Thomas Charnley

Strategic Procurement Leader with global experience leading multi-plant, multi-country purchasing operations across defense, aerospace, automotive, and advanced manufacturing. Known for delivering multi-million-dollar cost reductions, strengthening supply chain performance, and building high-impact global teams while collaborating with Sales and Operations to ensure corporate goals are met.

Purchasing Director at American Rheinmetall (2023-03 – 2026-07)

Led purchasing and supply chain operations across four North American manufacturing plants supporting U.S. DoD programs. Directed sourcing, supplier performance, logistics, and cost governance.

• Increased quote completion 65% → 94% through standardized RFQ processes and cross-functional sourcing reviews.
• Improved on-time delivery 72% → 95% using supplier scorecards, corrective action plans, and logistics optimization improving inventory turns by 15%.
• Reduced historical PPV by 30% via cost-modeling, should-cost analysis, and supplier price-increase governance.
• Supplier consolidation effort led to a reduction of 40% of approved suppliers.
• Built KPI framework for delivery, spend, supplier quality, and operational performance.
• Designed a framework for CPSR, FAR, and DFAR for at the time Loc Performance to ensure compliance.

Purchasing Director at Unique Fabricating (2020-01 – 2023-03)

Directed purchasing and supply chain operations across seven plants, overseeing sourcing, logistics, supplier management, and cost reduction initiatives.

• Implemented IATF-aligned purchasing systems and supplier compliance processes.
• Reduced transportation cost 10% and premium freight 35% through logistics optimization.
• Delivered $1.5M annual savings through strategic sourcing and supplier negotiations.
• Strengthened supply chain resilience during COVID-19 through risk mitigation and supplier diversification.

Global Purchasing Director at Federal-Mogul / TRICO Group (2014-08 – 2020-01)

Oversaw global purchasing operations, supplier strategy, cost reduction, and international sourcing across six countries.

• Added $10M profit through low-cost-country outsourcing and global sourcing strategy.
• Identified $1.2M immediate savings via cost analysis and supplier consolidation.
• Eliminated $2M tariff exposure through trade compliance and sourcing realignment.
• Reduced product line cost 20% through commodity strategy and supplier negotiations.
• Improved supplier payment terms by 30 days, strengthening cash flow.

Senior Manager, Fleet Service at Boeing (2011-07 – 2014-08)

Director of Purchasing at Randy's Ring & Pinion (2010-08 – 2011-07)

Assistant Director of Purchasing at PACCAR (2007-06 – 2010-08)

Purchasing Manager at Daimler Trucks NA (PUReM LLC) (2000-06 – 2007-06)

MBA – Michigan State University

BS in Engineering (Materials Logistics Management) – Michigan State University