I Talk With People

I like to be held accountable. You should too. 

That means we’re going to chat. Regularly.

About targets, and how we get there, and what needs to change, and how we get better. And if the day ever comes when everything is in sync, the question becomes "can we duplicate this?" 

I get things done, the important things, and along the way I help make our Team (Caps) inclusive and strong and ready for the next challenge – to meet it and beat it.

If history predicts the future, look at my accomplishments. 

In most cases my numbers are above average. In others, my accomplishments are outstanding and top tier. But what they all have in common is…

I had zero experience when I began each tenure and still produced, sometimes exceptionally well. 

I am able to quickly grasp new concepts and technology, then I transfer that enthusiasm and knowledge to other people in a way that makes them act.

Other words used to describe me include, smart, funny, well rounded, professional, and more.

Once in a while humble and modest, but this isn’t that time; I mean c'mon, it’s LinkedIn.

Most business is about relationships and I attribute all my success, like below, on a simple formula… 

Act in ways that build trust, be genuine and be genuinely interested in people and do good things. If you do that, business will follow.

That's what happens to me, every time.

I wish I had some wild and crazy sales strategy, but I don’t, “be interested instead of interesting” opens a lot of doors.

I have led training seminars and done presentations 1 on 1 and to large groups, connecting the dots on technical and product details in a way that people ‘get it’ and act. 

As a hunter I am relentless; as a farmer I am attentive and thorough.

In summary I find, develop, maintain and grow the business. 

I create enduring revenue streams.

Derrick Swain

So here is something a little insidious...

Last night I made a post and immediately got a comment from "LinkedIn" saying my account has been suspended for a violation and to 'click here" to proceed.

So I did.

It took me a little bit to grasp this wasn't from LinkedIn and my account was not suspended - after I had my submitted my password.

Cue the panic and changing passwords on so many different things... bank, LinkedIn, email, plus more.

Woke up this morning and everything seems to be in order but.... Grrrumble!

Canadian Blood Services

I am super excited to join Canadian Blood Services in the capacity of Regional Equipment and Field Services Supervisor covering 24 sites within the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba! I'll be leveraging my technical expertise and business leadership acumen to optimize equipment maintenance, support critical healthcare operations, and contribute to saving the lives of patients under our care. 

We are Canada's Biological Lifeline, on the mission of providing safe and reliable access to high-quality medical products and services required for the treatment and life-affirming care of patients across the country.

Reach out to learn more! 
🩸 https://www.blood.ca/en/about-us
🩸 allen.xu@blood.ca

Regional Equipment and Field Services Supervisor — Biologics Equipment and Supply Chain Management

Industry 4.0 Club

We've learned three key insights that has informed our approach to building up our club as a non-profit organization over the last 10+ months... 

1. Play to the strengths of each club founder.
2. Maintain a firm respect for standards.
3. Be intentional w/ your time.

I am excited to apply my skills in operations management and strategic planning towards this role of operations manager. We will continue to ramp up our capacity to distribute meaningful content in the promotion, development, and adoption of Industry 4.0 as we close out the year.

Stay tuned... 2024 will be a year of rapid growth and execution!

Board Member and Operations Manager — Manufacturing Education Content Strategy

It has been a year and change since a small group of manufacturing enthusiasts came together to... well, chat about all things industry 4.0, smart manufacturing, and digital transformation best practices. The pandemic has mandated that organizations revisit their approach to technology implementations — w/ people, sustainable practices, and a clear business case at its center.

Looking forward to supporting the mission of Industry 4.0 Club in this capacity of Treasurer on the Board of Directors!

Treasurer Board of Directors

I found myself networking w/ professionals at all levels of the manufacturing industry on Clubhouse — a drop-in audio only app launched in the midst of a global pandemic. It was here that Industry 4.0 Club founders came together, united in our purpose of creating opportunities to advance manufacturing growth towards industry 4.0 technologies and implementations. 

As a collective, we aim to build a reputable community of industrious individuals at the leading edge of manufacturing excellence within the next three years by engaging globally diverse thought leaders in a safe and inclusive space to ask questions, share insights, and collaborate w/ one another in co-creation initiatives. 

The community is currently 8800 members strong and has 50-100 unique listeners that engage w/ the curated conversations 4 days a week.

Find out more about us:
✔ https://www.clubhouse.com/club/industry-40-club
✔ https://www.industry40club.com
✔ allen@industry40club.com

Co-Founder and Producer

sfc.

Business Coach — Manufacturing Growth and Professional Development

Circular Supply Chain Network

The Circular Supply Chain Network is a global community of circular supply chain geeks, passionate about accelerating the transition to circular operations. We educate, connect, and innovate for circular supply chains that are good for the environment, society, business, and innovation.

Looking to support the mission? 
✔ https://www.circularsupplychain.network/
✔ allen@circularsc.net

Operations Manager — Supply Chain Management Education Content Strategy

hEr VOLUTION

Committee Chair — Educational Programming for Women in STEM

Industry Sage Media

We're on the quest of changing the future of media in manufacturing with the launch of Industry Sage Media.

Industry Sage Media is a forward-thinking, creator and expert-led media company tailored for the manufacturing industry. It offers a fresh approach to how industry professionals discover and consume crucial knowledge by putting individual creators and experts - key opinion leaders, thought leaders, and seasoned practitioners - at the forefront.

We bring together respected experts from various manufacturing sectors and roles to share their expertise through engaging podcasts, newsletters, interactive events, and comprehensive training programs.

Our first shows are now live, which will be followed by the launch of new creators and sectors monthly. 

There are several more big announcements to follow, but for now...go check out our first set of shows and creators!

👉 Recruiting Revelations with Ann Wyatt
👉 Tomorrow's Trends with Ira Sharp Jr
👉 The Dual Operators Podcast with Allen Xu
👉 Unplugged: An IIoT Podcast with Phil Seboa and Ed Fuentes
👉 Marketing Meets Media with Trevor Robinson

New episodes will be dropping weekly with key industry leaders. 

Shows found directly on Industry Sage Media and wherever you consume podcasts:
https://industrysagemedia.com/the-dual-operators-podcast/

Creator and Partner — The Dual Operators Podcast

Cosm Medical

I'm happy to share that I started a new position as Production and Supply Chain Manager at Cosm in September 2024!

This was in recognition of my successful contributions in building up a self-sustaining production department, at which point in time I was then asked to take on the additional responsibility for establishing, and executing against, the development of supply chain partnerships and engagement strategy. 

Specifically...

🚢 I directed the foundational establishment of manufacturing engineering and production of medical device commercialization operations for the Canadian market from material procurement, to final product fulfilment, as well as building towards post-market surveillance readiness governed under Health Canada and MDSAP regulatory requirements.
🚢 I forecasted material, equipment, and labor COGS and executed against SMART goal milestones, demonstrating a statistically significant increase to production capacity that could be sustained by a core team of four production operators under the supervision of a dedicated line supervisor.
🚢 I standardized and sustained the practice of establishing clear cascades of communication w/ critical suppliers, reaching alignment on win-win agreements around volume based price breaks that would be projected to further drive material COGS down by greater than 2x over the upcoming 6 month period - on top of the 11x reduction of COGS already accomplished as a result of streamlined production operations planning and development established over the previous 9 month period.

I believe investing into having strong supplier relationships is more important than ever — they are not just suppliers; they are partners in empowering SMEs to focus on their unique and individualized value proposition and zone of genius. 

Sometimes all you need, is to realize that a solution might already be out there — especially if you are intentional about looking, 👀.

End date: October 2024

Production and Supply Chain Manager — Medical Device Manufacturing

I joined the team at Cosm at the start of the year to help w/ building out the capacity to manufacture Class II medical devices. 

Since then, there has been greater than a 14x increase to process yield, 13x increase in order fulfilment, as well as a 28x reduction to order fulfilment lead times over a 9-month period. 

These medical devices are used towards improving pelvic health quality and access to personalized gynecological care solutions for up to 50% of women w/ pelvic health disorder where standard solutions simply don't work. 

Reach out to learn more! 
✔ https://www.cosm.care/about
✔ axu@cosm.care

Production Manager

Conavi Medical

I coordinated the growth, development, and adoption of GMPs as interim Production Manager during a period of rapid restructuring throughout the organization. I led a team of 11 direct reports, 7 indirect reports, and reported directly to the VP of Operations. 

I supervised my team and facilitated cross-functional communications throughout several implementation projects which resulted in the increased throughput of catheter micro-assembly production by 24x over a 5-year period. 

Some additional responsibilities and notable contributions included:
✔ ERP project implementation
✔ creation and development of operations strategy to meet a forecasted 3x increase in demand. 
✔ adoption of electronic job travelers compliant w/ ISO 13485:2016 requirements
✔ introduction of team development meetings, monthly kaizen events, and other lean manufacturing practices
✔ supporting the R&D of new product introduction (NPI) through labor resourcing and design manufacturability feedback

End date: August 2023

Production Manager — Medical Device Manufacturing

As a natural leader who actively took ownership and accountability where gaps existed, I was formally promoted to this position after three years as a production technician. I led a team of 8 direct reports and reported directly to the Director of Production and Supply Chain. 

Recognized as an individual who quickly identified the central and underlying issues of complex situations, I had demonstrated a track record of working cross-functionally to produce innovative approaches, methods, and solutions to a given problem.

In this new role, some responsibilities included:
✔ review and verification of quality documentation for class IV medical devices to be manufactured
✔ leading of 8 direct reports in the assembly of catheter device components through performance management (CFRs) and good manufacturing practices (GMPs)
✔ supporting of daily operations through production planning, troubleshooting, and allocation of resources to address ongoing business challenges
✔ development, implementation, and reporting of OKRs, KPIs, and other metrics to inform operational insights

Production Team Leader

I was drawn to Conavi for being a Canadian startup in the medical device space pioneering the first integrated intravascular imaging system combining two imaging modalities into a single platform. I was brought in as the 89th employee to support the design-transfer and production ramp up of the Novasight IVUS-OCT Catheter, where I quickly took on the added responsibility as a production liaison coordinating and expediting the flow of work, materials, and equipment. 

Within 2 years, I had demonstrated a track record of forecasting and delivering on production targets through an understanding of cross-functional objectives and business constraints. I have had the opportunity to learn and build on existing knowledge of materials management, good manufacturing practices, quality control, as well as other industry methodologies to maximize effective manufacturing and distribution of goods. 

I reported directly to the Production Manager while advocating for safe work practices as an active member of the Joint Health and Safety Committee.

Learn more about Conavi, here:
✔ https://www.conavi.com

Microassembly Technician

Sanofi Pasteur

Sanofi Pasteur is the largest company in the world devoted entirely to vaccines. I was contracted as an advanced technician supporting production processes revolving around cell culture propagation, harvesting, formulation, filling, freeze-drying, and capping the final product. 

In an industry that is heavily regulated by the FDA, I was able to develop a proficiency for GxPs (e.g. Good Documentation Practices, Good Manufacturing Practices, etc.) which allowed me to successfully perform clean room (EU GMP Grade A-B) activities as a qualified aseptic processing area operator. 

Additional details and responsibilities:
✔ analyzing potentially dangerous workplace practices and conditions as an active member of the Joint Health and Safety Committee
✔ initiating quality notifications through SAP and supporting deviation investigation efforts during periods of production shut-down
✔ https://www.sanofi.ca/

End date: July 2017

Advanced Technician — Vaccine Manufacturing

Kumon North America, Inc.

Working at Kumon was one of serendipity — I was introduced to the local franchise owner through a good friend at a time when I wasn't actively looking for work. An after-school learning program, we worked collaboratively w/ a close-knit senior team to develop a reputation for being a center that took a holistic approach to designing and implementing learning strategies tailored to individual students. 

It is my firm belief that it was this student focused learning philosophy, paired w/ our collective entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen, that propelled us to become a center that was ranked #3 in Canada and #7 in North America by subject enrollment volume.

Learn more about the Kumon franchise here:
✔ https://www.kumon.com/ca-en/

End date: December 2015

Team Leader — English and Advanced Math Education

that mfg operations guy building the underdog's playbook | i help manufacturers establish sustained flow through its people, process, and technology... in that order!

SENIOR MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS MANAGER

I am a strategic manufacturing professional w/ 10+ years experience across a broad range of manufacturing disciplines and highly regulated industry segments. I've had a proven track record combining vision and industry knowledge w/ well-developed project management and leadership abilities to support and develop process improvements, scale-up of products, team dynamics, and performance management.

I believe that leadership happens at all levels of an organization, especially the shop floor! I am passionate about empowering manufacturing professionals to engage in and champion process improvement initiatives from the bottom-up and the middle-out, while maintaining a clear line of communication w/ upper management to ensure alignment w/ organizational goals and priorities from the top-down. 

AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Organizational Leadership | Operations Management | Performance Metrics | Work Order Management | Inventory Management | Production Planning | Continuous Improvement | Process Standardization | ISO 13485:2016

—☁️

COMMUNITY TOP VOICE
💡 Leadership | Oct 2023 - Feb 2024
💡 Manufacturing Operations | Jan 2024 - Jul 2024

—☁️

FIRST PRINCIPLES
✔ Connecting w/ thought leaders aligned in mission, vision, and purpose to amplify impact and reach.
✔ Never compromising on core values when advancing change.
✔ Respect for People.

CORE VALUES
✔ Sustainable Growth — lean, functional, and effective
✔ Trials to Triumph — get things done
✔ Do the Right Thing — should be easy
✔ Extreme Ownership — trust but verify

TECHNICAL SKILLS
✔ Qualified aseptic cleanroom operator (Class 100 / ISO 5 / Grade A facility clearance).
✔ 10+ years in clinical research, biotech, pharmaceutical, and medical device manufacturing.
✔ Proficient w/ Microsoft Office 365 productivity tools (i.e., Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint).

HUMAN SKILLS
✔ Quickly adapts to the unique requirements of each working environment.
✔ 15+ years leading by example while taking on multifaceted responsibilities.
✔ Effective written and verbal communication skills in articulating key information.
✔ Disciplined in prioritizing and executing on multiple tasks under time constraints.

INTERESTS
✔ I am genuinely interested in learning something new every day. 
✔ I am continuously invested in the mindset that everyone has something to teach you. 
✔ I am happiest when I am physically active — e.g., rock climbing, sword fighting, and snowboarding.

—☁️

📩 Send me an invitation to connect!
(please share what motivated you to reach out in the request)

taplio

The Battle

Derrick Swain

Allen Xu

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The Battle

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Allen Xu

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Engagements

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Derrick Swain's LinkedIn Performance

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