Judy D. Gallagher is a seasoned engineering professional based in Newark, Ohio, with extensive experience in design, technical support, and customer service within the heavy-duty truck and trailer industry. Her career at Hendrickson Specialty Axle Systems in Hebron, Ohio, spanned over two decades, during which she held various pivotal roles contributing to the company’s reputation as a world leader in suspension and axle manufacturing.
Beginning her tenure at Hendrickson in 1997 as a Drafter, Gallagher was responsible for updating existing drawings and managing bill of materials entries. Her attention to detail and commitment to quality were evident early on, as she became a certified CPR safety team member, underscoring her dedication to workplace safety.
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In 2000, Gallagher advanced to the role of Designer, where she undertook complete design projects for lift axle suspensions, guiding them from initial concepts to finalized drawings. She adeptly handled modifications for specialized Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) customers, ensuring that designs met specific requirements. Her proficiency with CAD file management software ADEPT and Autodesk® 3D modeling tools, including ACAD 2005, Mechanical Desktop, and Inventor, facilitated the creation of precise and efficient designs. During this period, she also provided field technical support, addressing customer inquiries and resolving technical challenges.
From 2009 to 2013, Gallagher transitioned to the role of Technical Support/Customer Service Representative. In this capacity, she fielded technical service questions related to the installation, operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of round tube loose truck/trailer axles and auxiliary lift axles. She developed parts catalogs for replacement and service components, as well as installation instructions and owner’s manuals. Her role also involved determining appropriate suspension and air kit combinations based on specific vehicle specifications and managing order entries in AS400 KBM software, later transitioning to the QAD ERP system. As a lead member of the Safety Committee, she was instrumental in leading meetings, reviewing accidents, assigning audits, and creating emergency evacuation plans. Notably, she developed comprehensive plant safety area audit checklists and implemented Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) initiatives, reflecting her commitment to fostering a safe working environment.
Elevated to Senior Designer from 2013 to 2020, Gallagher completed design projects for lift axle suspensions, encompassing all stages from concept to release drawings, including Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) requirements for both aftermarket and OEM customers. She authored capital expenditure requests for Teamcenter and managed budgets effectively. As the Teamcenter administrator, she issued and assigned Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) and provided essential information for the creation and updating of Bills of Materials. Additionally, she served as a backup for Technical Support, assisting customers in identifying required replacement parts, including cost assessments and timeframes. Her role extended to being a member of the ISO quality team, where she conducted monthly quality audits to ensure adherence to industry standards.
Gallagher’s educational background includes an Associate of Applied Science in Drafting and Design Technology from Central Ohio Technical College, where she graduated with honors in 1991 and served as a Drafting Lab Associate. She furthered her education by obtaining a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mount Vernon Nazarene University between 2005 and 2007, again graduating with honors.
