2016 Engineering Leader Under 40: George Parada, 34

Business Unit Maintenance & Reliability Leader, Cargill Salt Inc., Newark, Calif.

By Erin Dunne, CFE Media September 15, 2016

George Parada, 34
Business Unit Maintenance & Reliability Leader; Cargill Salt Inc., Newark, Calif.
BS Mechanical Engineering, San Francisco State University
MS Systems Engineering, San Jose State
MBA Operations Management, San Jose State

Parada is very passionate about Maintenance & Reliability (M&R) since he first became a maintenance supervisor in 2009. Since becoming the BU maintenance & reliability leader for Cargill Salt, he has driven fundamental improvement in foundational M&R practices and has led the deployment of SAP Procurement & Plant Maintenance management systems for 17 locations across North America.. He has incorporated process improvements in Cargill’s structural asset integrity program, identified the business case for and incorporated an electrical subject matter expert position for the business, and developed a technical training program for young engineers who will enable talent retention in addition to the delivery of 3% to 5% productivity improvements at each location on an annual basis. He leads the reliability excellence program which has resulted in substantial work process improvements, identification of critical assets, and reduction in failure maintenance. Parada is a certified maintenance & reliability professional and drives collaboration with his peers throughout the M&R industry. Participating as an advisor on an industrial advisory committee for a local community college, he developed a maintenance apprenticeship program for one of Cargill Salt’s locations. Outside of work, Parada enjoys running and recently ran his first half-marathon where he finished with a sub 2:00 time, describing it as an enthralling accomplishment. He also enjoys shooting landscape photography while traveling the globe with his wife, Daysi.