Jim Wixson is a Senior Consultant with DRM Associates, a consulting and training firm focusing on helping companies improve their new product development process. Perform project management and/or systems engineering services to control scope, cost, schedule, risk, regulatory interfaces and performance of project activities to accomplish mission objectives that meet customer requirements.
Able to lead and supervise project teams responsible for the success of key projects. Able to apply Industrial/Systems Engineering, Value Engineering, and Project Management methodologies on a wide variety of products, processes, and services. Able to plan, execute and control of key projects utilizing advanced Project Management, Systems, Industrial and Value Engineering techniques and methodologies. Resolve quality and reliability problems, reduce cost, and improve performance through application and training in proven quality and process improvement techniques such as lean product development, target costing/design to cost, value engineering, lean manufacturing, six sigma, and total productive maintenance. Some of his accomplishments include:
- Facilitated and provided training on systems engineering and value engineering methods and processes for the Boeing Company. Facilitated design teams in Lean Design Build Roadmap methodology to develop designs for new and improved products. Facilitated Value Management (VM) workshops and coached new practitioners in VM application. Provided Value Engineering support to the Boeing 777 and 787 programs, facilitated Production Cost Improvement Program workshops and Phase I LDBR workshops. Worked with Product Development to implement Market Driven Target Cost (MDTC) methods and techniques.
- Served as a Senior Systems Engineer on the development of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Provided systems engineering expertise and performed function analysis and requirements management in the development of a new wide bodied commercial airplane. Responsible for maintaining requirements and configuration management of the DOORs database and responding to change requests from stakeholders on the program and preparing for Change Board reviews of requirement change requests.
- Implemented Value Engineering Program resulting in $6.4M cost savings and the win of a $300M Long Term Business Agreement with a major commercial aircraft manufacturer.
- Performed Lead Systems Engineering role for RAVEN Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Project to develop a justification for continuance of the program. Facilitated an Integrated Product Team (IPT) workshop to analyze critical functions and establish requirements and criteria for justification of the project.
- Developed Division Design to Cost/Life Cycle Cost (DTC/LCC) program for a commercial aircraft manufacturer. Prepared a management plan, identified products for DTC/LCC application, developed target costs, prepared cost reduction plans with Value Engineering, developed DTC/LCC implementation plans for contracts, tracked implementation toward DTC/LCC targets, worked with suppliers and manufacturing to implement DTC/LCC objectives, and reported DTC/LCC progress to senior management.
- Worked with the Atomic Energy Commission of Canada, Ltd, (AECL), Chalk River Nuclear Facility Re-Engineering VA to identify potential cost savings with a target improvement of 25% from the current operating expenditure forecast.
- Was the Lead Systems Engineer Responsible for supervision of 10 systems engineers in requirements analysis and flow down, function analysis, risk identification and analysis in the development of a Project Requirements Document (PRD), Systems Requirements Document (SRD), and Technical Functional Requirements (TFR). Facilitated a Value Engineering Workshop, conducted Requirements Analysis, developed Process Flows, and performed trade studies. Results from this effort provided input in the Environmental Impact Statement for the project.
- Used RequisitePro requirements software to roll-down requirements originating in federal regulations, industry standards, and other requirements documents to company implementation documents. Validated and insured compliance with requirements and made recommendations for improving procedural and training implementation of requirements.
- Was the Lead Systems Engineer for a Radioactive Waste Pools D&D Project where he worked with operations and D&D personel to identify functions and requirements for the removal of water from two nuclear reactor fuel storage basins. Developed and published Technical and Functional Requirements documents for the project and facilitated Value Engineering workshops to develop methods and identify alternatives for the accomplishment of key functions at the most economical cost.
- Was Lead Systems Engineer responsible for Value Engineering and Systems Engineering, Requirements Analysis, Process Flow development and trade studies to evaluate alternative designs and plans for retrieval, repackaging, and shipment of contact handled and remote handled transuranic waste to the DOE Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.
- Served as Lead Systems Engineer on a Spent Nuclear Fuel Risk Management Plan Development. Worked with project personnel and company experts to identify, quantify, and document risks associated with the Spent Nuclear Fuel Program at the Idaho National Laboratory. Implemented a structured, formal, and disciplined approach for controlling Spent Nuclear Fuel Program above normal risks to an acceptable level and developed risk-handling strategies (RHSs) to demonstrate program readiness to begin program execution.
- Developed and implemented an equipment labeling system which included acquisition of CNC label making equipment to meet Conduct of Operations and customer requirements which led to a savings of $400K.
- Initiated and facilitated value engineering studies and workshops, evaluated VE suggestions, and coordinated changes resulting from VE workshops for a Crew Training Facility and Operational Support Facility, Falcon AFB. Out of a $26M project value, potential savings of $2.7M were identified.
- Performed mission analysis, function analysis, and interface identification and documentation. Prepared Technical Functional Requirements (T&FR) and Systems Design Document (SDD) for the INEEL Narrow Band UHF Trunked Radio System as directed by the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA).
- Facilitated team through the six sigma DMAIC process resulting in $450K annual cost reduction from implemented process improvements.
Jim has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Utah, a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, and a Master’s Degree in Systems Engineering from the University of Idaho. He also has a Master’s Certificate in Project Management from Villanova University. He is an Affiliate Instructor at the University of Idaho where he develops and teachs undergraduate and graduate courses in Total Quality Management, Quality Assurance and Management, Lean Six Sigma and Value Engineering, and New Product / Process Development.
He is Certified Value Specialist (CVS – Life) through the Society of American Value Engineers, a Certified Manufacturing Engineer through the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, a Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt through Six Sigma Qualtech, and is a Certified MOST and Maxi-MOST Predetermined Time Standards Applicator through the Maynard Management Institute. He is a Senior Member of SME and ASQ, a member of PMI, SAVE, IIE, and INCOSE.