BRIAN MENTZ
Ardmore
Summary
Strategic supply chain and external manufacturing professional with 13+ years driving product availability, cost optimization, and quality compliance across OTC, consumer health, and pharmaceutical operations. Proven track record in external manufacturing strategy, supplier negotiation, and Lean-based operational excellence resulting in multimillion-dollar savings, accelerating throughput, and strengthening supply resilience through data-driven decision making and cross-functional leadership.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
2
2
Certifications
Work History
Manager, Global Self Care Category
Kenvue (formerly Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.)
12.2025 - Current
- Led a global OTC liquids MEP by identifying, evaluating, and qualifying new supplier candidates, strengthening supply continuity and unlocking cost‑reduction opportunities.
- Conducted a global external manufacturing liquids strategy assessment using Porter’s Five Forces, SWOT, and Kraljic sourcing frameworks to surface strategic risks, competitive pressures, and optimization opportunities.
Manager, EM Strategic Sourcing
Kenvue (formerly Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.)
10.2022 - 12.2025
- Led the 2025 contract strategy that increased external manufacturing coverage under Master Service Agreements from 75% to 95%, strengthening commercial consistency, risk mitigation, and supplier governance.
- Managed financial performance and negotiated supply agreements across four external manufacturers and $60M+ in annual spend.
- Executed a cost‑avoidance strategy that reduced a proposed inflationary price increase by 20% through data‑driven negotiation.
- Established a new external manufacturing site in alignment with corporate requirements, partnering closely with site leadership and quality.
- Relocated all adult Zyrtec products from one site to two external sites, delivering a $5M cost improvement within 12 months.
Senior Supervisor, Manufacturing
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.
05.2018 - 10.2022
- Scaled staffing and optimized schedules to meet COVID‑19–driven demand spikes while maintaining compliance and service.
- Owned daily schedule adjustments for manufacturing, water ozonation, train and ambient tank sanitization in a highly integrated facility.
- Resolved complex processing issues in partnership with QA and Technical Operations to protect batch quality and supply.
- Improved sugar and bulk raw material inventory controls and scrap processes; trained supervisors to reduce errors.
- Increased OEE by reducing cycle times across packaging, cleaning, and changeovers.
- Championed EHS initiatives focused on machine safety and ergonomics; advanced sustainability objectives.
- Supported internal/external audits and GMP inspections; presented to FDA auditors in support of consent decree closure.
Vaccine Project Coordinator (Developmental Assignment, External Manufacturing Operations)
Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson
05.2021 - 01.2022
- Led a Lean event at an external manufacturing site, reducing standard work for packaging changeovers from 12.7 hours to under 6 hours.
- Designed and implemented a cross‑site process for sample collection at U.S. external manufacturers and shipment to European labs to ensure timely batch release.
- Partnered with site leadership, QA, and Quality Systems to eliminate a backlog of 80+ change controls in TrackWise and restore compliance.
- Established KPI collection methods for drug product sites to increase visibility to process improvement opportunities.
Lead Investigator
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.
05.2016 - 05.2018
- Led quality investigations across 12 external manufacturing sites covering 50+ products (~100 investigations annually).
- Directed a cross‑functional Janssen Latina team to close 45+ investigations with 100% on‑time completion since Jan 2017.
- Delivered investigation training to external manufacturers to improve first‑draft quality and cycle time.
- Removed security source tags from packaging for 10 products, quantifying ~$700K in potential annualized savings.
Senior Quality Specialist
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.
07.2013 - 05.2016
- Qualified packaging sites for reduced batch record review to cut cycle time and improve right‑first‑time metrics.
- Reviewed and approved analytical and microbial results to support batch release.
- Facilitated Solids Manufacturing dashboard meetings to prioritize quality system actions.
- Trained and mentored new Quality Leads on batch record review.
- Led a Green Belt project to increase procedure compliance, reduce investigations, and improve on‑time regulatory communications.
- Supported Quality Managers on Tylenol PM product launch by ensuring batch record requirements were met.
- Served as Cognos Reporting lead and trained employees in report generation.
- Collaborated with external manufacturers to develop electronic Master Batch Records.
Manufacturing Quality Analyst (Developmental Assignment, Plant Quality)
Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson
09.2014 - 12.2014
- Analyzed manufacturing processes to identify supplier issues causing waste in time and materials; recommended corrective actions.
- Responded to in‑process quality defects for pharmaceutical, transdermal, and OTC products to ensure procedural compliance and continued production.
- Reviewed and approved validation batch records to support new product launch readiness.
Quality Specialist
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.
06.2012 - 07.2013
- Developed EtQ‑Nonconformance classroom training; qualified trainer for investigation writers and approvers in EtQ NC and CAPA.
- Authored quality systems investigations, change controls, and computer systems implementation reports.
- Created methods for investigation metrics used in Quality Council governance.
Education
B.S. - Biotechnology
Penn State University
State College05-2010
Skills
- Global Supply Chain & Network Strategy
- Strategic Sourcing & Contract Negotiation
- Supplier Development & Risk Mitigation
- Cost Improvement & Value Engineering
- External Manufacturing (OTC/Pharma)
- Quality Systems (GMP, QA/QC)
- Operational Excellence / Lean / OEE
- Technology Transfer
- Project Management
- Change Management & Coaching
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- Stakeholder Engagement
Certification
Lean Green Belt -Johnson & Johnson
Community Service
March of Dimes Committee Member; created and led Johnson & Johnson March of Dimes Golf Classic; raised $80,000+ over 5 years
Professional Highlights
- Negotiated and managed $60M+ in external manufacturing spend; delivered cost avoidance equating to a 20% reduction of an inflationary increase.
- Drove a $5M cost improvement by relocating adult Zyrtec products from one site to two optimized external manufacturers within 12 months.
- Cut packaging changeover time from 12.7 hours to under 6 hours through a targeted Lean event at an external manufacturing site.
- Led a global OTC liquids MEP and comprehensive external manufacturing liquids strategy using Porter’s Five Forces, SWOT, and Kraljic frameworks to strengthen supply continuity and competitiveness.
Timeline
Manager, Global Self Care Category
Kenvue (formerly Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.)
12.2025 - Current
Manager, EM Strategic Sourcing
Kenvue (formerly Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.)
10.2022 - 12.2025
Vaccine Project Coordinator (Developmental Assignment, External Manufacturing Operations)
Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson
05.2021 - 01.2022
Senior Supervisor, Manufacturing
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.
05.2018 - 10.2022
Lead Investigator
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.
05.2016 - 05.2018
Manufacturing Quality Analyst (Developmental Assignment, Plant Quality)
Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson
09.2014 - 12.2014
Senior Quality Specialist
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.
07.2013 - 05.2016
Quality Specialist
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.
06.2012 - 07.2013
B.S. - Biotechnology
Penn State University