Thomas Phu Email & Phone Number

Berkeley, California, United States

Fremont

Fremont, Ca

Managed the development of a new innovative generation of custom solar manufacturing automation to produce a brand-new industry leading solar technology, shingled cell high efficiency solar modules-Managed company’s automation development team to improve equipment performance, institute new processes, reduce costs, develop maintenance procedures-Main project manager liaising between licensees and equipment vendors towards on time equipment delivery-Clean sheet development of new equipment to scribe, singulate, string, and make modules at high production rates with excellent up time and high yields-Successfully developed proof of concept prototypes to demonstrate scale-up capability-Wrote detailed procurement specifications to define new automation tools including equipment design specifications, budget guidelines, FMEA analysis, acceptance test specifications, safety review, and conformance to local regulations-Supervised the development of 1GW of production equipment as part of a licensing agreement for module production technology-Managed equipment and material vendors worldwide including the procurement and cost reductions of manufacturing materials-Integrated complex automation modules including six axes robots, high power lasers optics, high speed dispense, inline vision inspection systems, high speed pick and place-Successfully deployed 130MW equipment line for manufacturing

Singapore

Manage a team of 10 engineers/technicians to design, prototype and deploy manufacturing equipment for the solar industries-Successfully doubled company sale revenue after one year from $5mil to over $10mil-Provided leadership to capture and win large deal business that enabled KayTa Design to exceed revenue and profit expectations-Successfully negotiated contract agreement with both customers and component suppliers on key projects-Oversaw equipment development, component sourcing, costing and production including quality assurance

San Jose, Ca

Managed an off-shore engineering team in Philippine that developed the next generation of equipment for a low-concentrating photovoltaic (LCPV) technology for power plant applications called the C7 Tracker.-Executed on product development of C7 receiver through a phased approach from conceptualization to release in high volume manufacturing-Organized the collaborative efforts from engineering teams in the US and Philippine to streamline the development and demonstration of a next generation factory product-Successfully deployed full C7 line in the Philippine within 6 months. This project went from 0-1 GW project pipeline -Holder of 6 patents in solar including a strategic patent to enable higher powered solar modules.-Coordinated efforts to improve up-time, yield, and throughput during manufacturing builds in SunPower Philippine factory

San Jose, Ca

Played a lead role in taking a 25MW back contact module line from paper concept all the way to full qualification. This line involved the following backend automation equipments: automated glass loading and washing, automated tab and stringing, semi automated framing and automated flash testing.• Product design - Design/prototype and tested new bus bar system for 96-cell back end module. • Technology scoping - Detail technical evaluation of 6 soldering technology (laser, magnetic induction, Infared, CO flame hot bar and hot air,) under tight time constraint. Down selected to induction soldering which resulted in world class soldering performance• Developed an industry pioneering back-contact cell stringing process that enable stringing of very thin cells in production with high mechanical yield• 99.8% mechanical yield with 145um thin cell• UPH of more than 900 cell/hrProject management – cross functional collaboration, active worldwide vendor interaction and management. Qualified and managed vendors in Germany, Japan, Singapore, China, Philippine, Vietnam and US• Successfully manage the following automation project:• Cell transfer automation from wet cassette to dry cassette• APCVD cell handling automation• Plating jig automation• Module cell stringer• Module lay-up and circuit formationHelp deployed >700MW of module line in SunPower Philippine facility

Freemont, Ca

Complete responsibility for mechanical engineering of weather hardened outdoor electronic enclosures and chassis meeting Telcordia GR-487, UL, FCC, and NEBS.• Responsibilities includes cost effective designs of injection molded housings and sheet metal using Inventor 3D CAD, stereo lithographic modeling, thermal management analysis, shock and vibration testing, temperature and humidity testing, packaging design, DFM, and complete documentation.• Plastic injection molded design includes: GE lexan plastic housings, ABS disk drive ejector, environmentally sealed connector cover with pre-mold polypropylene and over-mold santoprene.

Fremont, Ca

Perform a myriad of engineering duties associated with New Product Design and Development of sheet metal enclosure for electronics. Responsible for thermal management of electro/mechanical enclosure utilizing CFD tool

Bachelor’S Degree, Mechanical Engineering

High School