TIMOTHY R. BROWN

I have spent over 30 years in the semiconductor manufacturing industry, with over 15 years experience in several key, senior Technical and General Management positions.  These include responsibility as Division President for Tylan General, and then VP and General Manager for Millipore after their acquisition of Tylan General. The company grew rapidly during my tenure, primarily due to new product introductions and focus on developing important customer accounts.  My responsibilities grew to over $170M in revenues and supervision of 700 employees. Most recently, I have been VP and GM for Ebara Technologies in Sacramento with responsibility for sales, Manufacturing, and Engineering of capital equipment for the semiconductor manufacturing industry.

Management philosophies include:

The best performance and long term success requires a fine balance between product quality and profitability.

• Change is great, but should never be attempted without a clear vision of final goals.
• Work should be an enjoyable place.  Be happy to get up and go to work, and be proud of your accomplishments.
• Know the difference between work time and play time.
• Persistence is a value hard to find, and persistence is what ultimately gets a job done.
• An educated work force is a happy work force. (Most of the time)
• Continuously upgrade your workforce.
• Managers should cultivate their own replacement.

Career highlights:  

• 30+ years experience in Semiconductor related industries
• Responsible for 700 person division, generating $170M in revenue
• Extensive travel, simultaneously managed 6 facilities spread from Boston to San Diego
• Complete P&L responsibility
• Increased Gross Margins to over 40%
• Reduced inventories by 70%
• Reduced delivery times from 16 to 3 weeks
• Designed and implemented 24-hour technical support function
• Designed and implemented Key Customer Account program
• Chaired International Product Approval Committee
• Implemented Structured Product Development programs
• Direct supervision of Marketing, Product Development, Manufacturing, Human Resources, Quality, and Division Cost Accounting groups
• Direct participation in all Corporate Strategic Planning Sessions  

Experience:

Ebara Technologies, Inc. Sacramento , CA , March 2002 to December 2002  

Vice President & General Manager, Components Division

Responsible for all aspects of vacuum related components for the largest foreign subsidiary of Ebara Corporation, a Japanese conglomerate specializing in capital equipment related to environmental and industrial control systems.  Products manufactured and marketed by our Division included Turbomolecular Pumps, Dry Pumps, Process Abatement Tools, and Ozone Generating Systems.  Revenues for this division varied between $40M annually and $180M annually depending on the current state of the semiconductor industry,  As General Manager for this division I had complete P&L responsibility, and directly managed Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, EH&S, and the Quality organizations.

Cyber Instruments, San Diego , CA , Nov 1997 to March 2002, Jan 2003 to Present

  President & CEO

Cyber Instruments was created to provide proprietary, patent pending pressure-based measurement techniques to meter and deliver critical process gasses for use in the semiconductor manufacturing industry.  Cyber Instruments’ premium product features overcome problems in current designs, cost less to manufacture, provided enhanced features, and increased levels of quality and reliability. It was designed to eliminate significant technical and operational gas delivery problems existing in the products currently used to perform this function. The venture has been disbanded due to the current condition of the Semiconductor capital equipment markets and lack of sufficient investments required to make it a viable supplier to the industry. We are waiting for more favorable market condition and at that time we plan to license the technology to one of the major gas delivery companies.

MILLIPORE, Bedford , MA   (Millipore acquired Tylan General in January of 1997)

  Vice President, General Manager, Gas Process Solution, March 1997 to November, 1997

Managed $170M division of Millipore's Microelectronics operations after acquisition of Tylan General, including direct responsibility for marketing, manufacturing, engineering, finance, and quality functions. Product lines included mass flow control devices, pressure and vacuum measurement and control devices, filtration and purification devices, complete gas delivery systems, and factory automation and control systems. These product lines included all products previously manufactured by Tylan General, Span Instruments, and Millipore Microelectronics divisions. Duties included P&L responsibility, new product selection and development, manufacturing operations, and the creation of quality systems. Major activities led to the reconciliation of three corporate cultures, culminating in the recommendation to consolidate the entire operation into a single facility in the Dallas area.

TYLAN GENERAL, INC.  San Diego , CA., 1982 to Jan 1997

  President, Vacuum Products Division, 1993 - Jan, 1997

Responsible for performance of a major division of $150M manufacturer of instrumentation for process control industry.  The Vacuum Products Division designed, manufactured and marketed vacuum measurement and control devices. These products were sold globally through Tylan General’s direct sales force and subsidiaries.  Approximately 60% of all products were sold into the semiconductor capital equipment market.  Areas of responsibility included marketing, engineering, manufacturing, quality, human resources, finance, and customer service for these product lines. Responsible for the introduction of World Class Manufacturing techniques, including installation of work cells, point of use inventories, and Kanbans. This led to substantial improvements in product quality, reduced product lead times, and increased customer satisfaction.  Also responsible for forming and maintaining strategic alliances with outside customers and subsidiaries, supporting Tylan General’s goal to be a truly global corporation. Efforts included the creation and operation of a 24-hour Customer Support system. Implementation of state funded employee training programs, along with “open door” style of management led to higher levels of employee satisfaction. 

  Technical Marketing Manager, 1990-1993

Responsible for all new product direction and definition for Tylan General vacuum products. This position required close contact with current customer base, potential customers, and professional organizations in the area of planning for future customer product requirements. These product ideas were first presented to the Executive Committee at Tylan General, and then worked into the normal product development cycle. Responsibility also included the creation of joint ventures with outside firms to secure design and production of required products when internal resources were not available.

Second level responsibilities included direction of Tylan General's Key Customer Account program. This process recognized the importance of our current customers, and allowed Tylan General to respond to their problems as rapidly as possible. These problems were sometimes technical in nature, and sometimes related to scheduling or communications issues.

  Director of Engineering, 1982-1990

  DECITEK CORP., Westboro , Massachusetts , 1974 - 1982

HONEYWELL INFORMATION SYSTEMS, Framingham , Massachusetts , 1970 to 1974

Education:

Patents:

US 4,720,807 - Adaptive Pressure Control System

US 6,119,710 and 6,216,726, Taiwan 468101, UK GB2365980, GB2373054, GB2381589, Singapore 83934 - Method For Wide Range Gas Flow System With Real Time Flow Measurement And Correction

Patents Pending in on above Flow Technology.

Specialties:

• Pressure Transducers
• Pressure Measurement and Control
• Microprocessor Control Systems
• Mass Flow Measurement
• Mass Flow Control
• Abatement
• Product Development Processes
• Technical Marketing
• General Management
• Team Building
• Web Site Design and Publishing