Outstanding Industrial Technologist - 2001

Gary Vaughn is directly responsible for the Profit and Loss of Matsushita in the production of optical discs and media replication units. He is specifically responsible for developing the strategic and tactical plans of the corporation and for making financial and investment decisions to implement those plans. A joint venture company that is the surviving company of predecessors MCA Manufacturing and Uni Distribution Corporation, Matsushita’s major products are compact discs, DVD optical discs and media replication units.

Mr. Vaughn joined MCA Manufacturing in 1984 as Plant Engineer responsible for the entire plant maintenance program. In 1990, he was promoted to Director of Plant Operations of what by then was Uni Distribution Corporation. As such, he became responsible for the Plant P & L, which he enhanced by making significant reductions in operating cost and by introducing a new product, compact discs. His assignment was expanded to include the management of two manufacturing facilities. In 1999 Mr. Vaughn was appointed C.O.O of Matsushita Universal Media Systems.

It is noteworthy that Gary Vaughn’s early production and sales engineering experience was in the field of wire and cable manufacture. After graduating from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology he joined Phelps Dodge Cable and Wire Company and served in first line management and field service positions. His obvious success in changing fields when he joined MCA Manufacturing is a tribute to his technical and management skills.

As Chief Operating Officer, he has introduced innovative programs in vendor management beneficial to both Matsushita and vendors, instituted collaborative manpower training with local secondary and post secondary school to enhance availability of trained entry level employees and introduced new manufacturing methods unique to the industry. He feels his greatest contribution as C.O.O. has been the sustained effort to build a creative, resourceful, responsive organization that is both nurturing of its employees and globally competitive.