Aircraft Propeller Service (APS) Names Stephen D. Aragon Vice President of Operations
Aircraft Propeller Service, LLC (APS, www.aircraftpropeller.com, Lake Zurich, IL), one of the world’s leading commercial propeller Maintenance Repair Organizations (MROs), announced the appointment of Stephen D. Aragon as Vice President of Operations. In this role, Aragon will be responsible for the company’s global manufacturing operations, supply chain management, training, quality and continuous improvement strategy. He brings over 20 years of related direct experience overseeing the implementation of Lean Manufacturing strategies and Lean Business Systems for large manufacturers in diverse industries and excels as a Lean transformation leader.
According to APS President and CEO, Dan Colbert, “Steve’s 20 years of manufacturing operations experience includes General Electric’s Aircraft Business Group where he oversaw the composite lay-up operation for the F-14 Tomcat and the B-1B Bomber programs. He transitioned to the medical device industry where he worked in expanding roles in the Cardiac Surgery Group for Medtronic. He then gained considerable Lean and Lean Business Systems experience with companies like Cardinal Health and Baxter Health Care. We look forward to having Steve bring his experience and skills to APS.”
Prior to joining APS, Aragon served as Operations Site Leader with Pentair (Hanover Park, IL) where his accomplishments included developing and executing a five-year Lean Strategy for its plant, as well as leading successful initiatives in the areas of plant safety, quality control, plant leadership, and capital equipment improvement. Among his other professional roles were that as Vice President of Operations Excellence with Quad Graphics (Waseca, MN), and Managing Partner/Owner/Independent Lean Consultant with OptimWorks Inc. (Port Barrington, IL.
Aragon’s broad skill-set is reflected in in-depth competencies in areas of Operations Leadership (3PL and Direct), Toyota Production Systems, KATA, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Lean Engineering, as well as cGMP and FDA regulations in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.
Aragon holds a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Business Administration and Public Administration from the College of Santa Fe. He resides in Port Barrington, IL.
