Rick’s Vision:

Balance creativity with practicality.

Think like a business owner! Do what is right for the customer!

Simplicity = Reliability

One test is worth a thousand expert opinions.

Be flexible. The world is always-changing.

Question everything!

Smart companies focus their efforts on better product design rather than production efficiencies, since 80% of a product’s cost is determined in the design process.  Production costs generally account for only 10-20%.

Don’t ask “what” or “why”? Ask “what-if” or “why-not”?

Positive reinforcement gets results. Catch somebody doing something right!

Be optimistic, but always have a contingency plan.

Emphasize continuous improvement - Never be satisfied with the status quo.

Recognize great ideas on their own merit, regardless of who generated them.  Then, expand upon them.

ABOUT RICK

RICK HANSON, Principal of Parametric PDG, is a product development professional with 17 years’ experience developing breakthrough, world class products within multiple industries. Drawing from a unique unique blend of creative hands-on design talent, business acumen, customer focus, thorough project management skills, and technical discipline, Rick has been effective in guiding fundamental growth within the companies he has served.

Throughout Rick’s career he has held a variety of roles within Research and Development, Design, Product Engineering, International Marketing, Project Leadership, and Management.  He has worked on product development projects for over 20 companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500 corporations.  These include:

IDEO DELTA FAUCET COMPANY GM (via JOHNSON CONTROLS) STRYKER MEDICAL MONSTER MEDIC ERICSSON STRYKER INSTRUMENTS HERMAN MILLER HILL-ROM STEELCASE UNILEVER CHATSWORTH PRODUCTS FORD MOTOR COMPANY THE HOOVER COMPANY GREENSGROOMER WORLDWIDE THE WEST BEND COMPANY HELMER LABS IDEA DEVELOPMENT

EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, & CERTIFICATIONS

• Masters of Business Administration (MBA), WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY, Kalamazoo, MI, 2002
• Graduation with Highest Honors
• MS Mechanical Engineering (MSME), PURDUE UNIVERSITY, West Lafayette, IN, (Completed 1/2 curriculum) 
• BS Mechanical Engineering, cum laude, University of Akron, Akron, OH, 1992
• Concentration in Energy Systems and Optimization Methods
• Minor in Applied Mathematics
• Professional Engineer (PE)
• Registered Patent Agent, expected 2009

Continuing Education Coursework

• Longacre Patent Bar Review
• SolidWorks Simulation (CosmosWorks Designer)
• Beall’s Plastic Part Design
• GW Berkheimer Refrigeration Fundamentals
• SAE Design for Manufacturing and Assembly
• UWM’s Rubber Material and Process Selection
• Bozelli’s Scientific Injection Molding
• FDA/QSR Risk Management and Regulatory Compliance (Les Schnoll)
• Masco Product Liability Seminar
• Quality Function Deployment (QFD)
• Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing

PATENTS HONORS & ORGANIZATIONS US Patent No. 6,240,579 Stryker Engineering Zealot Award US Patent No. 6,264,006 Stryker Performance Excellence Award US Patent No. 6,256,812 Phi Kappa Phi –Academic Honor Society      US Patent No. 6,253,397 Beta Gamma Sigma –AACSB Honor Society US Patent No. 6,507,964 Tau Beta Pi – Engineering Honor Society US Patent No. D474,446 Pi Mu Epsilon – Math Honor Society US Patent Application – Frost Eliminator for Laboratory Freezer Indiana Inventors Association US Patent Application – Thermostatic Roman Tub Faucet Big Brothers Volunteer US Patent Application – Thin Wall Body Design - Thermostatic Faucet Society of Professional Engineers US Patent Application – Ambulance Cot