Operations Executive · Two-Time CEO

Turning manufacturing operations into measurable results.

35+ years across the plant floor and the boardroom — P&L ownership, Lean & JIT, automation, and the technology edge that moves quality, cost, and delivery.

Dan Smith
35+
Years in Manufacturing
CEO / Founder
80%
Efficiency Gains Delivered
$500K+
Sales in First 8 Months
U.S.
Patent Co-Inventor
About

The rare leader who speaks operations and technology

I've spent 35+ years in manufacturing — starting on the shipping dock and working up through engineering and management to running companies. Twice I've served as CEO/President, including a decade running an equipment manufacturer with full operational and P&L ownership, applying Lean and JIT to hit delivery dates without sacrificing quality.

I've directed shop-floor teams, reorganized a UL-listed shop, stood up quality-control and job-tracking systems, and coached engineers and leaders. I've also owned and operated a fully-equipped machine shop for production and prototyping.

Where I stand apart is the intelligent application of technology. I've rebuilt an ERP/MES from the ground up, deployed KPI dashboards and SCADA data pipelines, and driven up to 80% efficiency gains in core workflows — inside a defense-sector, CMMC-compliant plant.

Automation, robotics, AI, and data analytics aren't buzzwords to me; they're tools I've used on the floor to move quality, cost, and delivery. I bring the executive perspective to prioritize what actually matters — and the technical depth to execute it.

Core Competencies

What I bring to the operation

From strategy and P&L to the plant floor.

Operations Leadership & Strategy
P&L / Budget Ownership
Lean · JIT · Continuous Improvement
Manufacturing & Machining Ops
Cross-Functional Team Leadership
Coaching & Talent Development
Quality Control & Compliance
Capacity & Capital Planning
Automation · Robotics · SCADA
ERP / MES & Systems Integration
AI & Data Analytics / KPIs
Supply Chain & Vendor Management
Experience

35 years of building and running operations

IT Manager (Operations, Automation & Systems)TCR Composites2019 – Present

Operational and technical backbone of a ~50-person defense-sector composites manufacturer (CMMC). Drove up to 80% efficiency gains, rebuilt the ERP/MES, and deployed KPI dashboards and a SCADA pipeline across the plant.

CEO / FounderCSI Automate2014 – 2019

Founded an industrial automation company with full P&L ownership; scaled to $500K+ in sales within 8 months, reached self-sufficiency in 16 months, and bought out investment partners within 2 years.

Owner / OperatorAxis Machine2015 – 2019

Acquired and operated a fully-equipped machine shop for production and prototyping; won outside business to fill capacity and expand capability.

Contract CEOConcept USA, LLC2012 – 2014

Interim chief executive engaged by an investor group to establish a wastewater-treatment technology venture for the oil & gas industry, building the business and controls offering from the ground up.

Senior Process Controls EngineerEimco / Ovivo USA2008 – 2012

Co-inventor on a U.S. patent; grew control-system sales ~40% cumulatively for a global water/wastewater equipment OEM by adding MCCs and e-houses for turn-key solutions.

Electrical EngineerPrecision Automated Technology2005 – 2008

Managed electrical design, programming, and integration for multiple concurrent automated-equipment builds (PLCs, HMIs, Motoman/FANUC robotics), routinely ahead of schedule.

Director of AutomationPowell Water Mfg.2003 – 2005

Led a complete Motor Control Center changeover; built production/manufacturing tracking systems and trained operators and new employees.

Panel Shop ManagerFlow Solutions2002 – 2003

Directed a team of up to 12 in a UL-listed panel shop; instituted quality-control procedures, job-tracking software, and weekly training to raise quality and on-time delivery.

CEO / President3D Industries, Inc. (now SD3 Tech)1993 – 2003

Founded and ran an equipment manufacturer for a decade — full operations & P&L, applying Lean & JIT to drive on-time delivery and quality; business continues today as SD3 Tech.

Earlier: Arrow Dynamics, Stone Container, and Cerberus Pyrotronics (1988–1997) — advanced from the production floor up through drafting, controls, and field engineering.

Selected Work

Technology on the plant floor

A sample of the systems behind the results.

Control panels

Controls & Panels

Industrial & process automation, custom MCCs, e-houses, and VFD/servo motion — built to NFPA 79, NEC & UL508A.

ERP / MES KPI dashboard

ERP / MES & Portals

Custom ERP/MES, production kiosks, and real-time KPI dashboards on a LAMP/LEMP stack — from shop floor to accounting.

Automation and robotics

Automation & SCADA

PLC/HMI/SCADA and robotics across Allen-Bradley, Siemens, FANUC, and Motoman — with data flowing to the business.

Contact

Let's talk operations.

Open to VP/operations leadership roles — willing to travel and relocate.