Meet Mike Kusche, Quality Manager
After speaking with Corey Rogers, Plant Manager, and Mark Siegfried, Director of Operations, on the plant floor of Federal Foam Technologies’ New Richmond, WI facility, Mike Kusche knew Federal Foam Technologies was the company for him.
Since October 2023, Mike has overseen the New Richmond Quality department and driven operational excellence, leading the Quality Assurance team across all shifts. He ensures internal and external quality systems are maintained, including customer support, ISO standards and supply chain quality.
In addition to quality assurance and continuous improvement, safety is one of Mike’s top priorities. He leads the New Richmond plant safety committee and works closely with the senior staff and management to implement Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost (SQDC) measures to help ensure products are produced efficiently with adherence to strict safety standards.
“I am fortunate to have the support of great leaders and mentors in Corey and Mark,” Mike says. “They have challenged and supported me with implementing continuous improvement initiatives that have had a major impact on improving our production, delivery and customer support processes.”
A Manufacturing & Quality Expert
With a manufacturing career spanning over three decades, Mike has built a wealth of expertise across multiple roles and industries with companies such as Polaris, Yamaha and Idex. He began his journey in 1993 as a quality engineer, where his dedication and skill led to three promotions.
Mike moved throughout the Midwest to take on positions in quality assurance and operational excellence. His career then led him to the medical industry, where he played a pivotal role in developing a documented quality system compliant to ISO 13485. His contributions not only ensured compliance with industry regulations but also streamlined operations and enhanced overall product quality.
When Mike learned about the New Richmond plant’s proximity to his home, he saw an ideal opportunity to explore job openings at FFT.
“I joined FFT in 2023 because I saw a chance to apply my leadership and experience to make a real impact,” Mike says. “Throughout my career, I’ve led safety and quality programs and have remained deeply committed to operational excellence. When FFT created this new, dedicated quality role, I knew I had the ability to build and enhance safety and quality initiatives for the company.”
One of Mike’s most rewarding projects during his time at FFT has been working on the company’s Cost of Poor Quality (CoPQ) initiative that aims to reduce material scrap and customer returns due to quality issues.
“In two years, the FFT team has seen a 50% reduction in CoPQ, a perfect example of our commitment to continuous improvement with a direct tie to bottom line performance,” Mike says. “This could not have been done without a strong team effort.”
FFT’s Strong Culture of Continuous Improvement & Support
Mike loves working at FFT because of the strong leadership and commitment to people from Mark, Corey and President Wyman Smith. During his interview, he saw firsthand Corey’s dedication to the team, spending an additional four hours until late in the evening on the plant floor with him during his interview.
“Spending time with Corey on the floor made my decision to join an easy one,” Mike recalls. “The company’s commitment to organization, orderliness, cleanliness, standardized cleanup and disciplined manufacturing was clear. Corey’s insights into the business, combined with the strong daily management and organization within the plant, left a lasting impression on me.”
Mike highly values his relationship with Wyman, who has built a great rapport with employees at all levels of the organization. The company’s leadership mentality, summarized by the quote “Leaders lead people; people drive results,” resonates deeply with him and is reflected in how FFT’s leaders approach each day.
A Personal Connection
When he’s not working, Mike is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys snowmobiling, boating, hunting and staying active year-round. Influenced by his father’s 37-year career in the marine industry, he developed a passion for boating and even raced speed boats in the past.
Why Join FFT
For those interested in joining FFT, Mike offers this advice: “If you really want to work at FFT, you need to be willing to put in a hard day’s work, be honest and be sincere about your commitment and level of dedication. Expect great results and rewards as an outcome.”
For more information on open positions at FFT, see our open positions here.
