Richard Jackson is a Project Engineering Manager for Kuraray America, Inc. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a master's degree in business administration. Skilled in rotating equipment, static equipment, machining, and construction, he has contributed to turnarounds in the United States, Japan, Germany, and Belgium. These projects have provided him with a broad technical foundation and valuable experience in working across diverse cultures and operating environments.
He recently developed the turnaround stopgap process for Kuraray’s EVAL business group and led the creation of a customized, digitalized Shutdown, Turnaround, and Outage (STO) program. He also advanced the use of digital twins to improve planning accuracy, field execution, and decision-making during turnarounds. He authored a case study on the STO program demonstrating measurable improvements in efficiency, reliability, and operational safety. His work continues to strengthen Kuraray’s turnaround capabilities while keeping them at the forefront of industry practice.