Robert Houliston

About Robert Houliston

In 2010 I graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering along with a minor in Economics. During this time I was involved in an internship with Benet Laboratories in the U.S. Army Arsenal in Watervliet, New York working on projects within both their Fatigue & Fracture Analysis and Advanced Technology divisions.After completing my undergraduate degree, I worked with U.S. Engine Valve in Westminster, South Carolina as a Plant Metallurgist/Quality Lab Supervisor.In 2013 I began employment at ZF Transmissions in Gray Court, SC as their Lead Materials Quality Engineer. As a member of their Advanced Materials Laboratory, my primary functions are the coordination and management of metallurgical receiving inspections of supplier purchased components, materials-based investigations of internal processes, and failure analysis of customer-related warranty topics.After studying part-time, in the Fall of 2017 I received my M.S. degree in Materials Science & Engineering from Clemson University.As of 2021 I began a new role at ZF Gray Court as Manager of Materials Quality. Here I currently lead a team of ~25 employees spanning metallurgical, chemical, and technical cleanliness departments. In 2024, I accepted additional responsibility at ZF as their Quality Manager of Electric Vehicle Drive (EVD) Processes. With this, I am responsible for the series production quality of ZF Gray Court\'s new hairpin stator and electric motor manufacturing lines.Specialties and Qualifications- Metallurgical Failure Analysis - Metallographic sample preparation and analysis - Heat Treatment of various Ferrous and Non-Ferrous alloys - Scanning Electron Microscopy (SED/BSED/EDS)- Optical Microscopy - Heat Treatment and Welding Quality Auditing (CQI-9/CQI-15)- Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) methods (ET Level II, UT Level II, MT/PT Level II)- Nissan Supplier Quality Development Training (PFMEA, Control Plan, Firewall Containment, 8D Problem Solving)

Experience

1. Evd Process Quality Manager

   ZF Group

   Jan 2024 — Present · Gray Court, SC, US

   Quality manager of electric vehicle drive manufacturing processes at ZF Gray Court. With series production beginning in 2025, our portfolio will come to include hairpin stator manufacturing, electric motor final assembly, and final test lines for Stellantis Gen 2 and BMW Gen 6 EVDs.

Education

• Bay Shore Senior High School

  NYS Regents Diploma with Honors

  2002 — 2006

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

  Bachelor of Science, Materials Science & Engineering

  2006 — 2010

• Clemson University

  Master of Science - MS, Material Science and Engineering

  2012 — 2017

Skills

• Metallography
• Metallurgy
• Root Cause Analysis
• Finite Element Analysis
• 5s
• Manufacturing
• Microsoft Excel
• Fmea
• Continuous Improvement
• Materials Science
• Failure Analysis
• Solidworks
• Project Management
• Lean Manufacturing
• Heat Treatment
• Kaizen
• Matlab
• Cad
• Materials
• Alloys
• Six Sigma
• Engineering
• Microsoft Office
• Abaqus