LUZ CARTER
Clarksville
Summary
Results-driven leader with over 10 years of experience in operational transformations and financial performance within manufacturing. Demonstrated expertise in full P&L ownership, lean and Six Sigma methodologies, and multi-site cost reduction initiatives. Recognized for effectively translating executive strategies into disciplined execution that achieves sustainable results.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Plant Manager
Brazeway
Hopkinsville
11.2024 - Current
- Full P&L ownership for aluminum extrusion facility, leading plant-wide transformation focused on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and culture.
- Developed and executed a comprehensive transformation roadmap addressing cost overruns, process instability, and leadership gaps.
- Built and coached a high-performance leadership team, strengthening accountability, standard work, and employee engagement.
- Partner with Engineering, Finance, HR, and Supply Chain to align resources, capital, and improvement priorities.
- Lead monthly business reviews with senior leadership, translating operational metrics into actions and strategic decisions.
Director of Continuous Improvement & Sustainability
Brazeway
Hopkinsville
01.2022 - 11.2024
- Led enterprise continuous improvement strategy across multiple manufacturing sites.
- Delivered $1.5M+ in annualized savings through structured Kaizen, loss analysis, and standardization.
- Rebuilt CI organization and established training, governance, and performance cadence.
- Launched first enterprise sustainability strategy integrating energy, waste, and environmental initiatives.
CI & Sustainability Manager
Brazeway
Hopkinsville
11.2020 - 01.2022
- Facilitated Kaizen events and coached teams in structured problem solving and waste reduction.
- Developed sustainability and value stream roadmaps to improve profitability and resilience.
Lean / Six Sigma Leader
Brazeway
Hopkinsville
07.2017 - 11.2020
- Trained employees in Lean principles, standard work, and continuous improvement mindset.
- Leveraged MES and analytics to identify and eliminate top manufacturing losses.
Regional Continuous Improvement Engineer
PCC Aerostructures
Wichita
06.2015 - 07.2017
- Led multi-site improvement initiatives across aerospace manufacturing operations.
- Implemented standard work and flow improvements reducing lead time.
- Partnered with HR and Finance to quantify cultural change and develop cost models.
Global Cost Reduction Engineer
Gates Rubber Co.
05.2011 - 06.2015
- Consulted on continuous improvement projects in 15+ manufacturing plants across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, guiding initiatives from opportunity identification to project validation.
- Standardized processes across multiple sites for initiatives targeting scrap reduction and efficiency enhancement.
- Reported results to executive leadership, highlighting financial savings and cultural improvements achieved.
Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA) -
John Brown University
AR01-2017
Bachelor of Industrial Engineering & Business Administration -
UPAEP
Puebla, Mexico01-2010
Skills
- Lean methodologies
- Process optimization
- Continuous improvement
- Operational excellence
- P&L management
- Leadership development
- Organizational development
Accomplishments
- Led multi-site operational excellence initiatives delivering over $2M in annualized cost savings.
- Achieved $1.5M+ in recurring savings by deploying Lean, Six Sigma, and waste-elimination strategies across enterprise operations.
- Rebuilt leadership and technical teams with talent acquisition strategies for long term success.
- Successfully transformed underperforming operations by stabilizing processes, developing leaders, and improving engagement.
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
Spanish
Native/ Bilingual
Timeline
Plant Manager
Brazeway
11.2024 - Current
Director of Continuous Improvement & Sustainability
Brazeway
01.2022 - 11.2024
CI & Sustainability Manager
Brazeway
11.2020 - 01.2022
Lean / Six Sigma Leader
Brazeway
07.2017 - 11.2020
Regional Continuous Improvement Engineer
PCC Aerostructures
06.2015 - 07.2017
Global Cost Reduction Engineer
Gates Rubber Co.
05.2011 - 06.2015
Master of Business Administration (MBA) -
John Brown University
Bachelor of Industrial Engineering & Business Administration -
UPAEP