Indiana University - Kelley School of Business

University of Alabama at Birmingham

National Institute of Technology Rourkela

Operational Excellence - Product Development - R&D - Leadership - Strategy

Greater Denver Area

- Leading a New Manufacturing Plant Set up - Developing a finishing technology and transferring it from Asia (RXM) - New product/process introduction (NPI)- Operational strategy development and execution - Supplychain strategy development and execution - Safety, Lean Six Sigma, day to day operational activity management- Capex, Budget, Schedule and Forecasting - Coach, Mentor, Develop, Train the work force

Lodge Cast Iron

Plant Operations Manager

- Led and managed the operational project activities (supply chain, manufacturing, and quality) of the CMs, ensuring program objectives (cost, quality, schedule) are met. •	Drove contract manufactures’ (50+) capability and capacity assessment to enable on-time and predictable delivery of the all manufacturing and sourcing projects.•	Developed, executed, and owned the commercial supplier selection and management processes including relevant scorecards, to ensure appropriate controls, oversight, and monitoring are in place.•	Collaborated and drove internal-external cross-functional team (Engineering, R&D, Marketing, Sales, Suppliers, CMs, Consultants) meetings to determine supply chain, manufacturing, packaging requirements, identify and mitigate key risks, and ensure that plans are executed as intended.•	Managed and owned Forecasting, MSA, BOM, COGs, and Tooling budget ($+1 mm).

Spark Grills

Director Of Manufacturing (NPI)

- Led a team of product and process engineers engaged in Hydraulics Program Management and Development Program Globally and established/tracked KPIs. •	Created product and process development project work plans related to Global Hydraulics Strategy, Innovation and VAVE. •	Led internal cross-functional leadership review on project status. •	Prioritized cross-functional resources, capabilities and establish best practices for continuous process improvement. •	Had oversight of manufacturing process, product data management, design, validation conformance test requirements during development stages at the global level.•	Established training (statistical tools, confluence, Asterix) to team members for team collaboration.

Gates Corporation

Product Engineering Manager, Global Hydraulics (NPD)

- Manage a Product Development Materials Team responsible for NPI (4+ mega projects) in Refrigeration category focusing on technology development in a system level (concept to execution).•	Drive and track functional (performance) and aesthetics technology readiness level for builds and Manage risk from Scope, Schedule, and Cost standpoint •	Lead design, regulatory, materials compliance across all new product launch globally •	Responsible for innovation pipeline, IP, and cost leadership strategy (over $ 6.2 mm)•	Lead cross-functional collaboration between product marketing, platform, manufacturing, sourcing, consumer design and technology groups for product and process attributes requirement decision making process •	Participate and contribute to strategic planning, product roadmap, and technology roadmap globally. •	Engaged in creation and implementation of best practices related to product design, process, competitive benchmarking, technology benchmarking, best in class material selection from cost and quality standpoint, product approval test specs and procedures. •	Ensures design compliance with the applicable safety codes and plays a major role in product safety during the design and development of products.•	Recommends engineering changes, deviation, variance, TCA, IOC as required.

Whirlpool Corporation

Engineering Manager (NPD/NPI)

- Manage a global team of 12 subject matter experts (including 2 MBBs and 5 BBs certified) in product development, technology development and cost/quality execution projects.•	Engage in Project Business case planning process with manufacturing, sales and finances through CAPEX, Sales forecast.   •	Create, drive and lead Materials and Process Technology Road maps (30+) strategic to Product Attributes to deliver product leadership cross category through product development and launches (29 NPIs): Example: IG glass Technology, Nano Technology on glass-ceramic and steel cook top, Super Insulation Technology for Refrigerators•	Global Lead of Material Value Team (a collaboration team between materials, procurement, manufacturing, marketing, design and platform) from raw material strategy (200+ mm), vertical integration (60+ supply base), cost ($5.7 mm+), quality and technology standpoint (30+): Example: RF shelf, Oven Door Development, Insulated Glass door, J Bend Laundry Lid Development •	Responsible for innovation pipeline, IP and cost leadership strategy ($ 6.2 mm +)•	Global Subject Matter Expert in Structural Materials including Glass, Composite, and Metal. Solid expertise in paints and coatings space.

Engineering Manager (Adv. Product Development/R&D)

- Led a technical team of four to six engineers engaged in three+ advanced product  development projects (NPV > +$1 mm) system level) in Refrigeration from  inception to technology transfer stage using project management tool “toll gate” process Managed over $1 mm budget for technology and product development Drove Structural Materials Technology development (High-Velocity Metal Forming, Super insulation Technology, Barrier Materials) and transition these to Whirlpools cross-category system level product development requirement and implementation  Identified materials technology (resin, glass, coating, metals) trends and determine if and how they can be used in practical application in Whirlpools products globally through Advanced Materials Technology processes and research proposals with outside consultant, vendors, and universities (more than 60 partners) IP excellence: Submitted more than 15 patent application at USPTO

Lead Engineer( Advanced Product Development/R&D)

- Led materials projects from a technical perspective related to metals, plastics and ceramics,  processing, finishing and aesthetics•	Created and led global glass-ceramic forum activities from innovation to quality issues •	Developed test methods, coordinate the implementation of experiments, evaluate test results, and prepare written reports of research findings relative to materials selection investigations•	Developed nano-functional coating and enamel coating for global products •	Developed test methods, coordinate the implementation of experiments, evaluate test results, and prepare product approval written reports pertaining to 5 mega cooking platform projects budgeted over $65 mm•	Delivered Cost Saving over $ 12 mm over the three years time frame related byexecuting preferred material selection matrix •	Developed test methods and test fixture to determine Modulus of Rupture via Four Point Bend as well as Bi-Axial Compression Fixture to test tempered glass and glass ceramic systems. •	Performed statistical analysis using JUMP, Weibull to look at cause and effect•	Developed UL Impact simulated models to understand the failure mechanisms, damage modes in glass, glass-ceramics, thermoset composites used in appliances using simulation model LS-DYNA•	Performed and reviewed mold flow, forming  simulation results on metal and  plastic components•	Used launch Projects Interaction Model. MSM, LOF, FMEA for key issues, internal/external teaming, and early engagement with project/technical leads.•	Implemented lean improvements that increase productivity and reduce man-hours by 3%.•	Maintained a lab 5S score of 23, with no safety violations.

Sr. Engineer (Product Development and Approval)

- Performed materials selection and failure analyses projects across business divisions of the company to include water heaters, boilers, furnaces, heat pumps, and the like products•	Led failure analysis on metallic materials (carbon steel, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, brass) and polymeric materials •	Performed corrosion analysis (cathodic protection) on steels via experimental as well as simulation process•	Coordinated contractual arrangements for developmental programs with outside suppliers or research organizations•

Rheem Manufacturing

Materials Research Engineer

Manufacturing/ Processing and Testing  •	Thermoplastic composites plates (Continuous, LFT)  by Extrusion / Compression Molding ( collaboration with TICONA, TARDEC, NCC)•	Injection molding, blow molding processes •	Rheological properties evaluation (polymers, polymer composites)•	   Material characterization:  TGA, DSC, Tensile and bending testing, low velocity impact testing, Izod and Charpy impact testing, SEM for polymers, metal, foam and composite material•	Thermoplastic composites by Hot-melt impregnation technique •	Thermoset composites by VARTM (Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding) (collaboration with ONR, Blazetech)   •	Polymeric matrix composites (Long/short fiber reinforced plastic components using thermoforming and plasticator (collaboration with SHEPHERD)Finite Element Analysis•	Geometry and Mesh Generation using Hypermesh, Pro-E, FEMB•	Failure (Load/stress) analysis  in LS-DYNA for components  made of steel, polymer matrix composites (PMC), foam, fabric, concrete, ceramic, wood (Collaboration with ARL, ONR)•	Static structural modeling on composite pipes using ANSYS 11.0•	Heat transfer/ thermo-mechanical analysis using Ansys 11.0•	Hypervelocity Impact Simulation  in LS-DYNA on carbide/carbon foam composite    system (Collaboration with NASA)•	Blast simulation in LS-DYNA for Metallic, PMC and sandwich structures (collaboration with ARL and  TARDEC)

Graduate Research Assistant

Worked on qualifying different steel materials and metallic coating etc.Recommended heat treatment processes for material property evaluation.Used SEM, UTM, metallurgical microscope, spectrometer for analytical research and failure evaluation of different ferrous materials

Lakshya Deka

Lakshya Deka