Wildpack

How Mark Gonzalez Brings Military Discipline and Manufacturing Excellence to Wildpack

At a Glance

Customer: Wildpack
Champion: Mark Gonzalez, Plant Manager
Industry: Food & Beverage Manufacturing
UpKeep User Since: Exploring implementation
Primary Focus: Operational leadership, frontline engagement, and quality manufacturing

What Mark Said

“Mission first, people always. I learned that in the Army, and it’s still how I lead every day.”
“A CMMS should be simple. If it’s too complex, no one uses it—and the value disappears.”

Why It Matters

With over 20 years of operations experience—including time at Toyota and in the U.S. Army—Mark Gonzalez brings a no-nonsense, people-first mindset to food and beverage manufacturing. He’s run high-output plants across multiple categories, from dairy to liquid sugar to shelf-stable beverages. For Mark, success in manufacturing isn’t just about hitting quotas—it’s about engaging frontline workers, driving consistent standards, and keeping quality and safety top of mind.

Whether he’s walking the floor with team leads or tweaking equipment layout based on operator feedback, Mark knows that true optimization starts with listening. That’s why he's an advocate for systems like UpKeep—ones that simplify communication and empower the people closest to the process.

Real Results & Best Practices

• Toyota Foundations: Mark cut his teeth in manufacturing at Toyota, mastering Kaizen, Gemba walks, and lean principles from the best.
  
  

• Frontline Engagement: His go-to leadership move? Prioritize team leads and operators for honest insights, not just top-down direction.
  
  

• Operational Clarity: Brought OEE metrics and visual data boards into every work center to promote ownership and transparency.
  
  

• Quality-First Mentality: Implements SQF/GMP checklists post-maintenance, operator-maintenance communication, and robust sanitation standards.
  
  

• Cross-Training Wins: Helped advance a high-performing operator into a top-level maintenance technician—fast-tracked success from within.

Why CMMS Matters

Mark’s CMMS philosophy is simple:

• It should enable, not hinder.
  
  

• It should be accessible for both plant managers and technicians.
  
  

• And it should provide meaningful data without needing a degree in rocket science.
  
  

“With some systems, even just entering a work order feels like solving a Rubik’s Cube. I want something that lets my team get in, get out, and get better.”

At his last plant, Mark saw firsthand how a user-friendly CMMS enabled rapid decision-making, streamlined preventive maintenance, and helped identify repeat issues—like conveyor faults or part failures—before they cost real time and money.

What’s Next

Mark’s journey into beverage manufacturing is just beginning, but the foundation is solid: team trust, detail-oriented processes, and a passion for continuous improvement. As Wildpack evolves, a well-implemented CMMS like UpKeep is a natural next step to support scalability, data visibility, and frontline empowerment.

Connect with Mark

Want to swap ideas on operational excellence, food safety, or plant leadership?
Find Mark on LinkedIn and keep the conversation going.