KAMESH THUKKARAM
Sales Director
Torhout,VWV
Summary
Program management professional with an MBA, mechanical and manufacturing engineering degrees; possess 23+ years of cross-functional experience in product development, manufacturing, and after-market support of off-highway equipment. Business consulting, techno-commercial expertise in agricultural, automotive, bus, construction equipment, mining equipment, and remanufacturing. Have managed projects of up to $7M in a year that impacted up to 60-70 people in 5 different countries.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Account Manager - Sales & Operations
Caresoft Global Inc.
Belgium
12.2013 - Current
- Responsible for key account management, sales, operations, P&L, and revenue growth through organic and inorganic ways.
- Managing 16+ electro-mechanical engineers, manufacturing engineers, and industrial engineers.
- Completed new product launches for agricultural harvesting machines from the development phase, pre-build phase, 4P/EPV proto phase, and launch phase by implementing, designing, drafting, drawing checking, FEA, cost estimation, manufacturing services, Technical Publications bundled services to customers in Europe. Onsite and offshore models we used to provide cost leverage to customers.
- Developed part standardization strategy and eliminated 25K redundant parts so engineering teams could use preferred standard spare parts, which brought around $3.6M in realized savings.
- Decreased design to release turnaround time by 33% by implementing PDM/PLM tools, therefore CAD models from engineering could be used for the entire ecosystem until the e-commerce platform.
- Delivered $1.1M in savings in design to value with the help of cost estimations, cost reduction, etc.
- Delivered $ 1.6M program savings by exiting poor-performing suppliers and successfully implementing new supplier processes for Engineering, manufacturing, and process outsourcing activities.
- Responsible for defining and implementing annual business strategy, achieved year-over-year revenue growth of 21% over the last two years.
Engineering Manager, Engineering Design Center
Caterpillar Inc.
India
10.2008 - 10.2013
- Delivered 20+ programs in Reman Engineering, and Product Engineering of surface and underground mining machines.
- Managed 15+ electro-mechanical engineers in design, development, and product validation.
- Completed high wall and long wall mining machine's structural re-engineering activities by modifying access systems like a ladder, stairways, walkways, handrails, and support using Australian standards AS1657. This is to comply with product safety, standards, for the Australian region. Liaised with regulations consultants in Australia and the standards team in the USA to launch the product in Australia.
- Traveled to Caterpillar-acquired facilities in USA, UK, Europe, China, Japan, and Australia to implement Caterpillar parts rationalization, and parts conflict resolution strategy, championed change management by working with engineers in the acquired facilities to follow Caterpillar standards and specifications.
- Implemented & and governed the Continuous Improvement (CI) process through the CI board for a section comprising 50+ engineers to improve quality, delivery, cost, and customer satisfaction indices for Caterpillar products and services in India.
Business Development Manager - Cat Reman, Rebuild, Service tools, Classic Parts.
Caterpillar Inc.
Peoria, IL
04.2005 - 09.2008
- Liaised between Reman product & process team and manufacturing engineering departments to complete Reman NPI, CPI, and Salvage projects through Caterpillar Engineering Design Center in Chennai.
- Experienced in the areas of core (receiving, credit, deposit, segregation, transfer) disassembly, sorting, cleaning, inspection, salvaging/metal deposition, machining, assembly, testing, and delivery of Reman parts, components, and complete engines.
- Conversant with salvage processes like thermal spraying, plasma and wire arc spraying, puddle welding, laser cladding, and coating processes to reclaim material and surfaces.
- Experienced in the salvage of Reman short and long blocks, cylinder heads and blocks, crankshaft, cylinder packs, torque converters, transmissions, and final drives.
- Key contributor as lead Green Belt in Six Sigma Salvage Express projects with savings of ~$1M in 3500 & 3600 Series Caterpillar Engine short & long blocks & engine components.
Engineer - Engineering Design Center
Caterpillar Inc.
India
09.2003 - 03.2005
- Worked in NPI, CPI, and Maintenance Product Engineering projects, with over 3000 hours of hands-on experience in the design, and development, of front-end attachments like boom & stick, undercarriage, engine packaging, and enclosures of hydraulic excavators for Akashi and Sagamihara plants in Caterpillar Japan.
- Experienced in GD&T, and CAD tools like Creo, Solid Works, Catia, and FEA tools. Hands-on PDM & PLM Tools. (Caterpillar excavators models worked 320C, 345 UHD)
Project Engineer - Tool Design, Vendor Development, and Testing
Interspan Engineers & Consultants
Chennai, India
07.2001 - 08.2003
- Design and manufacture of CNC and conventional Cutting Tool Holders, combination tool holders (Drill, chamfer, and spot face), Jigs, welding fixtures, and Special Gauges.
Education
Master of Business Management - MBA - undefined
Vlerick Business School
01.2020
Master of Science - MS - Manufacturing Management
Bits Pilani
01.2012
Bachelor of Engineering - BE - Mechanical
University of Madras
01.2001
Diploma in Mechanical Engineering - DME - undefined
D.O.T.E.
01.1998
Project Management Professional - undefined
Caterpillar University
01.2008
Certified and trained 6 Sigma Black Belt - undefined
Caterpillar University
01.2010
Skills
- Leadership
- Communication
- Team Management
- Operations Management
- Project Management
- Financial Management
- Stakeholder Management
- Adaptability
- Strategic Thinking
- Quality Management
- Negotiation
Languages
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Dutch Level 1.2
Elementary (A2)
Japanese Level 3
Elementary (A2)
Tamil
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Personal Information
- Title: Senior Account Manager - Sales and Operations
- Nationality: Belgian
Timeline
Senior Account Manager - Sales & Operations
Caresoft Global Inc.
12.2013 - Current
Engineering Manager, Engineering Design Center
Caterpillar Inc.
10.2008 - 10.2013
Business Development Manager - Cat Reman, Rebuild, Service tools, Classic Parts.
Caterpillar Inc.
04.2005 - 09.2008
Engineer - Engineering Design Center
Caterpillar Inc.
09.2003 - 03.2005
Project Engineer - Tool Design, Vendor Development, and Testing
Interspan Engineers & Consultants
07.2001 - 08.2003
Master of Business Management - MBA - undefined
Vlerick Business School
Master of Science - MS - Manufacturing Management
Bits Pilani
Bachelor of Engineering - BE - Mechanical
University of Madras
Diploma in Mechanical Engineering - DME - undefined
D.O.T.E.
Project Management Professional - undefined
Caterpillar University
Certified and trained 6 Sigma Black Belt - undefined
Caterpillar University