Arif Chawalwala Email & Phone Number

Texas, United States

Chicago, Illinois, Us

Brussels, Be

Spearheaded NPI and process improvement projects for manufacture of advanced composite materials for commercial and defense aerospace applications• Collaborated with Procurement and Operations groups to support $30M capital expansion plan, lead Factory/Site Acceptance Testing (FAT/SAT) on new capital equipment, and develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for automated on-line measurement and material handling systems• Built full-scale manufacturing process for key strategic program that positioned the company for new business valued at $15M in 1st year in collaboration with OEM technology partners• Instituted Six Sigma methodology with Manufacturing Cell Leaders to drive $3M in cost improvements by reducing in-process waste utilizing value stream assessment principles• Led project team to develop slot die coating process for hot melt systems at 2X current line speeds• Designed pump equipment system to support increased production capacity needs offering 20% increase in machine up-time and 10% waste reduction

Charlotte, North Carolina, Us

Led team of 3 engineers, conducted performance evaluation, training and career development. Supported Supply Chain, Marketing and Program Management teams on key NPI platforms and supplier qualification audits, conducted design reviews, managed Engineering Change Notices, developed SOW/SOP documents and technical specifications, provided manufacturing support.• Led 2 design projects to in-source 65 SKUs of premium product line resulting in $2M in product cost savings and 15% increase in plant capacity utilization• Directed program to qualify new paint and ink system for the on-time and flawless launch of a Private Label product line (42 products) resulting in 17% contribution margin to the business and sales of $8M in 1st year• Drove $6M of cost reduction through design modifications, process improvements, variation reduction and use of alternate materials

New Rochelle, Ny, Us

Promoted to manage R&D/Operations projects, support market development and capital programs, develop pricing strategies, analyze manufacturing costs, prepare technical proposals• Built layout for new production line capable of manufacturing at 4X existing levels, improving labor productivity and delivery performance, and reducing back-order levels while remaining focused on quality • Secured $3M in additional sales over 3 years by launching software program to execute engineering analysis for safety product line. Program was widely adopted by clients for its quality, speed and simplicity• Supported Plant Operations to drive operational efficiency initiatives through workflow analysis, value stream mapping, visual management and 5S activities• Appointed on ISO audit panel; achieved ISO 9001-2000 certification for 2 manufacturing facilities

New Rochelle, Ny, Us

Managed cross-functional team to lead new product development and cost improvement projects, plan project resources, execute engineering analysis, and provide technical field support• Led 4-member team to build 8 fiberglass composite deck coatings across US markets; conducted factory and site acceptance testing (FAT/SAT) and prepared final project report• Developed light composite panel for structural applications that increased revenues by $500K in 1st year. Panel provided 25% increased customer value via weight reduction, increased service life and faster installation• Prepared CAD drawings, engineering plans and specifications that facilitated project managers, sales and distributor teams for timely contract proposal submissions• Implemented Lean initiative to drive $50K in annual savings and reduced changeover time by eliminating redundancies in manufacturing and packaging • Traveled to customer sites to investigate root cause for product application issues and developed corrective / preventive actions (CAPA)

M.S., Engineering

Master Of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Finance, General

B.Tech., Engineering