David Augustin

About David Augustin

As a results-driven Operations Leader with 20+ years of experience in manufacturing, food production, and large-scale operations management, I specialize in transforming complex challenges into sustainable business success. My career has been defined by leading teams to exceed performance expectations, streamline operations, and drive measurable gains in productivity, profitability, and quality.I have led operational improvements that reduced costs by $750K in one year, boosted factory output by 30%, and improved product quality by 25%, all while maintaining a strong focus on safety, team development, and process efficiency. I’ve also directed more than $15M in capital investments, overseeing plant expansions, facility construction, and equipment upgrades that increased capacity and cut customer complaints by 20%.A retired U.S. Naval Officer, I bring the discipline, integrity, and mission focus of military leadership into the corporate environment—combined with a data-driven, Lean Six Sigma mindset that fuels continuous improvement and operational excellence. I believe in empowering teams, aligning strategy with execution, and ensuring that manufacturing performance becomes a true driver of business growth and customer satisfaction.Recognized as Manufacturer of the Year (2024) by the Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center, I’m passionate about building strong, accountable cultures and delivering meaningful results that move organizations forward.

Experience

1. Director of Manufacturing

   Lavazza Group

   Jan 2018 — Present · West Chester, PA, US

   Direct a workforce of 170 employees across five key divisions: Operations, Engineering & Maintenance, Continuous Improvement, Logistics, and Health, Safety & Environment, driving organizational alignment, accountability, and performance excellence across all production areas.Champion a culture of safety and compliance, achieving flawless FDA and HACCP audit results and sustaining zero safety incidents while meeting or exceeding all customer quality expectations.Manage full P&L ownership for a high-volume manufacturing facility, implementing data-driven efficiency initiatives, reducing operating costs, improving yield, and strengthening overall profitability.Influence enterprise-level decisions as a core member of the North America Leadership Team, translating strategic objectives into operational execution, optimizing cross-functional collaboration, and accelerating delivery of corporate KPIs.

Education

• United States Naval Academy

  B.S.

  1998 — 2002

• Penn State Smeal MBA Program

  Master of Business Administration - MBA

  2018 — 2020

• The Catholic University of America

  M.S.E., Engineering Management

  2007 — 2009