Summer 2000
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Summer 2000 |
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Timothy Jackson believes he was born to work in the automotive industry. In fact, his
mother proudly states that Tim's first word was "car." That may explain why the 1979 mechanical engineering graduate likes to tinker on a vintage 1928 Ford, enjoys weekend motorcycle and snowmobile rides with his family, and why such automotive heavyweights as General Motors Corp., B.F. Goodrich, ITT Automotive and Tenneco Automotive dot his 21-year engineering career. "I love the business," Jackson concedes. "You spend too many hours at work not to enjoy what you're doing." For the past year, Jackson has enjoyed being senior vice president and general manager
of Tenneco Automotive's North American original equipment (OE) business unit and worldwide
OE program management. Tenneco Automotive is the $3.2 billion global manufacturer of
Monroe brand ride control and Walker brand emission control products and systems. With
24,000 employees and 81 facilities in 22 countries, the company serves all of the major
vehicle manufacturers as well as replacement markets around the world. As general manager of ITT Automotive (1997-99), he co-invented three patentable items, including a new application for valves in quick connections of filler necks for plastic or metal fuel tanks. The process, which combined four parts into one device, eliminated a hose and two clamps, prevented four leak paths, and increased safety of fuel tanks during automobile rollovers. In 1993, on his first week as director of operations for BF Goodrich Aerospace, Jackson learned that a major customer was dissatisfied with the quality and delivery process of landing gears being produced at Goodrich's Wheel Division in Cleveland. The plant, which was predicted to lose $3.5 million that year, was given six weeks to save its largest contract. Jackson quickly identified problem areas and established a team to find solutions. He intensified communication between management, engineers, technical support, labor union leaders and assembly line employees. The company's organizational chart was streamlined and $15 million was spent on improving operations. "It took a team approach and lots of long, hard hours. Everyone wants to play on a winning team," Jackson said. A year later, Goodrich's Cleveland operations won back the customer's trust, earned new business and cleared a $13 million profit. That brings forth one of Jackson's tenets of success: Making money is very important. "Profit is the energy that sustains change in an enterprise," he says. "When I left Rose-Hulman I knew how to talk the language of technology, but I didn't know the language of money. The quicker engineers learn that they can affect the company's profit margin, the more successful they will be." Another key has been adapting to change. In 1979, when he graduated from Rose-Hulman, Jackson didn't worry about globalization of the U.S. automobile industry. Today, his recent travel schedule has included stops in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, Japan and Belgium. He can greet people and order meals in French, German, Spanish and Japanese. In June, Jackson was in Japan to sign a joint venture between Tenneco and Japanese automotive officials to support expanding business operations in the United Kingdom. Whenever possible, his family joins in the adventure. He met his wife, Melissa, on a blind date as a sophomore at Rose-Hulman. He never dated anyone else. Melissa took mathematics classes at Rose-Hulman while enrolled at Indiana State University, played in the pep band, had a food service meal account, and worked in the Waters Computing Center. The couple was married one week before Jackson earned his bachelor's degree. "The single most important change in my life (since 1979) is that I have achieved balance in my life. My family has provided a solid foundation and better attitude, and helped develop me socially," Jackson said. As for the future, Jackson would like to retire in his mid-50s to his home along Lake Erie near Monroe, Mich., spend more time with his family and friends, and possibly becoming an adjunct college professor. Of course, that's when he isn't riding on his motorcycle or snowmobile.
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