Damon Johnston

Areas Damon Johnston is Knowledgeable in:

Techniques Damon Johnston Uses:

Damon Johnston's Problem Solving Skills:

1. Communication
2. Design management
3. CAD/CAM
4. Entrepreneurship
5. Industrial design
6. Design for manufacturing
7. Networking
8. Decision-Making
9. Critical Thinking
10. Self-Management
11. Writing
12. Research
13. Creativity
14. Discusses key engineering issues and considerations relative to manufacturing operations
15. Prototyping
16. Project management
17. Provides insights into most components of engineering as related to manufacturing
18. Manufacturing processes
19. Develops and documents
20. Plastics
21. Engineering
22. Design
23. Solidworks
24. Concept development
25. Marketing
26. Leadership
27. Lean manufacturing
28. New business development
29. Design strategy
30. Machining
31. Sourcing
32. Plastic product design

Damon Johnston's Problem Solving Experience:

1. • Build and manage consulting organization developing produts for big industry, medium size organizations and smaller start-up companies.
2. Helped develop the Heinz squeeze ketchup plastic container.
3. Was intimately involved in developing several Cosmetic packaging programs for the cosmetic industry and various clients.
4. Developed the plastic hose reel back in the 1980's that has a tracking device for the hose.
5. Planned and managed start up company offering resources for implementation of product development services. Recruited and supervised internal personnel and external consultants. Directed new business development and oversaw growth from negative -$250000.00 investment to $3 million in revenue. Implimented design department, engineering department, prototype shop, and start up manufacturing facility. Managed 25 to 30 people. Sold company and bought major stock in start up of Packer Technologies International.
6. Worked on the development of the Proctor and Gamble swiffer program.
7. was asked to develop a handle for the panduit cable tie tool that would not injure the consumer when in use. The old design had a metal handle that pinched the consumer causing injury to the inside of the hand. Since we had an existing product selling for an existing price we had cost restrictions. G4 developed and engineered a new glass reinforced nylon handle utilizing a two shot injection molding process. This process enabled us to overmold a soft pinch area that would not harm the hand, yet the glass reinforced nylon material gave us the strength characteristics of the previous steel handle at an economical cost. We also gained more design flexibility with the injection molding process verses the old metal fabricated handle.
8. Have been involved in taking over 3500 products from the dinner napkin sketch to market in my career.
9. Was hired by Murray to develop a minibike to sell at retail for $585.00. Murray is in the business of developing and selling lawnmowers. They have the ability to bend and paint pipe in house in Tennessee. The 3.5 horse engine from Techumseh is $109.00. That doesn't leave much for the rest of the bike.
11. worked with NASA on the development of a hand tool to be used on the space station. This effort is in support of the NASA Mars effort. Generation 4 is supplied research on proper tool bit designs, ergonomics for astronaut use in space,
    Proper material research for in space environmental extremes, non lubricated bearings for higher than 30000 RPM use in space, power supply design for torque requirements, and total system design. We are also played a major role in the commercialization of this product.
12. was asked to develop a handle for the panduit cable tie tool that would not injure the consumer when in use. The old design had a metal handle that pinched the consumer causing injury to the inside of the hand. Since we had an existing product selling for an existing price we had cost restrictions. G4 developed and engineered a new glass reinforced nylon handle utilizing a two shot injection molding process. This process enabled us to overmold a soft pinch area that would not harm the hand, yet the glass reinforced nylon material gave us the strength characteristics of the previous steel handle at an economical cost. We also gained more design flexibility with the injection molding process verses the old metal fabricated handle.
13. • Developed and organized team from scratch, implementing standardized procedures in product development that supported and contributed to over 3500 new products on the store shelf, while achieving predetermined targets for profitability and contribution margin for those companies.
14. • Established roles and responsibilities with associates and pre qualified vendors that clearly defined tasks and improved overall product development productivity.
15. Oversaw delivery of New Product Development consulting services within the USA for $18 million Company, International Product Development Consulting Company, My division was responsible for $6 million. Recruited, trained and mentored group of professionals, responsible for customer interaction. Contributed to hiring and retention of 30 to 40 Consultants to perform product development services. Supervised 26 client partners as direct reports.
16. was hired by Nidek Medical to redesign the existing oxygen concentrator. The goal was to reduce the manufacturing cost of $575.00 to a more profitable scenario for the company. The old unit sold for approx. $600.00. Also the old unit was too heavy and was not very ergonomic and the design did not scream technology. The picture above illustrates the new final product. Generation 4 redesigned the unit to meet a new manufacturing cost of less than $250.00. This was accomplished by reducing the assembly and testing time by 3 1/2 hours, and reducing the piece part strategy to reduce cost. Also we reduced the vibration of the compressor by 30%, and the decibal output of the machine by 25%. The new design also incorporated a new weight reduction of 20 lbs, and the incorporation of better ergonomics for the end user.