Drake Manufacturing Services Co., a Warren, Ohio, precision machine tool builder, has recently hired Kenneth Lonsberry as vice president operations. Lonsberry will be responsible for managing and driving improvements in engineering; materials management (purchasing and inventory control); manufacturing and assembly; and the new start-up, warranty, and service group. He comes to Drake with 14 years of operations experience and 16 years in engineering management, design and product support.  He is very adept at working on the manufacturing floor and has broad knowledge of manufacturing processes.

His experience includes the role of vice president of operations for Horsburgh & Scott, in Cleveland, a maker of large gears and gear drive systems. At Horsburgh, He was in several positions of increasing responsibility ultimately accountable for the entire operating structure of the organization of 135 individuals including procurement, quality, product engineering, manufacturing engineering and all facets of the manufacturing organization. Before Horsburgh, Lonsberry had his own business, was manager of engineering and manager of operations at Parker Hannifin (Youngstown), and held other engineering and engineering management positions in Michigan and Ohio. He has a B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering, holds two patents, and is well versed in the Lean and Six Sigma tool kits.