Cliff Hardaway
About Cliff Hardaway
Cliff Hardaway serves as the Vice President of North American Manufacturing at Stepan Company, bringing over four decades of experience in the chemical industry. His extensive background includes leadership roles at various companies, where he specialized in maintenance, reliability, and operational excellence.
Current Role at Stepan Company
Cliff Hardaway serves as the Vice President of North America Manufacturing at Stepan Company. He has held this position since 2019 and operates from Northbrook, Illinois. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing manufacturing operations and driving efficiency within the company.
Previous Experience in Chemical Manufacturing
Cliff Hardaway has extensive experience in the chemical manufacturing sector. He worked at Celanese as a Maintenance Supervisor from 1986 to 1988 and served as a Plant Manager at NOVA Chemicals from 1998 to 2003. Additionally, he held multiple positions at Hexion Inc., including Business Manufacturing and Site Leader, Regional Manufacturing Director, and Global Operational Excellence Director, contributing to his broad expertise in plant operations.
Educational Background in Mechanical Engineering
Cliff Hardaway earned a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. His studies spanned from 1976 to 1980, providing him with a solid foundation in engineering principles that support his career in manufacturing and operations management.
Expertise in Maintenance and Reliability
Cliff Hardaway possesses specific expertise in maintenance and reliability excellence work processes and management systems. He has a proven track record of transforming inefficient operations into high-performance operations, and he is experienced in ERP system selection and implementation. His knowledge extends to EHS regulatory matters, including occupational safety, process safety, and environmental compliance.
Leadership Across Multiple Regions
Cliff Hardaway has extensive experience managing both multi-plant and single plant operations across North America, Europe, and Asia. His leadership roles have equipped him with the skills necessary to oversee complex manufacturing environments and drive operational improvements on a global scale.