Meet Corey Knautz, Gilson’s Senior Director of Industrial Operations

With production sites in France and the US, Gilson Operations are fundamental to providing scientists with reliable instruments to help accelerate reproducible scientific discovery. We are enhancing our overall performance by optimizing our operations among our manufacturing facilities and had the opportunity to sit down with Corey Knautz, who was promoted to Senior Director of Industrial Operations in June 2023 to lead this transformation.

With Corey's extensive experience and proven ability to drive positive change, he brings fresh insights and innovative ideas to propel Gilson to new heights. His expertise in streamlining processes, improving efficiency, and maximizing productivity is invaluable as we strive to create a seamless customer experience. Corey is responsible for industrialization, production, and sourcing for the four product organizations: Gilson ALH, Gilson Purification, Gilson MLH, and Gilson Plastics.

We had the chance to speak with Corey about his vision for elevating Gilson's Operations:

Congrats, Corey! How has your experience prepared you for this new role?

My background working in fast-paced, ever-changing consumer product landscapes and dealing with people from across the globe has set me up for success. My previous experiences at Fisher Scientific (5 years) and Fiskars Brands (15 years) helped me gain valuable skills in service parts planning, master scheduling, sourcing, and global operations.

Since joining Gilson in September 2020, I have held Supply Chain Manager and Director of Operations roles, which prepared me for my new role and showed my adaptability within Gilson. My entire experience has given me an excellent perspective on Operations and Supply Chain management at multiple levels.

You have an impressive background in Operations management. What has been one of the most memorable initiatives you’ve worked on at Gilson so far?

The enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation here at Gilson ALH was most memorable for me. This software is an end-to-end solution that uses the cloud to simplify and automate complex manufacturing processes with advanced planning and material management. I entered the project mid-way and helped the team set more training times and testing periods to develop a validated tool. This project was a great example of how different teams can work together to improve our customer experience and satisfaction.

What excites you most about your recent transition to Senior Director of Industrial Operations?

I am excited about the opportunity to redefine how we approach Operations at Gilson. Operations is a strategic advantage for our company. By optimizing processes, implementing innovative technologies, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, we are enhancing our ability to deliver high-quality products and services to our customers.

They say everyone has a superpower. What's yours?

In terms of my recent transition at Gilson, I’d say that my greatest superpower is simplifying complex ideas and strategies. This skill has been instrumental in aligning teams and driving them toward a common goal in operations. By distilling complex initiatives into clear and actionable priorities, I believe that we can enhance our operational efficiency and create a more seamless experience for our customers.

Lastly, let's have some fun! What's your go-to song to get hyped up?

I must admit that I’m a huge fan of Shania Twain's music, even though it's considered old school. My friends give me some grief about that, but I do like her songs from the ‘90s!

With Corey at the helm of Gilson’s Operations, we're excited to be on this journey of enhancing our Operations as a strategic advantage. With his leadership and expertise, we are confident we will elevate our performance, strengthen customer satisfaction, and reinforce competitive edge in the market.