Douglas Woods – APM

Douglas Woods

Industry Advocate
Machine Tool Builder
Manufacturer
"My grandfather, Karl Fuchs, was the founder of Alliance Tool Corporation with he started with 8 other partners in 1947 and by 1980 had grown into one of the largest contract manufacturing companies in the U.S. with over 1,200 employees. He had a unique combination of people skills, technical skills, entrepreneurial skills and a tireless commitment to the industry and the community. One of his favorite sayings was “Success never surprises you, you keep working for it!”… it was his subtle way of stay hungry, stay focused, stay humble… keep learning, keep pushing, there is always room to be better!"
- Douglas Woods

Douglas Woods is president of AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, a position he has held since 2009. A lifelong manufacturing technology leader, Doug’s passion for the industry began when he was an apprentice toolmaker at Alliance Tool & Die - in his hometown of Rochester, New York and progressed as he held positions in manufacturing engineering, quality management, operations, product development and international sales.

Doug developed his passion for manufacturing technology in the 1980’s at Alliance Automation supporting the development of robotic disk drive assembly and circuit board insertion cells. Later as the president and owner of Liberty Precision Industries he transformed a small tool and die company into a recognized leader in thin film coating systems, complex mold manufacturing and flexible machining systems.

Doug was AMT’s chairman of the board in 2005-06 and served as a director from 2000-2008. Currently, he serves on the boards of the National Center for Defense Manufacturing & Machining, The MTConnect Institute, The Coalition of Manufacturing Associations and Reshoring Initiative. He was also active in the National Tooling & Machining Association and was awarded their Distinguished Service Award. In 1994, he was named Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year for Manufacturing Turnarounds. Doug holds a B.S. in Business from Syracuse University.

In his time at AMT, Doug has led the effort in developing MTConnect, the industry-wide interoperability standard that has grown in usage and implementation across a wide scope of manufacturing operations around the world; he is currently president of the MTConnect Institute. Additionally, he has overseen the development of MTInsight, a customized manufacturing business intelligence platform, as well as an expansion of AMT’s Global Technology Centers and the growth of IMTS, the largest manufacturing technology event in the western hemisphere.

Career History

2009 - Present
AMT- The Association For Manufacturing Technology
President
2006 - 2009
Parlec Incorporated
President of International Operations
1992 - 2006
Liberty Precision Industries
President and Owner
1990 - 1992
Liberty Tool & Die
Vice President of Manufacturing
1988 - 1990
Alliance Automation – Division of Cross & Trecker
Director of European Operations
1986 - 1988
Alliance Automation – Division of Cross & Trecker
Quality Manager
1984 - 1986
Alliance Tool Corporation – Subsidiary of Gleason
Manufacturing Engineer
1982 - 1984
Alliance Tool Corporation – Subsidiary of Gleason
Quality Engineer
1975 - 1982
Alliance Tool & Die
Apprenticeship (summers)

Awards

  • 1975 Eagle Scout
  • 1994 Ernst & Young New York State Entrepreneur of the Year for Manufacturing Turnarounds
  • 2016 NTMA Distinguished Service Award 

Education

  • Syracuse University, Bachelor’s of Science in Finance and Economics

INFORMAL TRAINING

  • Apprenticeship at Alliance Tool Corporation training in various company divisions including tool room, mold-making, metal stamping, machine building and metrology.
  • Had the good fortune of being mentored by skilled toolmakers, engineers, project managers, salesmen and executives.

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