BIOS

Dean Paine - Founder and Principal of SiMS, Inc.

A Mechanical Engineer by Trade, Dean participated in early designs and implementations of WMS and WCS technologies, including the first generations of high speed scanning systems and RF based real-time control environments. He also designed and managed WMS System Development and Material Handling System Design for Ameritech's regional distribution consolidation.

His twenty-four years experience in implementing business enterprise, planning, manufacturing, warehousing, distribution and logistics tracking systems includes more than twenty large scale warehouse automation and distribution system designs.

Dean founded REAL TIME SOLUTIONS. Considered the most successful provider of light directed paperless picking systems, it is currently an FKI Logistics Company.

He has provided senior consulting services to many major corporations including Montgomery Ward, Meldisco, Production Tool Supply, NYNEX(Verizon), Package-All, Lakeshore Learning Materials, Beauty Brands, Brady Incorporated, Silpada Designs, Underarmour, Hatworld/Lids and Intertape Polymer Group.

Dean's experience in engineering and management also include:

Migrating manufacturing companies from legacy systems to enterprise requirements planning systems, as well as converting acquired/merged companies onto the parent company's systems platform.

Managed a four year multimillion dollar project for a major packaging manufacturer. Project included Y2K conversion of their enterprise systems, selection and implementation of enterprise wide warehouse management systems, startup and conversion from local to regional distribution centers, and implementation of state of the art shop floor control systems at several of the company's major manufacturing plants.

Managed the selection and implementation of productivity enhancements, warehouse management systems, and internal package tracking systems for a major telecommunications company in the Northeast. Project included a major warehouse consolidation of four large distribution centers on a multi-phase fast track schedule and participation in a comprehensive corporate wide re-engineering project with the Boston Consulting Group.

Designed computer based control systems to manage the flow of material on conveyor systems, and developed radio frequency systems to manage the flow of material in real-time mode, including outbound shipment tracking systems.

Paul O'Neil, BS, MBA - Principal of SiMS, Inc.

With twenty-four years of diversified management experience for a Fortune 100 Company in the disciplines of information systems, sales/marketing, supply chain operations and process re-engineering and eight years experience as an independent management consultant, Paul is a change manager focused on improving operational efficiencies and reducing costs.

As project manager responsible for the redesign and implementation of a large utility's entire distribution network, Paul lead a team to reduce annual distribution costs by 15% and lowered central stock investment by 40%.

Paul Led a team of consultants and employees in the analysis and design of a new $7 Mil, 200k sq. ft. distribution facility in Virginia. The operation received the 2004 Warehouse of the Year Award from the Modern Materials Handling Magazine. Click on this link to learn more about this accomplishment.

Other areas of expertise include:

Design, development, and installation of real-time, on-line systems with complex interfaces to companies' legacy systems including implementation of 9 Warehouse Management Systems.

Experience in operations, serving as a middle manager in the supply chain field. Managed both warehousing and transportation operations and focused on reducing costs and improving service.

Warehousing turnaround specialist. Identify and analyze problem areas and turn around warehousing operations within 2 - 3 months. Address areas such as facility layout and design, slotting of sku's, obsolete inventory, staffing capabilities and order fulfillment. In one project, Paul turned around a distribution center on the east coast in 8 weeks saving $500k in labor costs and increased throughput by 25%.

Neil Baxter - Principal of SiMS, Inc.

Neil is a material handling systems specialist with over 35 years of experience designing and implementing conveyor systems, for small parts distribution, electronics manufacturing, pallet handling, and drum handling.

He designed and implemented multiple drug distribution center conveyor systems incorporating high speed sortation conveyors, extendible cantilevered loading and unloading conveyors, pallet rack storage, pallet flow systems, carton flow systems, static shelving, coolers, vaults, cages and mezzanines.

Neil also designed and project managed the implementation of a multimillion dollar distribution center material handling system for AmeriSource-Bergen located in Orlando, FL.

His impressive client list includes, but is not limited to, McKesson Drug Company, McKesson Office Products, McKesson Wine & Spirits, AmeriSource-Bergen, Bindley Western (now Cardinal Health), Valley Wholesale Drug Company, Burlington Drug Company, Shugart Associates, Vertex Peripherals, Xerox Corporation, The Gap Stores, Wm. Wrigley Company, J.M. Blanco Company, San Juan, PR, Warden West Corporation (Macys), and IBM.

Neil was also instrumental in the design and development of a computer direct conveyor system intended to provide flexible material transport of work in process assembly of computer floppy disk drives, hard disk drives, and computers as well as a real time order tracking system for a high speed sortation system to provide fluid loading to the customer's shipping vehicles.

Donald B. Benson, PE - Consultant

As a Licensed Professional Industrial Engineer, Don has over thirty years experience improving operations performance in manufacturing, warehousing and retail operations including development and implementation of Warehouse Management and Bar Code Systems.

Prior to joining SiMS, Don was President of a $75M wholesale distribution company, SR. VP of a consulting company specializing in warehouse operations improvement and internal consultant to the CEO for two Fortune 500 Companies.

Don has one Utility Patent Pending including process and equipment for a new manufacturing service.

His consulting experience includes

Consulted to a $500M consumer products company to develop a strategic distribution plan for three product lines in the US, and evaluated and recommended selection of 3PL service providers for the implementation of that plan.

Consulted to the team responsible for the design of a Model Plant and Equipment Maintenance storeroom for implementation in 18 manufacturing plants that included a very successful, first application of the SAP Plant Maintenance Module (PMM) in the US.

Designed new 250,000 sq. ft. distribution center including expanding the functionality of the SAP-Warehouse Management (WM) module.

Designed a new consolidated distribution and returns processing center for five lines of entertainment merchandise supporting a world wide chain of retail stores, wholesale, and internet customers, including a new custom developed Warehouse Management System, and a state-of-the-art, very high-speed merchandise sortation system.

David White - Consultant

David White David is the Principal of Inner Harbor Solutions, LLC, a company specializing in supply chain execution in turnaround environments. David is a seasoned executive with a unique blend of operations and information systems experience allowing the translation of a business problem into a technical based solution. David began his career in information systems with JP Stevens, progressing to Network Computing, Texfi Industries, Blue Bell, Bassett-Walker and London Fog. David has held information management positions including vice president and CIO and general management positions including senior vice president and COO. David is a graduate of Guilford College.

His consulting experience includes

For Under Armour Performance Apparel, Inc., a provider of technically advanced athletic apparel products. Analyzed product scheduling methods and product flow resulting in the development of an innovative method of “wave planning” resulting in substantial cost reduction while improving service levels.

For Intertape Polymer Group, Inc., a leader in the packaging industry – (Interim Distribution Director) - Conducted a turnaround of a 200K sq. ft. distribution center. The facility’s productivity and service were decreasing, and its costs were increasing. Combined data analysis and warehousing best practices, including facility layout and personnel changes to reduce costs and improve shipping volume and fulfillment rate.

For ASCO, Automotive Wholesale Distributor: Analyzed inventory movements, warehousing methods and system capabilities resulting in a plan to reconfigure warehouse storage, upgrade computer systems that will reduce direct labor by over 40% while improving service level.

For Inner Harbor Sourcing, Startup Software Provider: Developed business plan for an Internet enabled supply chain event management system, (SCM/SCEM), targeting apparel manufacturers with annual sales between $25 and $125 million. The targeted user is import managers and analysts needing immediate feedback when scheduled production events are not completed.

For Tartan Textile Services – Startup Commercial Healthcare Laundry – (Interim CIO): Stabilized systems environment after a failed attempt to convert from multiple, (4), in plant systems to a single system enabling resumption of normal day-to-day activities. Also implemented SWAT approach to problem identification/correction restoring user confidence in application systems.

For Amerex USA – Outerwear Manufacturer -(Interim COO): Primary focus was on the restoration of service level in peak shipping of a seasonal business. Direct reports were: CIO, Distribution Director, Manufacturing VP, Imports and Traffic Director, Customer Service Manager and Security and Facilities Manager.