Superior Air Parts Introduces Stephen Grimes as Its New Quality Assurance Manager
Representatives of Superior Air Parts, Inc., announce today that Stephen J. Grimes has joined the company as its new Quality Assurance manager.
“Superior Air Parts takes great pride in our commitment to not only provide the highest manufacturing quality in our products but to also deliver the best overall ownership experience to our dealers and customers,” says Keith Chatten, CEO, Superior Air Parts, Inc. “Adding Stephen’s extensive experience in quality assurance and Lean Sigma-based operational and value stream management will enable us to further improve the internal and external quality assurance programs we already have in place.”
“Superior’s management team has stressed that they want the company to continue to distance itself from its competition by providing the highest levels of quality and value,” Grimes says. “I see my experience as a certified Lean Sigma Master Black Belt improvement coach as being especially key in achieving that goal.”
Grimes’ other areas of quality assurance processes expertise include:
• Internal supply chain development, vendor development and procurement management
• Total Quality Management/QFD/Quality Planning (Hoshin Kanri)
• ISO/TS/AS/State/Federal/International Safety and Regulatory Compliance
• Strategic Planning & Development and Change Management
• Process Improvement/Shingo & Deming Prize Leadership
Grimes also states that he would work with Superior’s outside production vendors to help improve both their overall production performance and cost-reduction initiatives. “Controlling product cost and improving production quality begins at the manufacturing level,” he says. “Identifying and resolving issues early on will make it easier to produce the highest quality finished products and deliver them at the lowest possible cost to our customers.”
Prior to joining Superior Air Parts, Grimes was internal consultant and trainer for SAFRAN USA. Before that, he was a Continuous Improvement/Lean Sigma specialist for SJG Consulting. Grimes has a BSc, Engineering from Liverpool University, U.K. He also holds a Lean Sigma Master Black Belt from MoreStream University and is working on his MBA, International Business at Case Western Reserve University. He is also a member of the American Society for Quality Control (ASQ).