementation has helped the manufacturer achieve an upsurge in productivity while cutting costs. “Eric brought a Fortune 100 company structure of lean manufacturing operations to LifeTree while maintaining our coherent company culture. The combination has proven to be a home run for us,” says Brandon J. Martin, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of LifeTree Manufacturing.
Upon arriving at LTM, Manfull executed a plan to slash direct labor costs by 25% within 90 days. He also implemented strategies to use existing production equipment more efficiently, increasing throughput by 20% while reducing production line staffing by nearly a third. His reorganization of finish goods warehousing yielded improved finish goods counts, shipment staging, and on-time delivery.
After serving more than two decades with the U.S. Navy as a Special Operations Officer, Manfull earned an MBA in International Supply Chain and Finance from Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business. While at ASU, Manfull also held the position of Plant Engineer and Technical Manager at Safeway Inc.’s Phoenix Ice Cream Plant, where he drafted and executed more than 50 capital projects budgeted at over $7 million and employed lean manufacturing concepts to improve line efficiencies and develop quick changeover practices.
In 2008, Manfull was hired by AZPack Bottling and Canning as Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Sales. To fast-track the company’s expansion, he installed a high acid (low pH) shot line and spearheaded the design, engineering and operation of a 67,800 square-foot bottling facility. Under Manfull’s leadership, AZPack’s capabilities grew to include a hot fill bottling line; a high speed, cold fill bottling line; and a high speed, fully automated can line that quickly became fully certified and used by some of the world’s largest energy drink marketing companies. During his tenure, revenues grew by over 500%.
Upon leaving AZPack, Manfull became a principal of a multi-million dollar international contract manufacturer in Scottsdale, AZ. While there, he oversaw all aspects of operations and engineering as the company’s Chief Operating Officer.
As LTM’s COO, Manfull intends to refine and smooth the company’s manufacturing and packaging operations. With a continued focus on lean manufacturing, Manfull seeks to create value for the end customer while eliminating waste in areas including overproduction, unnecessary transportation, inventory, unnecessary motion, product defects/eliminating re-work, over-processing, and waiting.
As LTM works to enhance and expand their existing production capabilities, Manfull seeks to address the critical choices that will determine the company’s future growth and strategically enhance its position in the marketplace. By driving innovation and emphasizing high value-added products with a high degree of service, Manfull will wedge a deeper point of differentiation between LTM and its competitors.
About LifeTree Manufacturing
LifeTree Manufacturing LLC is an internationally certified cGMP private label contract manufacturer of nutraceuticals, organic functional foods, and custom blended powder products serving big box retailers, mass market retail chain stores, natural product manufacturers, and the commercial food supply chain. Using innovative process flow technology solutions with the highest quality control standards, LifeTree Manufacturing works to fulfill their mission producing affordable high-quality food and nutraceuticals available to the world by utilizing continually evolving proprietary innovative flow processes that increase output resulting in increased affordability.
