1. David B. Smathers Page 1
David B. Smathers
SUMMARY
A metallurgical engineer with over thirty years industrial experience in management,
production, quality, research and development. Able to think systemically and organize
and lead groups to meet demanding challenges, especially those affecting the bottom line
performance of the organization. Technically adept, innovative, a quick learner,
adaptable, creative, and excellent at problem identification and resolution. 16 US Patents
awarded.
SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS
H. C. STARCK, NEWTON, MA 2015-Present
A manufacturer of high purityrefractory materials including tantalum, tungsten,
molybdenum and niobium.
Applications Engineer – Fellow
Work across business units particularly focused on niobium applications. Knowledgable in
Aerospace, Superconductor and Semiconductor applications of refractory metal alloys.
TOSOH SMD, GROVE CITY, OH 1997 - 2014
A manufacturer of high purity materials for the semiconductor processing industry. Main
products are high purity aluminum, titanium, copper and tantalum sputtering targets
(physical vapor deposition) for thin film applications.
Director of Engineering 2002 - 2014
Responsible for all phases of product engineering including Process Engineering, World
Wide Technical Support and Research and Development. Lead teams of up to twenty
one engineers and technicians including three PhDs.
Maintained business at key customers through on-site (Asia) customer technical
support, root cause determination and implementation of permanent corrective
actions. At risk sales represented more than 25% of total income.
Developed and implemented concept to backward integrate key strategic material
all the way to ingot. Researched metallurgy and processing, located, developed
and audited suppliers, developed and wrote procedures resulting in annual savings
of $1,500,000.
Brought Shainin® problem solving techniques to full implementation within TSMD.
All process and R&D engineers reached Shainin® Journeyman rating.
Led Rolling Top 5™ Team to fix chronic electron beam welding problem resulting
in a best known method for weld design, identification of specific welder
maintenance issues and a reduction in scrap of 95% saving more than $30,000
per month.

2. David B. Smathers Page 2
Director of Quality (and Engineering) 2006 - 2011
Responsible for all phases of product engineering including Asian Technical Support,
Process Engineering, R&D and the Quality of Tosoh SMD products. Lead team of thirty
five professionals dedicated to ensuring the highest standards for sputtering target
production.
Managed organization through end of QS9000 and compliance to TS19649
standard while maintaining ISO 9001-2000 certification. Re-organized
departmental resources to fully implement a quality focused engineering effort.
Led team in efforts to dramatically reduce the manufacturing scrap rate through
focused problem solving resulting in over $2,000,000 in savings per year.
Reduced warranty returns by more than 35%.
Research Manager - Ductile Materials 1997 – 2002
Responsible for the research and development of customer driven improvements to
existing titanium and aluminum products and specialty products for the hard disk drive
industry, magnetic head industry and ink jet industry. Supervised three Ph.D. engineers
and two technicians.
Led team effort to process audit a key bonding technology. Ran full factorial
experiment, verified designs met new standard, determined realistic tolerances and
improved measurement process. Technology still in use for more than 20% of
sales in 2014.
Wrote research proposal and worked with customer to improve process and
performance of next generation materials for ink jet business opportunity.
Successfully developed critical path part enabling customer’s technology to stay on
tight development schedule.
CABOT PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, BOYERTOWN, PA 1996 - 1997
An integrated producer of niobium and tantalum materials primarily for the electronic
capacitor industry. Main products are powder and wire. Now called Global Advanced
Materials.
Research Scientist - Technology Division 1996 - 1997
Responsible for the research and development of tantalum wire products, represented
technology on manufacturing quality teams for mill products, provided technical
assistance to superconductor materials customers and performed internal quality audits.
Used Shainin® techniques to solve a chronic wire straightness problem that would
allow expansion of the market share by $3,000,000 per year.
Submitted 6 invention disclosures and supported patent activity of fellow
researchers by reducing ideas to practice and interfacing with legal staff.

3. David B. Smathers Page 3
NORTHWEST EFFECT, SALEM, OREGON 1995 - 1996
A sole proprietorship consulting business specializing in niobium based superconducting
materials and refractory metallurgy. An SBIR project application was selected for award.
TELEDYNE WAH CHANG, ALBANY, OREGON 1984 - 1995
Teledyne Wah Chang (Now Wah Chang ATI) is an integrated producer of refractory
metals enabling a wide range of technologies from nuclear power generation to magnetic
resonance imaging.
Director of Consolidation/Niobium Business Unit 1992 to 1995
Led 184 people in the consolidation of all alloys that TWC produced. Permanent member
of the Total Quality Steering Team and the Executive Health and Safety Committee.
Technical leader for the Niobium Product Line at TWC from material procurement to
strategic planning.
Conceived, facilitated and evaluated a modification to the NbTi consolidation
process. Reduced input material costs by $432,000 per year and reduced total
inventory costs by $500,000 per year while improving quality.
Manager, Superconductor Development Program 1984 to 1992
Technically directed the commercialization of niobium-tin superconducting wire products.
Developed and managed the budget, supported sales and marketing of products,
managed the engineering and technician staff, set production schedules, wrote proposals
and supported main plant production as needed. Supervised up to 15 technicians and
three engineers.
Turned around a struggling wire development program saving a research and
development effort in which the corporate parent had invested $5 million.
Researched and wrote filings resulting in the granting of three U.S. Patents relating
to improvements in niobium - tin superconductors. Supported patent activity for
other superconducting applications and related foreign filings of U.S. patents.
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MADISON 1982-1984
APPLIED SUPERCONDUCTIVITY CENTER
A University research center for both high and low temperature superconductors.
Research Associate
Performed research as assigned by lead professor after joint discussion.
Interfaced with industry counterparts to aid in wire development programs using all the
tools available to the Center. Assisted in the design and execution of research programs
with industry.

4. David B. Smathers Page 4
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy, Materials Science (1982) - University of Wisconsin-Madison
Master of Science, Materials Science (1978) - University of Wisconsin-Madison
Bachelor of Science, Physics [Phi Beta Kappa] (1977) - Rhodes College
Red X Journeyman Certification (2008) - Shainin® Associates
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Fisher School of Business (Ohio State) Management Training – Tosoh Specific 40
hours
Achieve Global Manager Training – Various elements 16 hours
Shainin® Risk Reduction™ Class – John Abrahamian 16 hours
Shainin® Rolling Top 5™ Manager Class – John Abrahamian 16 hours
Lean Manufacturing Methods – University of Dayton 24 hours
Simplified Strategic Planning™ – 16 hours
Shainin®
Statistical Engineering Journeyman’s Course - Richard Shainin 48 Hours
ISO 9000 Internal Auditor Training - MABC Institute 24 Hours
Supervisor Training - Linn Benton Community College 12 Hours
Hazardous Materials Training (OSHA 1910.120)-Marine and Environmental Testing 24
Hours
Wire and Rod Drawing - Lehigh University, Professor Avitzur 24 Hours
Karass Negotiation Training - Karass Seminars
Statistical Process Control - Ed Allard and Associates 64 Hours
Continuous Flow Manufacturing - The George Group 32 Hours
Process Safety Management - Dupont 16 Hours
Team Handbook Training - Presented training using Joiner, Inc. materials (8 hours)
Train the Trainer I and II - Barbara Bessey (LBCC) 8 Hours each
PUBLICATIONS
Bibliography (66 entries) available on request.
Contact Information:
dokterq@aol.com
614-459-5882
614-867-0510 (cell)