Helder Duarte

Report to the President, CEO and CFO and perform global sourcing of all materials to support the manufacture of complete commercial solar lighting systems. Chartered with reducing the cost of all products by material cost reductions, product re-design, part count reduction and elimination when possible. Consistently achieve an average annual savings of $420,000.00 by re-designing, negotiating and resourcing solar panels, formed metals, electronics and harnesses. Reduced the cost of a flagship light fixture by 39% resulting in a projected annual savings of $750,000.00 Negotiated LED pricing reducing the cost by 25% and realizing annual savings of $250.000. Implemented a battery replenishment program in which $300,000 of supplier owned inventory is on site providing immediate availability of material. Product is only paid for as it is used, extending payment terms to 6 months. Developed an innovative solar panel mounting arm which reduced the amount of aluminum extrusion used by a linear mile of material per year, reduced the cost of the arm by 40% and reduced cost of shipping. Received an award for single handedly sourcing and ensuring that all materials were available during the companys largest revenue growth year.

Lead business advisor and sourcing strategist for a team of 140 EE & ME and 35 global program managers in charge of all new R&D products. Responsible for researching and analyzing current leading industry trends and implementing innovative processes and best practices that improved and accelerated the development cycle. Ensured global availability of material needed for all new product builds. World-wide focal point responsible for ensuring production line up-time and loss of revenue avoidance. Championed the resolution of potential critical material shortages. Provided direction and supervision to the fulfillment teams and took immediate actions to ensure consistent and timely delivery of materials to support plants in the United States, China, Philippines and India. Designed and implemented a real-time inventory system that interfaced with Bills of Materials displaying current global in house inventory levels across sites. The system accelerated new product development and market share penetration by optimizing material utilization of existing materials from non-utilizing locations to a required point of use.

Drove new customer acquisition and revenue growth with fortune 100 companies. Consistently exceeded sales growth objectives by identifying and fostering new customer opportunities. Achieved objectives by re-energizing the sales force with fresh creative sales strategies that empowered individuals and rewarded success. Added seven multi billion dollar fortune 100 companies to the customer portfolio in a one year period.

Responsible for the transfer of an assembly line fof Turf mowing vehicles and inventory from Wisconsin to a new state of the art manufacturing facility in Raleigh N.C. Conducted weekly senior staff debriefings on the project status. The project was a success with the assembly line transfer and production completed on time. Phased down 65 suppliers and open orders for 1500 unique part numbers. Re-established a new local supplier base to more effectively support production requirements. Implemented materials strategies and processes that ensured a constant supply of high quality, low cost product through the use of SAP systems in a Kan-ban triggered, EDI, Demand Flow Pull Technology environment. Instituted an innovative and highly successful supplier managed Pay-On-Production Kan-ban program. There is no inventory carrying cost, no liability for material, no planning or administrative cost. The system has redundant checkpoints to ensure that materials are planned and available as needed. The supplier scheduled product and delivered materials to point of use. In house inventory remained the suppliers property until consumed by the manufacturing process. Material was paid for upon consumption at the end of the assembly line; without invoicing through electronic funds transfer.

Accelerated new product introduction at lower cost by influencing new designs early in the concept stage. Supply Management Specialist in four Program Management teams. Liaison and conduit for resolving all issues between the customer and Jabil. Established a highly responsive supplier base to deliver high quality low cost materials as needed. Commitment and results demonstrated to the customers that Jabil had the expertise to completely source components, assemble, test and deliver completed turn key products; resulted in keeping the existing business and additional business as new programs developed. Re-established credibility with the existing customers to stop and reverse a declining trend of customers and revenues.

Responsible for managing all of the companys electro-mechanical and mechanical commodities. Cost savings initiatives consistently delivered average annual cost savings of $ 350,000. Streamlined the companys supply chain and reduced the number of suppliers by consolidating business directly with larger, full capability suppliers. Conceived and implemented an automated blanket order system that reduced the purchase price as volumes reached pre-established price break points; eliminating price break bill backs at year end. Hosted design reviews that relieved non-critical tolerances which improved quality and reduced cost and lead times. Efforts resulted in a 46% cost reduction in the heat sink commodity alone.

Technical specialist and corporate business advisor to the R&D development team. Liaison, between engineering, marketing, manufacturing and the supplier base. Received awards for 25,000,000 loss of revenue; $1,400,000 in annual savings and Excellence Award for 37% product cost reduction. Established global contracts for all key commodities including a critical, sole source High-Density connectors used in Wangs flagship VS 5000. Developed a second source and negotiated the rights to the technology. As chairman of the Corporate Supplier Base Committee, managed the supplier base for all mechanical commodities world-wide. Lead representative and spokesman for Wang Laboratories at an international High Technology Think Tank attended by leading Fortune 100 companies such as IBM, Xerox, Digital, Pitney Bowes, Wang Laboratories and Data General, to collaborate technology initiates, industry direction and best practices. Sourced $40,000,000 of printed circuit board & backplane business. Drove annual cost savings of $ 2,400,000 by managing all aspects of the printed circuit board business. Lead initiatives to evaluate part design, analyze projected product life-cycles, conduct ROI analysis and decided on tolling investments to reduce unit costs. Implemented the use of planar resistors in Wangs top end VS series processors that saved valuable board space and improved quality. Wang's first R& D buyer that supported a team of 40 ME. Averaged $1,300,000 in annual savings. Established a supplier base for all mechanical commodities, supplying design assistance, prototypes, custom tooling and high volume manufacturing. Sourced every component for all new programs totaling thousands of custom parts and complex tooling in a dynamic, stellar growth environment.