Mercury Marine brings on new VP

FOND DU LAC, Wis. – Michael J. Burda has joined Mercury Marine as vice president of outboard manufacturing operations, the Brunswick Corp. division reported in a statement today.

In this role, Burda will oversee all of Mercury’s outboard engine manufacturing, including direct oversight of Plants 4 (steel machining, Fond du Lac), 7 (injection mold/electrical, St. Cloud, Fla.), 11 (tool and die shop, Brookfield, Wis.), 15 (outboard machining/assembly, Fond du Lac) and 17 (aluminum die cast, Fond du Lac). Burda will report to Mercury Outboard Business Unit President Mark Schwabero, the company stated.

“I am very excited about the new skills and experiences Mike will bring to Mercury to help accelerate the changes that we, as a team, have put into motion,” Schwabero said. “David Michaelson and everyone in the outboard manufacturing organization have done tremendous work to set us off in the right direction, as evidenced by the recognition from our customers in the J.D. Power survey and from Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce as the Manufacturer of the Year. I want to thank David and his team for their efforts.”

Burda comes to Mercury from Honda Power Equipment Manufacturing in North Carolina, where he was vice president and general manager for Honda’s small power equipment business. Since 2000, he was responsible for the business plan development and implementation for the organization’s global multi-plant manufacturing operation, according to Mercury.

His focus on successful new product introductions, improved supply chain management, lower costs and team development helped propel a period of rapid growth in revenue and profitability for his business. Burda has extensive training and experience in lean manufacturing and six sigma methodologies, two disciplines that Mercury has embraced in all its operations.

His education includes degrees from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and The Ohio State University, where he has also been a guest lecturer.

Burda assumed his new role as of March 27, and will be based at the Mercury Marine world headquarters in Fond du Lac.

David Michaelson has moved to a new role leading all of Mercury’s facilities engineering employees and their activities in support of the company’s 60-plus physical locations worldwide.

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