WCI Steel Announces New VP-Quality and Continuous Improvement
04/14/2008 - WCI Steel hires Joseph A. Knecht as Vice President, Quality and Continuous Improvement to support its strengthened commitment to continuous improvement.
In a show of strengthened commitment to continuous improvement, WCI Steel has hired Joseph A. Knecht as Vice President, Quality and Continuous Improvement. Knecht brings more than 25 years of industry experience in operations improvement to the position.
“Joe’s leadership in continuous improvement in the metals industry will greatly assist WCI Steel to involve all employees in better managing our operations and outcomes,” said Leonard M. Anthony, WCI’s President and CEO.
Knecht is working to engage employees in the company’s steelmaking, hot rolling and finishing facilities to identify process improvements that will result in greater efficiency, improved yields, reduced cycle times, more consistent quality, lower costs, and increased levels of customer service.
“I have been very impressed by the knowledge and experience of WCI Steel employees,” said Knecht. “Every employee has a role to play in improving our consistency and reliability. Together with the United Steelworkers, we will be engaging employees with the right tools and providing opportunities for involvement to help improve our performance – financially and operationally.”
Prior to joining WCI, Knecht worked for Timet (Titanium Metals Corp.) in Morgantown, Pa., and Toronto, Ohio. At Timet, he served as Operations Manager and Director of Process and Continuous Improvement, working directly with TIMET customers and employees in several locations to develop strategies and plans that significantly improved productivity and shipments while reducing production costs.
Prior to his leadership involvement with continuous improvement, Knecht served in various senior management and supervisory capacities in raw material processing, melting, rolling, forging, and finishing operations for Timet, Titanium Hearth Technologies, Axel Johnson Metals and/or Slater Steels.
Knecht holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the Indiana Institute of Technology. His professional education includes Six Sigma Master Black Belt training, Synchronous Manufacturing and several executive management courses at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.
Knecht also holds two patents in melting technology and has published in industry journals. He has been a member of the American Society for Metals, Instrumentation Society of America, International Titanium Association, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and International Society for Six-Sigma Professionals.
WCI Steel is a niche-oriented integrated producer of value-added, custom steel products. Emphasizing customer and technical service, the company currently produces 185 grades of flat-rolled custom and commodity steel products at its Warren, Ohio, facility. WCI Steel focuses on a wide range of custom flat-rolled steel products, including high carbon, alloy, ultra high strength, and heavy-gauge galvanized steel and on developing closer, more responsive relationships with customers. Major customers are steel converters, processors, service centers, construction product companies, and to a lesser extent, automobile manufacturers.
“Joe’s leadership in continuous improvement in the metals industry will greatly assist WCI Steel to involve all employees in better managing our operations and outcomes,” said Leonard M. Anthony, WCI’s President and CEO.
Knecht is working to engage employees in the company’s steelmaking, hot rolling and finishing facilities to identify process improvements that will result in greater efficiency, improved yields, reduced cycle times, more consistent quality, lower costs, and increased levels of customer service.
“I have been very impressed by the knowledge and experience of WCI Steel employees,” said Knecht. “Every employee has a role to play in improving our consistency and reliability. Together with the United Steelworkers, we will be engaging employees with the right tools and providing opportunities for involvement to help improve our performance – financially and operationally.”
Prior to joining WCI, Knecht worked for Timet (Titanium Metals Corp.) in Morgantown, Pa., and Toronto, Ohio. At Timet, he served as Operations Manager and Director of Process and Continuous Improvement, working directly with TIMET customers and employees in several locations to develop strategies and plans that significantly improved productivity and shipments while reducing production costs.
Prior to his leadership involvement with continuous improvement, Knecht served in various senior management and supervisory capacities in raw material processing, melting, rolling, forging, and finishing operations for Timet, Titanium Hearth Technologies, Axel Johnson Metals and/or Slater Steels.
Knecht holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the Indiana Institute of Technology. His professional education includes Six Sigma Master Black Belt training, Synchronous Manufacturing and several executive management courses at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.
Knecht also holds two patents in melting technology and has published in industry journals. He has been a member of the American Society for Metals, Instrumentation Society of America, International Titanium Association, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and International Society for Six-Sigma Professionals.
WCI Steel is a niche-oriented integrated producer of value-added, custom steel products. Emphasizing customer and technical service, the company currently produces 185 grades of flat-rolled custom and commodity steel products at its Warren, Ohio, facility. WCI Steel focuses on a wide range of custom flat-rolled steel products, including high carbon, alloy, ultra high strength, and heavy-gauge galvanized steel and on developing closer, more responsive relationships with customers. Major customers are steel converters, processors, service centers, construction product companies, and to a lesser extent, automobile manufacturers.
