ELYRIA, Ohio — Michael Paul has been appointed plant manager for Bendix Spicer Foundation Brakes new wheel-end manufacturing facility in Bowling Green, Ky.

In his new position the Kentucky native, will be responsible for all manufacturing operations in Bowling Green, as well as the management of safety, quality, delivery and financial performance.

Michael Paul brings a wealth of diverse and practical manufacturing experience, along with outstanding team-building skills to our new location, said Kishor Pendse, president of Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake. Were pleased to have him lead our first manufacturing facility. Under his direction, Im confident the facility will become a showcase for production excellence, and one of which the community and the region can be proud.

The new facility will combine foundation drum brake production from Dana Corporations plant in Glasgow, Ky., and air disc brake assembly and production from its current home at the Bendix Commercial Vehicle facility in Frankfort, Ky.

The new manufacturing facility is the first dedicated foundation brake manufacturing facility for the wheel-end joint venture of Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems and Dana Corporation. Initially, the new facility will employ approximately 175 people, with continued growth expected as product demand and production expansion dictates.

Paul moves to Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake after serving as plant manager for the Bendix Commercial Vehicle System Frankfort site.

Paul began his career with Bendix in 2006 after six years at Textron, where he served as operations manager for the Bell Helicopter division in Fort Worth, Tex. While there, Paul obtained his Six Sigma Black Belt. He formerly served as a plant manager for Textrons Greenlee facility in Louisville, Ky., where he oversaw, among other operations, the plants laser cutting, robotic welding and manual welding.

Pauls first stint in plant management began in 1992 at Sandvik Sorting Systems in Louisville.

Paul received his certification in lean manufacturing from the University of Kentucky and a bachelors degree in management from Indiana Wesleyan University, where he is also currently pursuing a masters degree in management.