Chris VanOrnum
Essex Junction,VT
Summary
Senior maintenance leader driving reliability and operational control across mission-critical semiconductor equipment. Manages a 27-person team, partners with EHS and Quality, and applies Lean methods to improve spare-parts visibility, prevent human-error scrap, and support audit readiness. Added measurable gains in safety, cost predictability, and yield.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Section Manager / Section Manager / Senior Supervisor, Equipment Engineering
GLOBALFOUNDRIES FAB9
Essex Junction, VT
01.2020 - Current
- Safety & Operational Reliability: Led maintenance support for Surface Prep equipment using hazardous chemicals, including HF, HCl, sulfuric acid, and peroxide. Partnered with Operations, Engineering, and EHS to maintain compliance with EHS standards and reinforce safe work practices, achieving zero reported workplace injuries.
- Directed maintenance support operations across photolithography, surface prep, and plasma strip while managing a 27-member multi-disciplined workforce to achieve safety, quality, and cost objectives.
- Spearheaded Lean Leadership Learning (L3) initiative for spare parts, increasing logistics visibility from 3% to 100%, enhancing cost control and budget predictability.
- Collaborated with quality teams to investigate scrap events and implement process controls, achieving 0% human-error-related scrap rate from 2023–2026 across teams while reducing tool point-of-cause scrap.
- Process Standardization & Audit Compliance: Developed and institutionalized standard work and process controls, strengthening execution consistency and achieving 100% audit compliance for IATF and ISO audits.
Staff Technician, Equipment Engineering
GLOBALFOUNDRIES
Essex Junction, VT
07.2016 - 12.2020
- Operational Excellence: Maintained a 100% on-time delivery rate for Wafer Final Test Probe and PCB Front-End Hardware (FEH) across global IBM locations.
- Managed assembly, testing, and repair of semiconductor PCB hardware, ensuring quality for global distribution.
- Training Leadership: Designed and delivered technical training programs for a 24/7 technician team, strengthening technical readiness and establishing a 24-hour target repair cycle time.
- Developed process specifications, documentation, and training videos to enhance repair repeatability and streamline production workflows.
Staff / Principal / Senior / Associate Technician
IBM
Essex Junction, VT
01.2001 - 07.2016
- Managed complex equipment engineering projects while progressing through senior technical roles, providing expert troubleshooting for semiconductor production tools.
- Achieved top performance in equipment uptime and adherence to preventive maintenance schedules.
- Coordinated IBM client engagements and internal deliverables
- Prepared reports and executive summaries for IBM stakeholders
- Reviewed project documentation for accuracy and compliance
Education
Bachelor of Business Management -
Champlain College
Burlington, VT01-2019
Associate of Business Management -
Champlain College
Burlington, VT01-2017
Skills
Maintenance & Reliability: Preventive Maintenance, Asset Reliability, Maintenance Planning and Scheduling, Backlog Management, Work-Order Prioritization, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), TPM, Lean Manufacturing
Budget, MRO & Resources: Multi-Million-Dollar Budget Oversight, Workforce Planning, Contractor and Vendor Coordination, MRO and Spare-Parts Management, Storeroom Inventory
Safety & Compliance: EHS Compliance, Permit-to-Work, Risk Assessments, Hazardous-Chemical Equipment Maintenance (HF, HCl, Sulfuric Acid, Peroxide), QMS, CAPA, IATF/ISO Audit Compliance
Leadership & Improvement: Strategic Execution, KPI Management, Maintenance Team Development, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Continuous Improvement, Process Optimization
- Equipment maintenance
- Workforce optimization
- Process controls
- Preventive maintenance
Personal Information
Title: Senior Section Manager / Section Manager / Senior Supervisor, Equipment Engineering
Volunteer Experience
GlobalGives, Volunteer, 2024-04, Present
Timeline
Senior Section Manager / Section Manager / Senior Supervisor, Equipment Engineering
GLOBALFOUNDRIES FAB9
01.2020 - Current
Staff Technician, Equipment Engineering
GLOBALFOUNDRIES
07.2016 - 12.2020
Staff / Principal / Senior / Associate Technician
IBM
01.2001 - 07.2016
Bachelor of Business Management -
Champlain College
Associate of Business Management -
Champlain College