Brian Bush

Operations and purchasing leader with 15+ years of experience improving material flow, supplier coordination, inventory performance, and production stability in SQF-regulated manufacturing. Known for building practical systems and trusted teams that reduce shortages, improve communication, and make work easier for the people doing it - including managing 1,000+ SKUs, reducing inventory 50%, and doubling inventory turns from 6 to 12.

Purchasing & Warehouse Manager - TENNESSEE CHEESECAKE

(2016-01 - 2026-12)

Food Manufacturing Environment • 60,000 sq. ft. facility • 80 employees • 1,000+ SKUs • $2M+ annual raw materials spend

• Built collaborative supplier relationships that improved responsiveness, communication, and material availability
• Worked directly with suppliers to reduce lead times and improve material readiness supporting stable Just-in-Time manufacturing operations
• Managed purchasing operations across 1,000+ SKUs supporting raw materials and finished goods
• Reduced inventory by 50% while improving material availability and production flow
• Doubled inventory turns from 6 to 12 annually through improved planning and supplier coordination
• Reduced obsolete and redundant inventory through improved purchasing decisions and demand alignment
• Reduced shortages, expedited orders, partial shipments, and last-minute schedule changes through improved procurement visibility and scheduling alignment
• Implemented Kanban replenishment systems improving inventory accuracy and reducing cycle counting requirements
• Created scheduling and material visibility dashboards improving communication between purchasing, warehouse, production, and shipping teams
• Led implementation of Odoo ERP and migrated operations from QuickBooks and Wasp Inventory systems to improve purchasing visibility and inventory tracking
• Developed SOPs and standardized work instructions for warehouse and material handling processes
• Built AI-assisted scheduling and procurement support tools improving forecasting visibility, purchasing coordination, and operational planning
• Supported 10 SQF third-party audits through strong lot traceability systems, food defense procedures, chemical receiving controls, and compliance support
• Participated in QA and safety teams supporting corrective actions, operational compliance, and root cause analysis
• Participated in weekly Level 10 leadership meetings focused on identifying, discussing, and solving high-priority operational problems
• Reduced warehouse staffing requirements through process optimization, workflow improvement, and Just-in-Time material planning
• Improved communication and trust between production teams and management by serving as a bridge between the floor and leadership

Shipping & Receiving Associate - TENNESSEE CHEESECAKE

(2015-01 - 2016-12)

• Supervised inbound/outbound freight scheduling, material staging, and lot documentation for raw ingredients and finished goods
• Earned promotion into leadership through strong operational execution, reliability, and continuous improvement mindset

Production Lead - INNOVATIVE PERCUSSION

(2012-01 - 2015-12)

• Managed daily production schedules, material staging, and manufacturing throughput in a high-mix assembly environment
• Worked closely with purchasing and warehouse teams to prevent component shortages and maintain uninterrupted production flow

Production Associate - INNOVATIVE PERCUSSION

(2010-01 - 2012-12)

• Executed high-volume manufacturing workflows, incoming material checks, and quality verification steps to support daily output goals

Founder & Facilitator - Voluntary Leadership Development Initiative

Created and led a voluntary before-work leadership development initiative that attracted 15 participants with no financial incentive or company requirement to attend, strengthening communication, trust, and collaborative problem solving across production and management teams.

• Built a trusted environment where frontline employees and management could openly discuss operational challenges, communication gaps, and improvement opportunities
• Led weekly leadership development and structured root-cause sessions focused on real production and warehouse issues impacting day-to-day operations
• Facilitated practical 5 Why discussions that helped teams identify underlying causes rather than treating symptoms
• Created weekly learning presentations and coordinated guest speakers to strengthen leadership capability, critical thinking, and continuous improvement skills
• Developed an AI-assisted root-cause analysis tool to help participants learn structured problem-solving techniques and improve decision-making
• Served as a bridge between management and frontline employees, increasing trust, improving communication, and encouraging greater participation in improvement initiatives
• Helped create a culture where employees felt comfortable bringing forward ideas, identifying waste, and collaborating across departments to solve problems
• Demonstrated the ability to unite people around a common purpose and sustain voluntary engagement outside normal working hours through trust, credibility, and practical leadership