In Memory of Randy Winton: Industry Colleague, Road Warrior, Friend

The industry lost a good man last week. Randy Winton was probably best known to MMT readers as the Global Assessment Manager for ToolingDocs. To me, he was an industry colleague because I had the privilege to work with him for more than 11 years at ToolingDocs, but more than that, he was my friend.

I always regarded Randy as the “moldmaker’s moldmaker”, the “big bear” who was so strong and capable. His knowledge of moldmaking and molding was vast and he was well-respected by everyone who knew and worked with him around the globe.

Before joining the teams at Progressive Components and ToolingDocs, Randy honed his skills and knowledge for 32 years at PDE, SPPI and Owens Illinois, where he was involved in everything from managing tool rooms to implementing mold maintenance systems across plants. Randy also spent 17 years assessing molding and manufacturing operations globally for efficiency improvements. By the time he joined ToolingDocs, he had already earned the moniker of “Road Warrior” and would continue traveling to faraway places to work his magic providing assessments of molding and mold maintenance operations as well as training organizations on how to optimize their resources to become best-in-class operations.

Randy and I wrote several articles together—some of which are published here in MMT—and we worked together with Steve Johnson, ToolingDocs’ operations manager, to help companies train their maintenance technicians and managers in systemized mold maintenance through courses taught at ToolingDocs and via conference sessions presented at several amerimold Expos. Candid reviews from attendees were always the same: “Randy is very knowledgeable.” “Randy has vast experience in the industry. I learned so much.” “He knows the problems we face and he relates so well to everyone on the team.”

I was never surprised by their positive feedback. That’s how Randy was. He had a generous spirit and never hesitated to offer input and advice to anyone or, for that matter, to educate me on the intricacies of molds and mold maintenance.

As I’m sure happened for so many others, it didn’t take long for Randy and me to become friends. I respected him but also cared about him very much. Randy had an occasion several years ago when he visited my dad’s shop to see the PERC System my dad developed. Randy and my dad hit it off, and I appreciated that anytime we talked Randy would ask how my father was doing and ask me to give dad his regards.

Randy Winton passed away on December 18, 2015, of pulmonary fibrosis, a condition where lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred so that it’s hard to breathe. It’s a progressive disease for which there is no cure. Randy leaves behind his lovely wife, Susana, and many family members, friends and colleagues who will never forget him. He has left an indelible mark on all of our hearts and a lasting legacy within our industry.