Ashwin Kumar
Jeddah,Mecca Region
Summary
Accomplished professional with extensive expertise in Product Lifecycle Management, Pricing Strategy, and New Product Development & Launch. Demonstrates proficiency in Go-to-Market Strategy, Competitive Market Analysis, and Demand Forecasting. Skilled in Supplier Development, Strategic Sourcing, and Inventory Coordination, with a strong background in Automotive Quality Standards and Lean Manufacturing. Adept at leading cross-functional teams and managing complex projects to drive cost optimisation and yield improvement. Career goals include leveraging technical skills in ERP Systems and Market Research to enhance strategic initiatives within the automotive industry.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Product manager
National Auto Parts
Jeddah, KSA
02.2023 - 07.2025
- Executing the full product and procurement lifecycle, ensuring on-time availability of high-quality, competitively priced auto parts.
- Successfully Launched 1500+ new SKUs across key categories (Automotive Parts, Lubricants, and Batteries), driving 22% year-over-year revenue growth.
- Commendably Led new product development aligned with market demand and OEM/aftermarket strategies.
- Strong Negotiation with suppliers to secure favorable terms, improve lead times, and reduce costs.
- Constantly conducting a detailed market and competitor analysis for advance pricing and tracking the trends.
- Demand forecasting and pricing strategies helping to optimize inventory and boost margins for the company.
- Streamlined fast moving SKUs, reducing inventory overhead by 18% and increasing margins by 12%.
- Efficiently managing a detailed product master data to capture proper market demand.
- Executed go-to-market strategies in collaboration with sales teams for multiple brands & private labels.
- Innovative in identifying and implementing cost-saving initiatives across SCM to ensure profitability.
Product & Quality Manager
Vishay Precision Transducers India Pvt Ltd
Chennai, India
06.2017 - 01.2023
- Spearheaded new product introduction by analyzing R&D requirements and developing TREs, BOMs, and process routings.
- Led feasibility studies and production line layout design, optimizing capacity planning and facility utilization.
- Conducted PFMEA and developed facility plans to proactively address potential failure modes and enhance process reliability.
- Successfully executed PPAP trials, validating cycle times and UPH, and ensuring seamless handover to production.
- Implemented lean manufacturing and Kaizen initiatives, improving Cell-10 assembly line productivity by 12%.
- Integrated PTS control into oven processes, boosting yield from 94% to 98%, and implemented a rework tracking system (RTS) to enhance quality control.
- Streamlined testing and assembly processes, reducing Creep Test time by 6 minutes per batch and lowering manpower requirements through automation.
- Introduced laser welding and scribing techniques, increasing yield (e.g., gage pocket welding from 92% to 99%) and reducing labor by 4MP/shift.
- Qualified and implemented yielding strain gauges, improving yield from 86% to 96% and generating annual cost savings of $500,000 & Future.
- Maintained and controlled all production documentation (Work Instructions, 4M, Process Layouts, Control Charts) using EPDM systems for quality and compliance.
Senior product engineer
ELECTROMAGS-A Division of the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Limited, WADIA Group
Chennai, India
06.2013 - 06.2017
- Managed end-to-end product development for automotive components—from concept design through validation to production handover.
- Handled vendor selection, design proving, and product validation in alignment with production and quality standards.
- Led new product launch activities, ensuring timely execution and successful market introduction.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams to execute projects within set timelines and deliverables.
- Created and maintained detailed Bills of Materials (BOMs), assembly drawings, and component specifications.
- Supported proto tool and production tool development, and facilitated customer and supplier interactions for new product introduction.
- Actively contributed to PPAP documentation in collaboration with the CFT(Cross-Functional Team).
- Conducted thorough design reviews and quality checks, ensuring accuracy and adherence to customer requirements.
- Performed benchmarking of components and processes, working closely with suppliers to ensure conformance to technical drawings.
- Played a key role in proto part development, including fitment, functional testing, and layout inspection reporting.
Education
M.Engg. - Mechanical
University of Limerick
Ireland 04.2011 - 06.2012
BE - Mechanical Engineering
Jaya Engineering College
Chennai, T.N. 04.2007 - 05.2011
Skills
- Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)
- Pricing strategy knowledge
- Aftermarket & OEM Product Strategy
- New Product Development & Launch
- Go-to-Market Strategy
- Competitive Market Analysis
- Demand Forecasting & Pricing Strategy
- Supplier Development & Strategic Sourcing
- Supplier & Vendor Negotiation
- Inventory & Supply Chain Coordination
- Automotive Quality Standards (APQP, PPAP, FMEA)
- Process Engineering & Optimization
- Lean Manufacturing & Kaizen
- Poka-Yoke Implementation
- Cost Optimization & Yield Improvement
- Cross-functional Team Leadership
- Project & Program Management
- Market Research & Competitor Benchmarking
- ERP Systems (Oracle EBS, EPDM)
- Inventory Forecasting & Control
- Technical Documentation & BOM Management
Timeline
Product manager
National Auto Parts
02.2023 - 07.2025
Product & Quality Manager
Vishay Precision Transducers India Pvt Ltd
06.2017 - 01.2023
Senior product engineer
ELECTROMAGS-A Division of the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Limited, WADIA Group
06.2013 - 06.2017
M.Engg. - Mechanical
University of Limerick
04.2011 - 06.2012
BE - Mechanical Engineering
Jaya Engineering College
04.2007 - 05.2011
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