SNEHALKUMAR VAKHARIA

A. Currently working as General Manager-Operations at Samstar Agro Limited, Lagos, Nigeria, a group company of Samstar Nigeria Limited. The company manufactures Cassava Starch, Food Grade Cassava Starch and by-products like Fibre and Peel. Results driven & detailed oriented General Manager with 27 years of experience in managing factories/plants, project management & starting of the new SCADA based plant set up from erection to installation & commissioning stage, leading cross-functional teams, and driving operational excellence. Led a team of 55 employees in day-to-day plant operations, overseeing production, Quality Control, Quality Assurance, boiler, utility & maintenance. • Spearheaded cost-reduction initiatives, optimizing resource utilization and minimizing waste & process optimization & budgeting. • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to streamline supply chain logistics and improve delivery timelines. • Ensured compliance with local government regulations, environmental regulations and safety standards. • Managed all aspects of plant operations, including raw material procurement, production scheduling, and inventory management. • Implemented preventive maintenance programs, enhancing equipment reliability and minimizing downtime. • Product Development & Innovations • Operational Excellence & multi-tasking & excellent communication skills. • Team Leadership & mentoring, Analytical & problem-Solving skills. Work Experience - Managed day-to-day operations of the factory/plant, ensuring compliance with safety, quality, and environmental regulations. - 1000 acres company owned Cassava farm management with agronomist for raw material. - Led a team of 55 employees, providing guidance, training, and development opportunities to enhance performance and productivity. - Implemented process improvements, increase in efficiency and reduction in costs.

I am a M.Sc. Organic Chemistry with rich experience in Corn Wet Milling Industry with 26 years of experience in Maize Starch, Modified Starches, Liquid Glucose, Dextrose Monohydrate, Dextrose Anhydrous, Sorbitol, By products like Corn Gluten, Maize Fibre, Maize Oil, Maize Oil Cake, Maltitol, E 1422 Acetylated Di Starch Adipate for Food & Pharma Products.

3.0 Chemist – production in Sorbitol, Mannitol & Maltose plant from March 1998 to March 2008. Handling, Operating & calibration of sophisticated Instruments like-HPLC (Shimadzu, Waters), Polarimeter, UV-VIS Spectrophotometer (Shimadzu), Atago Anlyser, Karl Fisher Titrator, Bomb Calorimeter, Reflectance meter for whiteness & brightness, Tensile Strength tester & other Laboratory Instruments. & handling a team of 25 & direct reporting to Manager QC/QA & R&D. Total work Force of company: 1000. New Product Development: During my whole carrier We Developed improve process of manufacturing for Modified Starches i.e. Thin Boiling Starch, Cationic Starch, Oxidized Starch & Esterified Starch, for gum, yarn, corrugation, adhesive, paper & textile Industry. Successfully created Indigenized formulations & developed process of Acetylated Distarch Adipate (E-1422) at pilot plant level & then successfully implemented at plant level, this product used in as a thickener & stabilizer for food products, Mayonnaise, Tomato Ketchup, ice cream etc. And also developed & launch new products of various grades of low moisture starches i.e. 2% Max, 5% max etc for pharma industry. Lead several Continuous improvements in process efficiency and competitiveness through optimized process parameters for various processes as an import substitute product.

Here I am working as a Laboratory Analyst. Testing Gum & Gum products used in Textiles.

I have passed B.sc. with Chemistry in the year 1995

I have passed M.Sc. Organic Chemistry with 67% marks in 1997.

I have passed with 1st class with 67% marks in M. Sc. Organic Chemistry in the year 1997.

Organic Chemistry is the principle subject