Mike Avenell Email & Phone Number

Developed and implemented processes and procedures for CIGS Solar cell manufacturing. Monitoring of manufacturing and experimental runs. Troubleshooting of process and equipment issues. Areas of focus included Back Electrode, CIGS precursor and TCO processes on roll to roll coater as well as selenization and annealing processes on roll to roll reactor. • Developed and implemented automated SPC monitoring systems. • Staffed, trained and managed offshift manufacturing team.• Developed and implemented processes and procedures to increase length of sputter deposition runs, improving system utilization and throughput.

Process support for magnetic recording media deposition pilot line on Intevac Lean and Circulus M12 sputtering tools. Monitoring of manufacturing process, Pilot Line and Development experiments. Troubleshooting of process and equipment issues. • Qualified sputter tools after modification or when starting production on new products.• Developed yield and defect monitoring and reporting tools.• Developed procedures to improve operator process adjustments.

Process development for magnetic recording media on inline and static sputter deposition equipment, production of qualification samples for new products and transfer and support of the sputtering process overseas for production. • Led a multidepartment effort that developed, qualified and transferred to production a Perpendicular Magnetic Recording media sputtering process for the legacy inline sputter systems, allowing these systems to be upgraded instead of replaced. • Worked closely with equipment group specifying and designing modifications to the sputter system to convert from a longitudinal to a perpendicular process. Worked with outside vendors to develop sputtering cathodes and targets that would be capable for mass production.• Worked closely with overseas engineering and manufacturing departments to allow an efficient transfer of the new process. • Developed, transferred and supported processes for several generations of longitudinal magnetic recording media.

Managed parts cleaning operation and sputter equipment documentation, worked with parts cleaning vendors to specify process and develop acceptance criteria, led projects to improve system yield and uptime. Supervised a team of five technicians.• Modified shielding geometry and cleaning process to decrease particulation, improve yield, and increase system utilization.• Determined source of carrier outgassing, modified carriers and startup procedure to decrease baking times. Improving system utilization.• Organized sputter system cleanup to improve system utilization.

In charge of Sputter manufacturing department with 60 employees running a 24/7 operation. Responsible for maintaining yield and utilization, scheduling system maintenance and product changes, qualifying new systems, ensuring training and certification of department, and continuously improving manufacturing procedures.• Built strong team of Engineers, supervisors, technicians and operators who strived for continual improvement.• Brought new generation sputtering systems into manufacturing while maintaining and improving processes on the older systems.

Responsible for improving sputter system yield and utilization while maintaining product quality; development and implementation of operating procedures; training and development of technicians and manufacturing associates.• Created and maintained Statistical Process Control System for the department.• Developed and taught classes to train operators in fundamentals of vacuum systems, sputter deposition and magnetic recording.• Created a database allowing tracking and analysis of sputter system parameters, product characteristics, and system events. • Developed a computer controlled gas injection system to improve product uniformity. This improved yield and product quality.• Lead continuous improvement teams to improve yield, increase system utilization and reduce costs.• Developed processes to bring a higher throughput sputter system into production.

Milpitas

Supervised twelve operators in Sputter, Lube and test areas of magnetic media manufacturing. Hired, trained, coached and managed employees. Monitored processes and equipment. Ensured production quality and throughput.