Rafael Infante

Ran shift operations for vulcanization across curing presses and molds while coordinating 15+ operators and techs. Lifted productivity by 12% by streamlining workflows and cutting changeover delays. Held 100% safety and compliance with ISO, OSHA, and environmental standards.

Production Supervisor at TitanTiresInternationalInc. (2023-07 – 2026-02)

• Ran shift operations for vulcanization across curing presses and molds while coordinating 15+ operators and techs.
• Lifted productivity by 12% by streamlining workflows and cutting changeover delays.
• Held 100% safety and compliance with ISO, OSHA, and environmental standards.
• Stabilized quality at the source by monitoring time/temperature/pressure and reacting to process drift.
• Resolved equipment issues rapidly to avoid line stops and protect delivery dates.
• Trained new hires and upskilled existing staff on procedures, safety, and quality checks.
• Partnered with Maintenance, Quality, and Tire Building to clear bottlenecks and balance WIP.
• Captured production data in SAP/internal systems to track yield, scrap, and rework.

General Manager at IM Arizona Investment (2007-02 – 2020-06)

• Grew sales 25% YoY by leading and coaching a team of 6 sales representatives.
• Strengthened customer relationships while upskilling staff in relationship building and territory management.
• Managed talent pipeline across recruitment, onboarding, ongoing training, and performance evaluations.
• Ensured OEM-grade quality for industrial tires through technical analysis and quality assurance aligned to leading automaker and heavy-equipment specifications.

Process Engineer at Goodyear Venezuela (1995-09 – 2000-10)

• Managed 3 production supervisors and 16 operators per shift, maintaining safety, uptime, and on-time completion.
• Scheduled and sequenced production across Industrial Hoses and Belts, Automotive Belts, and Conveyors to balance capacity, minimize changeovers, and keep flow stable.
• Evaluated and monitored output quality by department, ran in-process checks, and closed corrective actions to keep products within spec.
• Implemented programs to reduce slow-moving inventory and scrap by department, improving turnover and lowering material waste.

Process Engineer at Bridgestone Firestone Venezuela (1989-02 – 1995-03)

• Led the Product Evaluation Department, performing indoor and outdoor testing to validate durability and performance under various conditions.
• Collaborated with the Quality Assurance Department to implement statistical process control and ensure adherence to quality standards.
• Supported production machinery launches, monitored mold output quality, and analyzed tire behavior using advanced diagnostic equipment.
• Designed and implemented a corrective and preventive maintenance plan, driving process improvements and efficiency through Kaizen and Kanban methodologies.

Bachelors of Science in Industrial Engineering – Universidad de Carabobo. - Venezuela (1985 – 1989)