Siddharth Kale

Experience

• 

  Toyota Kirloskar Motor

  Jun 2010 - Jul 2010

  Intern

  - Extensively analyzed Hybrid Vehicle topologies and helped prepare mathematical models and learning modules with special emphasis on the Power Splitting mechanism of the Toyota Prius.- Acquired a valuable insight into Toyota Production System, Lean Manufacturing, use of Kanban cards, analysing warranty claims data, Just in Time concept and the Flexible Assembly Line.- Suggested alternatives to improve capacity and inventory planning while reducing lead times.

• 

  Thermax

  Aug 2011 - Jun 2012

  GET (New Business)

  - Extensively worked with customers on site to address design and quality concerns to facilitate introduction of New Products including Solar Collectors, Biomass Boilers and Absorption Chillers.- Assisted with equipment sizing based on thermal analysis and energy audits to deliver tailored solutions to customers - Worked with plant teams to assist with assembly equipment redesign and improve work flow.- Collaborated with channel dealer network to ensure compliance with company policies, audits and business strategies to ensure continuous improvement and target fulfilment. Show less

• 

  University of Michigan

  Sept 2012 - May 2014

  - Teaching assistant for ME 589, a graduate course on Sustainable Design- Assisting in course delivery, content management and web support for distance and on-campus students- Mentoring student teams for term design projects and enabling them to use various design tools and methodologies for engineering concept development under the holistic purview of life-cycle thinking for sustainability M.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Design and Manufacturing

  • Graduate Student Instructor/ Research Assistant

    Sept 2013 - May 2014

  • Graduate Student

    Sept 2012 - Dec 2013
• 

  Cummins Inc.

  May 2013 - Aug 2013

  Quality Engineering Intern

  - Designed an active controls enabled checklist for in-plant SQI response to ensure timely response, data acquisition, process adherence and improved internal quality leading to easy transfers of emergent issues within team members and informing stakeholders.- Led team for Measurement Systems Analysis for on-line gage capability and assisted with setting up factors and noise in a designed experiment based on FMEA and C&E Analysis for a Six Sigma Black Belt project to improve assembly of fracture split connecting rods to prevent warranty/early life failures with potential annual savings of about $6 million.- Collaborated with cross functional teams and suppliers for ongoing Supplier Corrective Actions to ensure defect-free inventory for production and implementation of PPAP approved tooling. - Supported Product Improvement Committee issues to handle emergent quality issues, piloted Production/Engineering Tests and on-line test equipment calibration for a new product launch.- Authored SQI Team Work Instructions and Process Flows to be released into Quality System.- Trained on APQP/PPAP, ISO/TS 16949, 6 Sigma, DFMEA, 7-Step Problem Solving etc. Show less

• 

  Cummins Inc.

  Jun 2014 - now

  - Formed, developed and currently lead the product category aligned Global Supplier Quality organization for Fluid and Air Management for Cummins.- Accountable for quality from 2500+ suppliers across US/Canada, Latin America, Europe, India and China totaling an annual spend in excess of $2.3B. Products include Fuel and Dosing systems, Pumps, Valves, Seals and Plastics, Tubes and Hoses, Turbos and Compressors, Radiators and Coolers and Bought-out-Finished Filters.- Guide a dynamic global leadership team, accountable for 50+ Supplier Quality professionals, to build a skilled team that delivers zero-defect product launches and improved supplier performance while enhancing our strategic engagement portfolio across cross-functional teams.- Lead a risk-priority based Supplier Performance Management and Audit program within the category to achieve 10-15% YOY reduction across key KPIs for the global category supply base through a variety of focused initiatives. Show less - Led the Central Supplier Quality team for Corporate Direct Purchasing consisting of 10+ Supplier Quality engineers.- Managed supplier quality for stampings, iron and aluminum castings, seals/plastics, hardware and rotating power mechatronics components representing over 300 suppliers within US/Canada with an annual spend in excess of $400M across all Cummins business units supporting global manufacturing plants.- Drove successful resolution and follow-up of quality issues with internal and external customers and suppliers to achieve improvements of 10% YOY across key KPIs for assigned supply base in US/Canada.- Designed, deployed and managed the Corporate Direct Purchasing Supplier Quality scorecard process. Show less - Led Supplier Quality work for a set of strategic seals/plastics suppliers with $60M+ annual spend to deliver custom-engineered solutions for new engine programs while ensuring focus on design for manufacturability.- Led warranty reviews and supported subsequent supplier design/process changes to improve reliability.- Represented Supplier Quality in multiple VA/VE projects to enhance quality and reduce risk and costs - Assisted Sourcing in selection of Category Partners while assessing Total Value of Performance. Show less - Responsible for 50+ suppliers developing quality expertise in plastics, seals, stampings and powder metal components.- Drove APQP and PPAP completions per AIAG guidelines and customer specific requirements for multiple Cummins Business Units.- Led corrective actions using 8D/5Y/7-Step approach with no recurrence of failures and timely closures.- Implemented systemic improvements using 6 Sigma tools to achieve YOY reduction in plant disruptions and conducted product/process & quality systems audits in line with IATF/TS16949 for supplier development. Show less

  • Supplier Quality Director

    Sept 2023 - now

  • Global Supplier Quality Category Leader

    Apr 2020 - Sept 2023

  • Supplier Quality Manager

    Oct 2017 - Apr 2020

  • Senior Supplier Quality Improvement Engineer

    Aug 2016 - Sept 2017

  • Supplier Quality Improvement Engineer

    Jun 2014 - Jul 2016