Alan G. Strauss

W319 S3040 Davies Drive · Wales,  WI  53183

Phone 262-968-9280 • Fax 262-968-9200

E-mail astrauss2@wi.rr.com

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Technical and Quality Assurance Representative with strong background as Paper Tech and Press Manager in printing and press industries. Demonstrated success in applying creative solutions to complex problems resulting in high dollar savings and increased production. Experienced as training facilitator, course design and development.  Strengths include depth of knowledge on printing and press processes and techniques and ability to work with all levels of internal and external customers.

WORK HISTORY

BOWATER AMERICA (formerly Alliance Forest Products)                                                     2000 – 2002

Major producer of paper and pulp products headquartered in Greenville, SC, with manufacturing operations located throughout the US, Canada and Korea.  Revenue of $2.5 billion and assets of $5.8 billion.  Largest producer of newsprint in US, product line includes uncoated specialty paper, coated groundwood paper, market pulp, lumber and timber.

Quality Assurance (Tech Rep),  Wales, WI                                                                        

Initially hired by Alliance Forest Products, purchased by Bowater in 2001. Responsible for establishing and maintaining working relationship with customers, new product trials, evaluating all paper related claims.

·         Resolved press time claims using technical expertise and interpersonal skills to investigate, research solutions, make recommendation to sales and directly to customers with regard to claim payment and/or denial while maintaining customer satisfaction.

·         Product line responsibility for Newsprint through Grade #4 papers to include Specialty grades with volume exceeding 300,000 ton’s annually.

·         Provided feedback on first two years of paper production from brand new, unique SCA paper machine, which used state-of-the-art technology.

·         Selected to assist Senior Engineer at Institute of Graphic Communications Montreal to evaluate different paper machine conditions and their effects on distortion in finished product (Fluting).

·         Successfully transitioned through company purchase, adjusting to radical changes in product mix, manufacturing processes and customers with significant increased customer exposure.

·         Wrote  “Trip Visit” Access database for Alliance for tracking printer visits which made it possible to track and document problems and determine trends.

QUAD/GRAPHICS INC., Sussex,  WI                                                                                                1976 – 2000

Printing company with eight manufacturing plants in US and three international sights, employing 10,000.

Product lines include magazines, catalogs & freestanding inserts, books, In-Line Specialties, with Publishing and Product Fulfillment.

Pressman/Paper Tech ,        1997 - 2000                                                                                          

Trouble shooting paper related issues including runnability, printability, establishing waste programs and performance feed back for purchasing department and customers purchasing decisions. 
Represented all pressrooms on five-person team that established first Vendor Rating System for all suppliers and wrote paper specifications for company use.

·         Developed and instituted first Strip and Core waste reduction program.  Created incentive program that resulted in savings in one year for all plants of almost $350,000.

·         Identified, investigated and documented claims associated with defective paper and lost press time. Recovered paper claims of over $150,000 on behalf of one pressroom. 

Press Manager,        1981 - 1997                                                                                                                  

Ran various Harris Web Offset Presses, Inline and Auxiliary equipment.

·         Coordinated meeting with company and vendor teams, included tour of vendor mills, to discuss ramifications of “Back Trap Mottle”, a coated paper phenomenon.

·         Co-wrote and produced Paper Defect book to assist pressmen in identifying and documenting paper problems quicker.  Book contains photos with explanations of the most common paper defects seen in pressroom. 

·         Designed process change, initially called “Strauss Bars”  (at no cost to the company) that added image on edges of plate which resulted in significant reduction in ink web breaks and saved millions of dollars on lost press time. Process was later incorporated throughout the company.

Pressman, Jogger, Roll Tender, 1976 – 1981

Varied and general responsibilities. Accomplishments resulted in promotion to Press Manager.

ARANDELL CORPORATION, fka Arandell Schmidt, Menomonee Falls,  WI                        1973 –1975

Currently have 700 employees and are a commercial printer of high-end catalogues.

QUEBECORWORLD - Brookfield Division, fka W.A. Kreuger, Brookfield,  WI                   1970 – 1973

Currently have 370 employees and are a book, magazine and catalogue printer.

EDUCATION

St. Scholastica College, Duluth,  MN

PUBLICATIONS and RECOGNITIONS

Paper Defect Book, Co-authored

Quad/Graphics, Inc. - still in use

Solely wrote, directed, assisted in the production of videos used for technical instruction and taught classes in Quad/Education program.

Organized  Printing Seminar for paper manufacturers on how printing is done.  Served with three Quad Employees to facilitate. 

Gave presentation at a Lake States Tappi Meeting in Stevens Point on how modern print facilities convert their white paper to final printed product.

Initiated meetings and assembled a small group which conducted research into various resources available to establish the company’s first Employee Assistance Program. Program has evolved into counseling and help system incorporated with medical benefits package.