Rainer Knapp

Direct Product Development & Engineering Departments in the Americas, incl. Prototype shops and Laboratories (Acoustics, Materials and Thermodynamics). Responsible for Innovation and Product Development, Material Development, Simulation & Testing, Process Development, Serial Development & Industrialization, Patents, etc. Disciplinary & Functional leadership, P&L responsibility for the Americas, Budget and Investment planning for all locations. Responsible for creating and implementing of Regional Strategy.

Global responsibility for all Prototyping and Testing locations (Americas, Europe and China) of the CC Group. Maintain and further develop global prototype shops and testing laboratories, including new processes & tasks, following global reorganization. Disciplinary and functional leadership (senior management) with employees in multiple locations Responsible for budget and investment (global. several legal entities). Global Cross-Functional Team Leadership, Organization Re-structuring, International PM

Direct and lead the local team of Acoustic, Thermodynamic and Material Engineers. Responsible for local Acoustics and Thermodynamics departments as well as Materials Laboratories. Provide support with topics related to materials and technologies as well as acoustics and thermodynamics to the company's sales, engineering and purchasing team to boost acquisitions and further assist the search for new materials and suppliers.

Direct and lead the local team of Project Managers, Product and Design Engineers, Technical Sales Managers and Prototype Specialists. Provide technical and commercial support to the company's sales team in the acquisition of new business and in maintaining business for the technologies of aluminum forming, vacuum forming, thermoforming, die-cutting and polyurethane forming within the NAFTA marketplace. Provide technical support for production start-up processes in Mexico and the U.S.

Lead the companies Product Engineering and Design team and collaborate with system development, laboratory personnel, manufacturing and process engineering, and tier two suppliers for the assigned projects. Primary interface on Engineering and Technical issues. Coordinate activities of the technical development and resolutions of engineering, design and test problems. Support prototype, production vehicle and product launch events at companies manufacturing, customer and supplier facilities.

Directed Project and Program Management, Product Development, Design and Manufacturing of Power Closure Systems (Power Lift Gate, Power Deck Lid, Convertible Top, Retractable Spoilers and Comfort Adjustments). Planned and directed department operations and customer support activities. Developed annual budgets. Responsible for forecast reviews. Planned, directed and controlled marketing functions and strategies. Responsible for the manufacturing operation in the Powered Systems unit.

Overall creative and financial responsibility for locking strut product line. Responsible for product development from concept to commercialization, monitoring workflow and deadlines, pricing, market strategy, sales and customer support. Acquired a wide number of new customers. Achieved 17,7% production-increase.

Responsible for major development projects, functional definitions, analysis, project work planning, resource allocation and deliverable administration. Responsible for establishing, maintaining, obtaining funding approval and managing expenditure, identifying, tracking and resolving project risks, in a timely manner and within budget. Developed and designed electro-pneumatic control units for comfort adjustments in seating.

Developed and designed drive units for computer hard discs.

Developed and designed slide projectors with digital units (CCD cameras).

Developed and designed window blinds, shutters, shades, canopy tops and awnings.