Name: John Pickens
Company Name: Material & Process Innovation LLC
Location: Strongsville, Ohio
Years In Industry: 40+
Consulting Specialties:
- Leadership Management & Business Development
- Product and Process Development, Creative Problem Solving
- Six Sigma Statistical Methodology, Black Belt Training
- Materials, Metallurgy & Manufacturing
- Plant Construction & Start-Up
Send an email | Website | Phone: (440) 238-2794
Briefly:
John Pickens is an executive manager, principal engineer, & metallurgist, experienced with major materials systems in metals, manufacturing, ceramic materials, recycling, & sustainability. Throughout his career, John has garnered recognition for creativity and innovative resourcefulness in resolving dilemmas with a skilled eye for saving costs as well as a passion for shop-floor teaching and training. His participation in a project is valuable in all stages, from planning to operational, demonstrating leadership and exceptional management skills. John possesses domestic and global experience in directing technical and operational units in developing and commercializing products and processes, innovatively creating new business opportunities with an emphasis on technology, commercialization. market development, cooperation, & profitability. His industrial experience is in steel, primary & secondary aluminum, automotive, aerospace, recycling & minerals processing with a broad materials base in steel, aluminum, ceramics, intermetallics, composite materials, and advanced processing technologies. After several years of managing projects and overseeing new product development for a variety of businesses and organizations, including NASA, John founded his own company, Material & Process Innovation, LLC, in 2009, creating new business opportunities for clients via innovative solutions using metallurgical/materials/process engineering and technical marketing expertise by coupling depth and breadth in materials engineering with an extensive network of scientific and industrial contacts across multiple industries. MPI’s projects have included aluminum recycling, aluminum & steel slag recycling, steel production, production of cement and concrete products, recycling of scrap metals and auto shredder residues, alternative energy, and Waste-To-Energy ash recycling and sustainability. Among other awards and achievements, John received the NASA Special Achievement Award for contributions.
Publications or Significant Accomplishments:
- Worked in various aspects of metals and materials industries for 34 years, including metallurgy both on the shop floor and in industrial research; materials development engineering; project management with NASA; and technology management with a major steel corporation. (1975-2009)
- Founded Material & Process Innovation, LLC, creating new business opportunities for clients via innovative solutions using metallurgical/materials/process engineering and technical marketing expertise by coupling depth and breadth in materials engineering with an extensive network of scientific and industrial contacts across multiple industries. MPI’s projects have included aluminum recycling, aluminum & steel slag recycling, steel production, production of cement and concrete products, recycling of scrap metals and auto shredder residues, alternative energy, and Waste-To-Energy ash recycling and sustainability. (2009 to present)
- Saved company participation in 301 stainless steel market by eliminating causes of stress corrosion cracking and preserving product line, reversing plans to exit 301 stainless market participation. (LTV Steel Company, 1975-1986)
- Developed process for roll-bonded “stainless-steel-over-carbon-steel-core” composite steel product. (LTV Steel Company, 1975-1986)
- Developed/patented new batch-annealed dual phase steel utilizing existing process equipment to allow participation in market without millions of dollars of capital expenditure for new process equipment. (LTV Steel Company, 1975-1986)
- Won Industrial Research Magazine’s 1986 IR-100 Award for new product development. (Clevite Industries, 1986-1987)
- Served as Sub-Project Manager in the NASP (National Aerospace Plane) and HSCT (High-Speed Civil Transport) programs, as well as technical agent representing NASA on development, fabrication, & technology transfer for the HSCT Engine Team, an innovative project management approach linking NASA, Pratt & Whitney, and General Electric Aircraft Engine Co. in commercial development of the High-Speed Civil Transport. Involved advanced metallics, intermetallics, and ceramic materials processing concepts for fabrication and joining. (NASA, 1987-1995)
- Received NASA Special Achievement Award for contributions. (NASA, 1987-1995)
- Developed and facilitated commercialization of thermal spray & powder metallurgy processes for manufacturing advanced materials for aerospace applications incorporating Statistical Design-Of-Experiments approach and technology transfer to industrial sources. (Alumitech, 1995-2005)
- Led technical components in management team that increased revenues from ~$10 to $50 million through growth & acquisitions. (Alumitech, 1995-2005)
- Developed & patented process technologies and products for closed-loop recycling of aluminum industry waste streams into multiple industrial markets…aluminum, cement, steel, chemicals, glass, & refractories. (Alumitech, 1995-2005)
- Designed, built, started-up full-scale process facilities for commercializing closed-loop recycling business encompassing comminution, hydrometallurgical & pyrometallurgical operations. (Alumitech, 1995-2005)
- Created and marketed new products for use by industrial customers, e.g engineered calcium aluminate product for ladle metallurgy refining of liquid steel, production of cements, glass production, etc.) (Alumitech, 1995-2005)
- Awarded maximum NICE3 commercialization grant from the Department of Energy and Ohio’s Department of Development to commercialize new recycling technology. (Alumitech, 1995-2005)
- Commercialized recycling operating systems & businesses in USA and Europe during expat assignment in Norway to complete plant construction and successful start-up of operations. (Aleris, 2005-2009)
- Developed/commercialized new products, operations, & markets for new NMP products businesses. (Aleris, 2005-2009)
- Developed products for the steel industry for ladle refining of liquid steel (calcium aluminate & slag conditioners) (Aleris, 2005-2009)
- Developed reduced cost flux options for melting furnaces with potential cost reductions of $5 million to $15 million per year for North American operations (Aleris, 2005-2009)
