Steven Pax

Pilot Plant Manager at 3M

St Paul, Minnesota, United States

About

Passionate leader dedicated to delivering value to customers, the company, and the community through effective problem-solving, relationship-building, and process improvement. Committed to enhancing team engagement and retention across all levels by fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.

Experience

  • Pilot Plant Manager at 3M
    Apr 2025 - Present · 1 yr 4 mos

    Responsible for overseeing pilot plant operations (extrusion, injection molding, inspection), ensuring compliance with safety standards, coordinating cross-functional teams, and driving the development and scaling of innovative products.

  • Engineering Manager at SCT Manufacturing
    Jul 2022 - Apr 2025 · 2 yrs 10 mos

    Responsible for Engineering team and projects including new product development, sustaining engineering, and design improvement.

  • Nolato (6 yrs 10 mos)
    • Value Stream Manager
      Sep 2018 - Jul 2022 · 3 yrs 11 mos

      - Responsible for increasing the ratio of value, to non-value, and eliminating waste ensuring the value stream meets or exceeds customer requirements - Create current and future state value stream maps and lead implementation of plan to achieve future state - Lead and mobilize the people inside and outside of the value stream to enable the required changes (This may Include customers and suppliers) - Lead the day-to-day activities within the value stream to ensure that current commitments are achieved while improvements are being made - Champion Gemba Walks to identify problems - Employ problem solving methods to determine root cause and develop countermeasures for misses to daily targets - Ensure Daily Management (DM) Boards are used, metrics understood and results maintained and displayed on a timely basis - Responsible for requisitioning, placing, training, directing, appraising, disciplining, or other actions relating to the employees assigned to the value stream(s)

    • Manufacturing Engineer
      Jun 2016 - Sep 2018 · 2 yrs 4 mos

      -Create and execute validation protocols for injection molds of medical products -Manage and improve process development studies for new molding processes -Complete process development samples for new and existing molds -Participate in mold design review meetings with the mold vendor and customer -Administer training to manufacturing personnel for new products, processes, equipment, and technologies -Identify root cause and implement solutions for customer corrective actions -Develop and maintain secondary operation processes (pad printing, sonic welding, UV curing, etc.) -Support medical device assembly operations to satisfy important metrics such as cycle time, yield, quality, and safety

    • Process Engineer
      Oct 2015 - Jun 2016 · 9 mos

      -Create and execute validation protocols for injection molds of medical products -Manage and improve process development studies for new molding processes -Complete process development samples for new and existing molds -Participate in mold design review meetings with the mold vendor and customer -Administer training to manufacturing personnel for new products, processes, equipment, and technologies -Identify root cause and implement solutions for customer corrective actions

  • Phillips-Medisize (Menomonie, Wisconsin)
    • Process Engineer
      May 2014 - Sep 2015 · 1 yr 5 mos

      -Supported mold tech development and coordinated efforts for continuous improvements based on processing needs that have been identified -Executed protocols of new equipment or systems pertaining to the molding floor -Assisted in developing molding processes and process capabilities -Strived to continuously improve existing processes using design of experiments and other methods to increase efficiencies -Identified root cause and implemented corrective solutions to customer complaints

    • Process Engineer Intern
      Apr 2012 - May 2014 · 2 yrs 2 mos

      -Supported mold tech development and coordinate efforts for continuous improvements based on processing needs identified by a mold tech or process engineer -Assisted in developing molding processes and process capabilities -Strived to continuously improve existing processes using design of experiments and other methods to increase efficiencies

    • Quality Engineer Intern
      Jan 2011 - Apr 2012 · 1 yr 4 mos

      -Interface with customers to resolve issues -Coordinate engineering efforts to meet manufacturing requirements from a Quality standpoint -Use of Statistical Process Control and capability studies to monitor processes -Assist in the development and implementation of statistical in-process sampling/control plans -Implement cost improvement plans for new and existing programs -Work with engineers on work cell layouts -Assist in the set up of production packets -Maintain quality documents and spreadsheets to support customer-related quality issues

  • Fabrication at Andersen Windows Corporation
    May 2010 - Aug 2010 · 4 mos

    -Enhanced communication skills within a team of assemblers -Displayed cooperation by being pleasant with others on the job -Established dependability by meeting a product quota each week -Developed attention to detail to deliver best product for customer -Illustrated persistence by working through setbacks in production