Juan Villegas

Global Operations & General Management Executive with 30+ years of progressive leadership across manufacturing, operations, and quality throughout North America. Proven ability to transform underperforming or startup operations into scalable, profitable, and high-performance organizations. Extensive experience leading multi-site operations (6+ plants, 1,200+ employees) with full P&L; accountability exceeding $150M.

Strong focus on Lean transformation, operational excellence, automation, and disciplined execution delivering measurable gains in productivity, cost, and service.

General Manager | Corporate Technical Director at SSW Advanced Technologies (2022-01 – 2025-01)

Executive leadership across 6 plants in Mexico & U.S. (stamping, injection molding, welding, finishing). Full P&L; responsibility >$150M including CAPEX, cost control, and profitability.

• Led Lean and automation strategy achieving +20% capacity and -12% waste while improving planning accuracy by 30% through ERP/MRP optimization
• Negotiated labor and supplier contracts delivering -10% cost and strengthened leadership bench reducing turnover 12%
• Achieved +18% efficiency and full compliance (IATF, ISO, OSHA)

General Manager at International Plating Service (2022-01 – 2022-12)

Directed 24/7 operations across 2 plants with 400+ employees including finishing, coating, polishing and die casting. Full ownership of P&L;, CAPEX, logistics and commercial growth.

• Delivered +32% sales growth in 3 months, achieved 99% OTD and <500 PPM
• Implemented Lean initiatives (-12% waste) and developed new processes improving efficiency +15% and reducing outsourcing costs -10%
• Built internal technical academy reducing external hiring dependency

General Manager | Business Development at Ecoplating (2020-01 – 2022-12)

Led full greenfield startup including layout, installation, hiring and ramp-up. Scaled organization from 13 to 150 employees with full P&L; and CAPEX ownership.

• Delivered 4x revenue growth ($1.2M to $5M+), -22% cost reduction and +30% productivity
• Reduced scrap from 8% to <2% and implemented advanced processes (powder coating, reel-to-reel plating)
• Achieved ISO readiness with zero major findings

General Manager Mexico at KC Jones (2015-01 – 2019-12)

Established Mexico operations for U.S. top-tier finishing company including legal entity, startup and ramp-up.

• Implemented Lean Kaizen achieving +30% efficiency and installed advanced automated plating technologies

Operations Manager at TRW (ZF Group) (2013-01 – 2015-12)

Led coatings business unit with 300+ employees, managing multiple coating lines, labs and wastewater systems.

• Achieved +25% productivity and <1 PPM defect rate, positioning operation at world-class quality levels

Operations Manager at Littelfuse (2008-01 – 2013-12)

Led global plating unit and engineering initiatives.

• Achieved Best Business Unit globally, reduced cost 35%, improved scrap from 3% to 0.6% and sustained zero incidents for two consecutive years

Master's Degree in Industrial Administration – ICN University (1998-01 – 1999-12)

Certificate in Industrial and Systems Engineering – ICN University (1995-01 – 1998-12)

Degree in Certified Public Accountant – Valle del Bravo University (1992-01 – 1995-12)

Technical Bachelor's in Industrial Chemistry – Instituto Tecnológico de Matamoros (1986-01 – 1988-12)

Technical Bachelor's in Industrial Electronics – Instituto Tecnológico de Matamoros (1984-01 – 1986-12)