Gaurav Gaikwad

Experience

• 

  Carraro Group

  Apr 2013 - Feb 2016

  Manufacturing Engineer

  Gained hands-on experience in gear and transmission component manufacturing, assisting senior engineers in the planning and execution of production processes.Supported the process planning and implementation of production workflows, learning to identify inefficiencies and contribute to solutions that improved overall production flow.Lean Manufacturing Exposure: Participated in the application of Lean manufacturing techniques, gaining an understanding of how to reduce waste and streamline processes on the factory floor.Cross-Functional Collaboration: Worked alongside teams from design, quality, and procurement to ensure that manufacturing processes aligned with technical specifications and quality standards.Vendor Coordination: Assisted with vendor management and procurement tasks, including tracking material deliveries and helping ensure that production materials arrived on time to meet manufacturing schedules.Quality Assurance: Assisted in conducting quality checks and performing root cause analysis to identify issues in transmission components, contributing to improvements in product quality.Key Skills: Process planning, Lean manufacturing, vendor coordination, quality assurance, cross-functional collaboration, root cause analysis. Show less

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  Force Motors Ltd

  Mar 2016 - Apr 2019

  Senior Engineer

  Spearheaded gear manufacturing operations for key automotive projects, ensuring high-quality output and adherence to tight production timelines. Managed the complete product lifecycle, from process planning to production execution, ensuring smooth manufacturing of critical components.Optimised manufacturing processes, resulting in a 12% reduction in production cycle times and improved overall product quality through the application of Lean manufacturing techniques.Cross-Functional Collaboration: Worked closely with design, quality, and supply chain teams to streamline operations, improve process flows, and reduce bottlenecks. Ensured alignment between production and design requirements, delivering projects on time and within quality standards.Process Improvement & Kaizen: Led continuous improvement initiatives, implementing Kaizen practices that led to a 10% reduction in material waste and enhanced operational efficiency across the production line.Stakeholder Management: Acted as the key liaison between production teams and external vendors, ensuring timely delivery of materials and components, and resolving any supply chain challenges that arose during production.Quality Assurance: Ensured that all gear components met strict quality standards, using root cause analysis to troubleshoot production issues and implement corrective actions to improve defect rates.Key Skills: Gear manufacturing, Lean manufacturing, process optimization, Kaizen, cross-functional collaboration, stakeholder management, quality assurance, production planning. Show less

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  Mahindra and Mahindra Limited [Automotive and Farm Equipment Business]

  Apr 2019 - Jul 2022

  Assistant Manager

  Led the XUV 700 gearbox housing project with a budget of INR 60 crore, contributing to the overall project valued at INR 2700 crore. Managed procurement, process planning, and machine validation to ensure the project’s successful and timely execution.Streamlined procurement processes and implemented workflow optimization, which reduced production bottlenecks and improved overall output efficiency by 10%.Cross-Functional Leadership: Directed teams across design, manufacturing, and quality departments, fostering collaboration to ensure project objectives were met. Introduced Kaizen and Lean Manufacturing techniques, leading to cost savings and higher product quality.Improved project execution by enhancing inter-departmental communication, enabling smoother handoffs and quicker resolution of production issues.Stakeholder Management: Served as the primary interface between internal teams and external suppliers, ensuring timely delivery of components and alignment with the project’s technical and business goals.SAP Integration: Spearheaded the SAP implementation for procurement and inventory tracking, resulting in a 15% reduction in inventory holding costs and improved supplier management, which accelerated the procurement cycle.Results: Delivered the gearbox housing project on time and within budget, contributing to the overall project success and ensuring the timely launch of Mahindra’s flagship XUV 700. Achieved a 15% improvement in production lead times, which enhanced manufacturing efficiency and positioned the company to increase production capacity.Key Skills: Project management, cross-functional leadership, Kaizen, Lean manufacturing, procurement management, stakeholder engagement, process optimization. Show less

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  Kloudq Technologies Limited

  Aug 2022 - Oct 2023

  Led digital transformation initiatives in the manufacturing sector, driving the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies to optimize operational efficiency and scalability for clients.Spearheaded projects worth INR 7.7 million ($92K), delivering tailored solutions that addressed client needs and reduced operational bottlenecks.Conducted comprehensive business requirements gathering to translate client expectations into actionable project plans, ensuring alignment between technical execution and business goals.Pre-Sales and Strategy: Supported business development by preparing detailed techno-commercial proposals, helping secure a sales pipeline valued at INR 18.9 million ($230K). Developed strategies that positioned Kloudq as a leader in digital transformation solutions.Agile Project Management & Kaizen: Managed the full project lifecycle using Agile methodologies, with a focus on continuous improvement through Kaizen. These strategies led to a 15% improvement in operational efficiency and reduced project turnaround time.Stakeholder & Team Leadership: Acted as the primary liaison between clients, internal teams, and external partners, ensuring seamless communication and timely delivery of project milestones. Led a cross-functional team to maintain focus on key objectives while fostering a collaborative work environment.Results: Delivered high-value digital transformation projects that improved process transparency, increased operational efficiency, and resulted in repeat business from satisfied clients. These projects positioned clients to scale their operations and adopt new technologies with minimal disruption.Key Skills: Digital transformation, pre-sales strategy, Agile project management, Kaizen, stakeholder management, techno-commercial proposals, Industry 4.0, team leadership. Show less Leading Industry 4.0 business unit as a Functional Consultant and providing industry 4.0 solutions.Requirement Gathering from the client.Preparing techno-commercial proposals.Mapping of AS_IS and TO_BE Processes.Client engagement management.Creating Business Requirement Documents & Scope Of Work preparation.Solution Designing & GAP Analysis.Feasibility study for horizontal deployment.Change management request handling & processing.Finalization of the Feature listFunctional Testing, UAT, and UAT Sign off. Show less

  • Digital Transformation Manager

    Apr 2023 - Oct 2023

  • Deputy Project Manager

    Aug 2022 - Apr 2023
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  Birlasoft

  Sept 2023 - now

  Project Lead

  Life Sciences Domain – Veterinary Pharmaceutical CompanyLeading the batch tracker project for a veterinary pharmaceutical company, applying Agile methodologies to streamline data reporting and compliance.Increased story points per sprint from 60 to 75 by refining sprint planning and prioritization, leveraging lessons learned from previous projects.Improved velocity from 15 to 20 points/day by utilizing JIRA dashboards to identify bottlenecks and optimize task allocation.Stakeholder Engagement: Ensured alignment with business goals through structured feedback loops, resulting in quicker decision-making and smoother project execution. Oil & Gas Domain – Digital Transformation ProjectsLed a digital transformation for an oil & gas client, focusing on just-in-time delivery and using Kaizen to enhance workflows.Boosted productivity by 15% through incremental improvements tracked via Azure DevOps dashboards, ensuring the project was delivered 20% faster than projected.Achieved a $200K milestone on time, aligning the project with the client’s broader digital and operational objectives.Lessons Learned: Applied the just-in-time delivery and productivity improvements from this project to the life sciences project, leading to increased story points and better sprint efficiency.Key Skills: Agile project management, JIRA dashboards, Azure DevOps, Kaizen, just-in-time delivery, stakeholder management, continuous improvement, productivity optimization. Show less