Dean Smith

As Quality Manager, Dean ensures the products produced meet the required industry and customer standards, implements effective corrective actions and along with the team ensures compliance to 3rd party accreditations (IATF-16949, ISO-9001, ISO-14001).  As Engineering Manager, he oversees the allocation of Engineering resources to drive on-time product launches and process improvements across all the manufacturing areas. Dean is also a member of Seaway’s Executive Team, which sets goals and strategies for the company.

Dean graduated with Honors with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Fenn College of Engineering at Cleveland State University. He passed the Engineering in Training Test and has participated in various ASME and IFI standards committees. Dean has since completed the Scalerator NEO entrepreneurial curriculum, as part of Seaway’s Executive Team, which is taught primarily from faculty of Babson College. 

Dean joined Seaway in July of 2014.  Prior to working at Seaway, Dean worked as the Director of Quality and Engineering at Telefast Industries (now part of the Elgin Fastener Group) in Berea Ohio.  He was responsible for tool design, process design, product inspection and compliance to ISO-9001 and ISO-17025 accreditations.

Dean started his career in the metal forming industry at Lake Erie Screw Corporation while on a cooperative education assignment during his engineering studies.  After graduation he took a full-time position at Telefast Industries. Over the next 20+ years he helped Telefast transform from a small startup cold forming company to a well-respected fastener manufacturer supplying high strength fasteners into the automotive, oil and gas, distribution, government, and other markets.