CAREER SUMMARY

THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE of Quality Assurance

Over 20 years experience Auditing, Training and Inspecting. Technical experience in many special disciplines and processes with specific focus in the aerospace industry. s/b AS9100 RAB certified/RMC approved.

• AS 9100 RAB Certified AIEA - Trainer & Witness Auditor, #A05084

• RAB ISO9001 Certified QMS Lead Auditor # Q05084

• AS 91000 BVQI Auditor Training Course - Taught 10/01

• AS 9100 Certified Internal/External Auditor - Honeywell

• Technical Source Inspector for various Aerospace Companies

• AS 9000 Certified Internal Auditor/Trainer - Allied Signal Aerospace.

• ASQ Certified Quality Auditor # 1265

• WA State Certified Vocational Instructor number 1708B

• Aerospace Quality Assurance Specialists for DOD

• US Marine Corps Aircraft Mechanic and Inspector

REGISTRAR ACCREDITATION BOARD (RAB) - CERTIFIED FIELDS OF EXPERTISE 

• Aerospace

• Project Management

• Food, Beverage Produces

• Health, Medical Services

• Telecommunication Services

• Business, Professional, Personal Services

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

AUDITOR, SOURCE INSPECTOR, TRAINER & CONSULTANT:

Skilled in auditing, source inspection and identifying areas for improvement in operations, processes and communications. Employed to accomplish second party supplier audits, technical surveyor of special processes and source inspection for several Aerospace companies. Many of these audits/surveys are for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) repair stations, various related aerospace industries, and many special disciplines and processes, including NDT (x-ray, ultrasonic, magnetic particle, and florescent penetrant), physical & functional destructive analysis, and examination and interpretation of aerospace structural assemblies and components. Skilled in inspection of machined parts, ferrous and non-ferrous metals and castings, electronic components, plating and finishing of metals, exotic metals and composites. These inspections, audits and surveys are performed from detailed parts assembly through functional testing. Hundreds of third party audits accomplished for international registrars, (ISO 9001, AS 9000 and AS 9100).

Allied Signal /Honeywell Aerospace, employed 5 -96 to present
Accomplished dozens of ARD 9000 and AS 9000 Second Party Audits of suppliers. In 1998, requested equivalency rating of ARD/AS 9000 acceptability from RAB, which was subsequently approved. In 1999, by invitation of Honeywell Working Group tasked by AAQG/IAQG, reviewed and commented on drafts 1 through 6 of AS 9101/EN 9101 Audit Check Lists and Reporting format which resulted in improvements. Complete background investigation with physical and forensic drug screen done by Honeywell in 1999 for security clearance.

EFW (Elbit Fort Worth) Defense Systems for Haifa, Israel Advanced Technology Center 5-96 to present
Auditor and Technical Aerospace Source Inspector for aircraft control panels and keyboard assemblies utilized for navigation and weapons delivery systems - assignments include:

• First Article inspections of aircraft parts, components and assemblies
• Functional Configuration Audits
• Physical Configuration Audits (buy off of product and or rejection)
• Supplier Surveys/Audits
• Liaison with Engineering, Manufacturing and Quality Departments to resolve manufacturing/design issues
• Responsible to verify and or witness Acceptance Test Procedure (ATP) results and affix QC stamp to signify conformance to contract requirements and safety of flight
• Issue and track Supplier Corrective Action Requests

TQM Associates, employed 7-98 to present - (Responsibilities are same as above) - Source inspection for the following clients:

• British Aerospace
• Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical
• Rolls Royce Gears
• Litton-Ingalls

Registration Representative, 3-01 to present - (dozens of assignments)
Hired to accept or reject completed audit package reviews (Aerospace, Food & Beverage and Medical Device) audits as a Technical Reviewer/Registration Representative for the Registrar Executive Committee.

VOCATIONAL INSTRUCTOR: South Seattle Community College, 1-89 through 12-93 - over 400 clock hours of teaching - Taught “Quality Documentation and Auditing”, “Quality Improvement Process” and “Principles of Inspection”. Instructed students at multiple Boeing commercial airplane facilities during different shifts and tailored information to meet immediate requirements as coordinated with executive-level Boeing Management.

QUALITY ASSURANCE SPECIALIST: Department of Defense, 1-78 through 12-85 (United States, Germany, and Saudi Arabia) - DOD secret clearance - Managed quality aspects of aerospace contracts and performed technical evaluations (audits/inspections) to assure contractor compliance, chaired MRB, and liaison with US Government and FAA Representatives. This involved quality decisions throughout all aspects of manufacture from detailed aerospace parts to completed system functional testing. Systems included a variety of aerospace vehicles, satellites, missile systems, and aircraft produced by Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, Lockheed, Rockwell, General Dynamics/Convair and Northrup. Personnel support contracts included: computer and telephone operations and maintenance, medical, postal, dining, housing facilities, survival training operations and weapons delivery range and safety inspections.

INSPECTOR AND MECHANIC: United States Marine Corps, Sergeant, 6-72 thru 6-76 (Southeast Asian Veteran) - Supervised aircraft maintenance and inspection on a variety of US Military aircraft, test equipment and ground support vehicles. Appointed Safety NCO and participated in aircraft crash investigations and evaluations.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES: ASQ Aerospace & Defense, Audit and Human Resources Divisions. Member ACL Accredited Professional Consultants. Honored Professional of the National Directory of Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals - 1998-1999 edition.

BIOGRAPHY

John Wickern started his career as an Aircraft Mechanic and Inspector for the US Marines during the Viet Nam War. He worked on a variety of fighter/attack aircraft and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in 1976. As a civilian, he worked as a sales and service representative for a hydraulic and pneumatic components company; refurbished torpedoes, mines and missile components for the Navy.

In 1978, John was offered an appointment with the Department of Defense as an Aerospace Quality Assurance Specialists. He was assigned to various Boeing Company locations in the Seattle area to inspect and audit missiles, aircraft, hydrofoil, space programs, computer tests sets and software development. In 1981, he accepted a position with the Headquarters of the Western Space and Missile Center, Vandenberg AFB. There he inspected and audited the ATLAS Space Booster Program in accordance with DOD, NASA and missile range procurement regulations.

John returned to Seattle in 1982 to work on the AWACS, Cruise Missile and Anti-Satellite programs. He was also responsible to audit the Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) assembly utilized for the Space Shuttle and space launches.

In 1983, Mr. Wickern was reassigned to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He audited contractor performance at several Royal Saudi Air Force bases, overseeing Peace Sun and Peace Hawk programs in accordance with AFLC and USMTM procurement regulations. Other audit responsibilities were: radio and telephone communications, operation and maintenance of housing facilities, medical facilities, survival training operations, weapons delivery range operations, dining and commissary facilities, postal service, motor pool maintenance and operations and government property disposition and disposal.

The Iran/Iraq war prohibited him from bringing his family to Saudi Arabia, so John requested a transfer to Weisbaden, Germany. There he surveilled several German contractor facilities as required by US and NATO quality plans, (AQAP and STANAG), to assure adherence to quality management procedures. John worked with MBB in Augsborg, AEC Telefunken in Ulm, and Carl Zeiss, in Oberkochen. His scope was aircraft structural assembly, tank components, E3A-CRT's and Milstar TWT's and leading-edge reconnaissance cameras. He also was designated to be the quality representative and the Milstar Critical Design Review.

When John returned to the Seattle area, he formed his auditing/training company in 1989. He designed and implemented a Quality Improvement Program for small businesses. He taught Quality Assurance Documentation, Auditing and Inspection courses for a local community college (over 400 teaching hours), conducted on sited classes at Boeing Company Aircraft Production Plants and published 20 articles concerning quality issues as a columnist for a local newspaper.

Now as and independent contractor and employee, Mr. Wickern accomplishes ISO 9000/ AS 9000/ AS 9100 Registrations, Pre-Assessments, Surveillance Audits and ISO 17025 Accreditations. John conducts second party Quality System Audits of suppliers and Source Inspection for miscellaneous high tech companies and major aerospace firms. He accomplished ARD 9000 audits in 1997, scores of AS 9000 audits and was invited to comment on the AS 9101 Checklist during development. He has been accepted by RAB/RMC as an Aerospace Industry Experience Auditor, Qualified Trainer and a Qualified Witness Auditor for the requirements of AS 9100. 

RAB (QMS Lead Auditor #Q05084) Certified Fields of Expertise Include:

John fees fortunate to have been an aircraft mechanic, aerospace inspector, teacher, auditor and consultant... and for the opportunity to have traveled, worked and lived in many different cultures. Over the years, he has gained the knowledge to do the required in many different industries and disciplines, the ability to do his best and the comprehension to make a difference by adding value to the QMS Systems.