Vijal Patel

Leading global continuous improvement initiatives, unlocking new possibilities, enhancing efficiency, and fostering a culture of learning across 18+ manufacturing sites, supporting Metso's CNS business growth

Direct/Indirect Reports: 12 Manager, 37 Engineers & 250+ technicians/Operators • Responsible for 2 Manufacturing plant operations & Management • Headed green filed plant setup with stipulated budget & timeline with multi-cultural team • Capex management & Recruitment of personals (White & Blue Collars) • Installation & commissioning of CNC Machines, Rubber Mixing machines, Press & development of all the Tooling & fixtures • Leading the team of SCM, Logistics, Warehouse, EHS, Planning, Production, Maintenance, Operation Excellence & Quality management • Responsible for all the financial control and Inventory Management • Implementing Lean manufacturing practices to eliminate waste through VSM, 5S & Kaizen practices • Developed team & processes for new plant to achieve daily & monthly targets sets by Management

Lead Operation Excellence Function and successfully drive Continuous Improvement culture across the entity. ● In charge to standardize and deploy for exemplary results in Schneider Performance System (SPS) animation, continuous improvement, best practices deployment, standards design etc. ● Creating strategic plans for improving Plant Profit, efficiency and effectiveness across all departments ● Creating a culture of continuous improvement across all areas of the organization in order to maximize efficiency and productivity ● Responsible for optimization of physical & information flows, surfaces, LT, direct labor and equipment efficiency, leading and coaching lean diagnosis, DMAIC, Kaizen events , Lean Office diagnosis...on the end-to-end supply chain ● Participate to the decision-making process for all investments (Strategic Transformation Projects, NPD , Capacity, Automation etc..) ● Challenge & support the entities to co-deliver targets : DLP, LT, efficiency, process capacity & OTD. Area of Expertise & Skill Sets: ◙ Continuous Improvement (BCP, Kaizen, 8D, A3, Root Cause Analysis, FMEA, C&E Matrix, etc..) ◙ Certified Lean Master - Lean Diagnostic, VSM,SMED,TIME MOTION ANALYSIS, Red/Green Analysis, Waste Waterfall, Lean Office, LT etc.. ◙ Certified Six Sigma Black Belt ◙ Finance : Cost Analysis, Budget, Conversion Cost, Op. Expenditure (OPEX), CAPEX etc.. ◙ LADM ◙ Warehouse Architecture & MPH ◙ Material Production Planning & Mgmt ◙ Process & Flows Mgmt ◙ Project Management ◙ Competency development ◙ Standard Time Mgmt - MTM/SMB2 , Ergonomics ◙ Standard Organization ◙ TPM Smart Factory & Industry 4.0 ◙ MES – Lean Digitization System (LDS) ◙ Sort Interval Management (SIM) ◙ SAP HANA – ERP ◙ Paperless & Smart Warehouse – WMS, AGV, AMR, AI & ML for Data Analytics, etc ◙ Apps & Analytics : Power BI, Tableau, Pro QMS, E-PFMEA, Leap etc.. ◙ RPA for Manual Repetitive Tasks ◙ PME, RA, OAA, BMS, PMS, Traceability, IoT, AVEVA PI & Insight for Predictive Analysis etc.

• Responsible for end to end value chain of improvement projects starting from Brainstorming, Hopper List preparation, Project Selection, prioritization, execution, , Validation piloting & Completion. • Identify and deliver Continuous Improvement projects in diversified area like Production, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain Management through employing process improvement methodologies/Tools and the application of innovative thinking. • Responsible for end to end value chain of New Product launches starting from conception, CAR approval, Existing mfg. facilities evolution, FMEA, PFD, Control Plan, Reaction plan, DFM, APQP, SOP, Execution of Layout changes, MBOM Preparation, Pre-mass & Mass Production. • Identifying the launch build issues & resolving with CFT Team to meet lunch time frame and smooth mass production. • Leading Existing facilities upgradation, Jig/fixture for New Products, Material Handling trolley, Tool development for entire manufacturing operations. • Responsible for Plan level and Sub-shop level capacity release, maximum utilization and expansion based on business need. • Plan and execute – in a direct and hands-on way – the required analyses to identify the problem root causes and high-impact solutions, including the quantification of financial benefits. • Deploy strategy for Operation KPI/JCMS/Lean Manufacturing/ Six Sigma/ TPM as per need of unit. Provide strong quantitative / Qualitative analysis before jumping to methodology. Data is Key. • Lead & drive organizational growth strategies, i.e 80:20 philosophy, Control plant Conversion cost, cost measures, Margin & productivity improvement by living & demonstrating core business values as value stream leader. • Responsible for Technical & behavior skill development of Staff and Operators as per JCMS requirements. • Manufacturing Operation OPEX and CAPEX Management. • Capacity & Investment Planning of Manufacturing Operations as per Market demand. • Industry 4.0 & Digitalization of Mfg. Process

• Plan & achieve manufacturing/operations business target as per yearly/monthly/daily schedules. • Mentor & lead a team of engineers, supervisors, officers & group of operators to achieve manufacturing target in terms of PQCDSM (Productivity, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Safety & Moral). • Responsible for implementing TQM framework elements like Policy Deployment, DWM, systematic problem solving and continuous improvements on shop floor. • Lead, monitor & execute complete order to shipment, SIOP processes to create highest level of efficiency and optimum utilization of resources possible within the organization. • Plan, Design & Review the production/manufacturing operations capacity based on the AOP. • Responsible for production planning activities of available resources such as manpower, machineries & materials availability to achieve target. • Drive & collaborate within CFTs for daily management of value stream portfolio & to meet the customer requirements. • Taking care of new product pilot batch to mass production. Responsible for process establishment and validation for new products. • Responsible for Process improvements, PFMEA analysis, POKA YOKE setups, 5S Methodology, TPM and KAIZEN etc. • Supervise, control & Reduce the direct and overhead cost by initiating & driving cost saving projects through various lean, Waste Reduction, LOB improvement and productivity improvements projects • Lead team for problem solving methodologies. Drive A3 approach and 7QC & six sigma advance tool for complex operational problems, field issue & to achieve key KPI’s (Delivery, Cost, Inventory, Quality) • Played major role for various Lean manufacturing & Low cost automation Projects. • Generation of smart MIS, ERP Systems Updation and adherence. • Mentor skill enhancement plan & provide on job training to the shop floor team & supervisors. • Cultivate Employee Engagement environment, strong team spirit & safe workplace.

• Participate actively in green field project right from project conceptualization to make mass production at mutual level. Managing various contractors, sub contractors, coordinate, supervise and validate work progress of new manufacturing plant as per project schedules and front availability. • lead a team of supervisors, officers & group of operators to achieve manufacturing target in terms of PQCDSM (Productivity, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Safety & Moral). • Responsible for all Pre & Post Fabrication activities i.e Marking & cutting on plates, Fit up, Forming of shell/dishends and cones. Final assembly & nozzle fitment, welding, Final touch up, Final dimensional measurement, required polishing, Painting, Cleaning & packing, Dispatch work. • Utilization of all the available resources such as manpower, machineries, material & place, Meet the customer requirements for deliveries & Quality Product. • Execution of Project/Job As per Quality Standards at shop floor through SAP-ERP system.. • Imparting training & ensuring dexterity improvement of sectional operator for skill up-gradation. • Recommending the management for better tools, equipment, ideas, procedures, new methods for smooth operation and increase productivity. • Coordinating between shifts, work station, QA/QC, store, Design, PPC, Projects to make delivery on time without interruption in production. • Inspection of Incoming fabricated & Machining Items from Vendors/Units. • Plan Line Production as per the Factory Capacity & Order level from all project sites. • Investigate production problem, analyze root causes and provide solutions. • Communicate production status to Managers and Customers on regular basis. • Analyze back orders, current orders and upcoming orders to prioritize, plan, and schedule the production operations. • Plan equipment, material and manpower requirements to execute Production orders. • Plan inventory management processes to avoid shortages and excesses.

Achieved the 1st rank in both my college and district, and I also ranked among the top 30 for state-level activities and societies. I was honored with an award by the Chief Minister of Gujarat.