Rufus Jeyakumar

Experience

• 

  Caterpillar Inc.

  Jun 2012 - now

  • Component engineer for 424 and 426 machine platforms responsible for day to day production deliverable.• Address dealer and customer griefs for BHL machines by providing business and customer friendly solutions.• Built In Quality (BIQ) and Continuous Improvement (CI) contact to resolve issues on a timely basis to avoid machine quality hold and ship hold procedure.• Knowledge about machine level testing resulting in component sign offs.• Component research and development resulting in component resourcing and validation.• Part proliferation expert working with 150 suppliers and 12,000 components.• Component lead for 2021 series Small Wheel Loader machine platform, responsible for BIQ and CPI issues.• Dealer contact for product issues and updates. Show less • Own and maintain product implementation strategy aligning with global product strategy.• Ensure governance and timely execution of strategy and processes supporting product implementation. Manage costs within the allocated budget ($1.7 M).• Work directly with the product manager as a business support partner on implementing new source introduction plan, product development and implementation strategy.• Identify Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and develop and drive specific projects to optimize the product launch within the timeline.• Provide regular communication to the relevant teams regarding development, performance, manufacturing readiness, etc.• Phasing in new products and providing suggestions for new product introductions.• Analyze all weekly and monthly project performance reports to review status and provide solutions to support global product implementation strategy.• Manage timeline for various phases of the program and ensure critical milestones are met aligning with global product strategy.• Train and empower engineers to actively participate in product test builds and product launches. Show less • Drafted machine introduction strategy for construction equipment forecasting sales of 3500 machines per year in India with a growth potential of 33% for 2020 and 2-4% YOY.• Drafted strategy to support growth of mining portfolio in India providing revenue generation of $1.4 Billion.• Designed, validated and implemented a high pressure (250 Bar) quick disconnect system for drivelines for Skid Steer family, resolving a CPI issue resulting in a warranty spend of $1 Million per year.• Developed proto designs for drive line holding clamps using additive manufacturing technique to prove out designs and avoiding NPI tooling cost close to $80,000.• Build engineer for NPI program of skid steers assisting in issue capturing (>250 issues) and collaborating with cross functional teams to resolve it.• Owned 80 field installed kits and issued field service manuals for all of them based on new digital platform.• Responsible for EU and Japanese regulation implementation strategy on Small Wheel Loader machines. Show less • Point of contact for Tier 4 Final NPI program with expert knowledge on fluid lines design and co-ordinating roll-out of new machines with support from cross-functional teams.• Change control and current project management aligning with business cycle.• Resolved 3 CPI issues with an combined warranty spend of $6 Million.• Production implementation build engineer and keyed in close to 150 build issues and helped the team address it.• Engineered implementation of hydraulic coupler system on 24 model variants resolving a significant CPI warranty spend issue ($4 Million). • Designed retro-fit coupler system with easy to install field installation manual for 24 model variants. • Deviced multi product assembly line and proposed it with an cost avoidance of $10 Million with 8% improved efficiency over current practices. Show less • Assist the engineering change control manager with progress, performance reporting and management of works.• Assisted Tier 4 Final project delivery schedules with Chassis and Hydraulic Lines systems.• Engineered a $8,400 reduction in a single adapter development with an EAU of 50,000• Developed field 23 service manuals for field installed kits supporting various systems.• Developed J-Tube accumulator to resolve inefficiencies in the cooling system by ensuring a P-trap in the system which prevents the refrigerant from back tracking. • Effectively managed team's resources, ensuring effective coaching, development, allocation and communication. Show less • Engineering drawing creation for light fabrication and fluid line components using Global and Caterpillar standards applying GD&T methods.• Assisted Tier 4i project delivery schedules with Chassis and Hydraulic Lines systems. Collaborated with suppliers to ensure designs produced are suitable for manufacture using the most suitable materials and processes, and to an acceptable quality level.• Engineered cost avoidance of $25,000 per annum on direct material cost of hoses in machine drain lines of Skid Steer machines.• Assisted in design and development of after market kits for compact and skid steer loaders.• Established an operational model for kitting field installed kits so that the team has a framework to work in for their daily operations. Show less

  • Parts Operations Consultant - Off-Highway Trucks

    Sept 2020 - now

  • Lead Engineer - Hydraulic Components R&D

    Jun 2018 - Sept 2020

  • Project Manager - New Source Introduction | New Product Introdution

    Jul 2018 - Aug 2020

  • Lead Engineer - Loaders Engineering (Compact & Small Wheel Loaders, Skid Steer Loaders)

    Jan 2017 - Jun 2018

  • Engineer - New Product Design (Skid Steer Loaders)

    Jan 2016 - Dec 2016

  • Design Engineer - Product Life Cycle Management

    Jun 2014 - Dec 2015

  • Graduate Engineer - Design

    Jun 2012 - May 2014