Derek Steele

About Derek Steele

Highly skilled quality professional with experience in international manufacturing operations, quality management systems, problem solving techniques, statistical analysis, supplier quality management, and customer relationship management. Proven history of success in developing teams to meet difficult challenges and improve quality levels, productivity, and customer satisfaction.Core Competencies• ISO 9001, 17025, 13485, IATF 16949• Problem-Solving Methodology (8D, RCA, etc.)• Product/ Process/ System Auditing• Supplier Quality Management• PPAP, APQP, FMEA, SPC• Six Sigma and Lean Methodology

Experience

1. Director of Quality, Cell Culture Media Network

   Thermo Fisher Scientific

   May 2023 — Present

   Leading the Quality function across a three-site cell culture media operation (2500+ employees,~$1.8B revenue), overseeing a global team of 145 associates spanning incoming inspection, testing laboratories, quality engineering, QMS management, and product release. Final accountability for site compliance to ISO 13485, MDSAP, and 21 CFR 820 quality management systems, including registered medical devices (IVD).Key Achievements• Reduced complaint rate by 23% through targeted, project-driven reductions in key complaint drivers, reducing product return costs by $608k in 2025.• Introduced a proactive quality engineering strategy across the division, aligning engineers with production value streams, expanding the use of core quality tools, and implementing a comprehensive Six Sigma program, which reduced scrap by $4.01M since 2023.• Developed and implemented an organizational strategy for the cell culture media network, covering org design, impact analysis, and communication at all levels. This strategy aligned three separate sites under a centralized leadership team, improved customer experience, and eliminated the need to backfill several key leadership roles.

Education

• Northern Arizona University

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Business Administration and Management, General

  2018

• Kent State University

  Lean Sigma Black Belt Certification

  2017

• The Mahler Company

  Executive Leadership Program

Skills

• Materials Science
• Fmea
• Ppap
• Manufacturing
• Automotive
• Leadership
• Lean Manufacturing
• Quality Management
• Spc
• Analysis
• Materials
• Design of Experiments
• Engineering
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Thin Films
• Supplier Quality Management
• Quality System
• Quality Assurance
• Budgets
• Lotus Notes
• Apqp
• Crm
• Forecasting
• Project Management
• Iso
• Process Improvement
• Six Sigma
• Continuous Improvement
• Photovoltaics
• Recruiting
• Value Stream Mapping
• Extrusion
• Root Cause Analysis
• Characterization
• Negotiation
• Strategic Planning
• Metallurgy
• 5s
• Sap
• Process Engineering