Paul Thistle
About Paul Thistle
Paul Thistle serves as the Director of Process Excellence at J.D. Irving, Limited, a position he has held since 2019. With a background in engineering and extensive experience in quality and continuous improvement roles, he has worked in various capacities across multiple companies in Canada and the United States.
Work at J.D. Irving
Paul Thistle has been with J.D. Irving, Limited since 2007, holding the position of Director of Corporate Process Improvement for 17 years. In 2019, he transitioned to the role of Director of Process Excellence. His work focuses on enhancing operational efficiency and implementing process improvements across the organization. Thistle operates from Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, contributing to the company's commitment to continuous improvement.
Previous Experience in Lean Management
Before joining J.D. Irving, Paul Thistle worked at Celestica as a Lean Manager from 2003 to 2004. In this role, he was responsible for implementing lean manufacturing principles to improve efficiency and reduce waste. His experience at Celestica also includes positions as Engineering Manager and Global Quality Manager, where he focused on quality assurance and engineering processes.
Career in Continuous Improvement
Thistle has a strong background in continuous improvement, having served as the Engineering and Continuous Improvement Leader at Creation Technologies from 2004 to 2007. He also held the position of Director of Quality and Continuous Improvement at Irving Personal Care Ltd. from 2016 to 2017 and at CFM - Custom Fabricators and Machinist Limited from 2017 to 2019. His roles have consistently involved enhancing quality and operational processes.
Educational Background in Engineering
Paul Thistle studied Engineering at Western University from 1988 to 1992. This educational foundation has supported his career in process improvement and quality management, equipping him with the technical knowledge necessary for his roles in various organizations.