Thomas Matter
About Thomas Matter
Thomas Matter serves as a Senior Development Purchasing Analyst at Harley-Davidson Motor Company, where he leads supplier improvement initiatives and manages product quality documentation. He has extensive experience in engineering and supplier development, having previously held positions at companies such as Chrysler, BRP, and IEA, LLC.
Current Role at Harley-Davidson
Thomas Matter serves as a Senior Development Purchasing Analyst (Parts & Accessories) at Harley-Davidson Motor Company. He has been in this position since 2015, contributing to the New Product Development Center. His responsibilities include leading and reviewing Advanced Product Quality (APQP) documentation during the Product Validation (PV) build process. He manages multiple supplier quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing customer satisfaction and supports the onboarding of new suppliers through active participation in the supplier's SSE audit.
Previous Experience in Engineering Management
Before joining Harley-Davidson, Thomas Matter held several engineering management positions. He worked as a Manufacturing Engineering Manager at IEA, LLC, an Engendren company, for 11 months in 2014-2015. Prior to that, he served as a Resident Engineering Specialist at Chrysler for 15 years, from 1995 to 2010, in Kenosha, WI. He also worked as a Supplier Development Engineer/Special Projects at BRP for two years from 2012 to 2014 in Sturtevant, WI, and as a Manufacturing Technology Manager at Karl Schmidt Unisia for two years from 2010 to 2012 in Marinette, WI.
Education and Mechanical Engineering Background
Thomas Matter studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) from 1976 to 1985. He also attended Horlick High School and St. John's Nepomuck. His educational background provides a strong foundation for his extensive career in engineering and development roles.
Supplier Quality Improvement Initiatives
In his current role and previous positions, Thomas Matter has led supplier improvement initiatives focusing on quality, cost, lead-times, delivery, and capacity during part design through product launch. He establishes and drives strategic process improvements with suppliers using key performance indicators (KPIs) and root cause countermeasures. Additionally, he supports the resolution of the top 10 warranty issues by collaborating with engineering and suppliers to brainstorm and implement effective solutions.
Technical Skills and Responsibilities
Thomas Matter is responsible for writing all purchase orders for tooling, prototype parts, testing, and initial production parts utilizing SAP and AS400 systems. He coaches new team members through various Harley-Davidson systems to aid their development, ensuring a smooth transition and effective onboarding process. His technical skills and experience in managing supplier relationships contribute to the successful launch of high-quality products.