Shashanka Hegade Kermane

Accomplished professional with 24+ years of experience in design, development in automotive and program management. Demonstrated ability to drive company objectives through effective problem-solving and leadership. Strong focus on continuous improvement and operational efficiency, resulting in enhanced project outcomes.

• Built and managed the automotive interiors team for the Marelli account in the NA and EU regions, a team of 75 engineers
• Owns customer operational relationship, understands customer region, and analyzes delivery requirements in customer strategic plan
• Interacted with customers and clients to identify business needs and requirements.
• Increased customer satisfaction through effective communication of program goals and expectations
• Collaborated with business leadership to set priorities based on business needs, resource capacity, and risk exposure
• Achieve account-specific performance metrics: revenue, profit, and utilization target
• Responsible for client relationship management, issue resolution, and escalation management
• Conducting governance meetings, including client meetings, periodically
• Managing the team, directing daily work activities, and setting priorities, responsible for recruitment, development, and direction setting within the area of responsibility
• Define or update the execution process to meet project quality, deliverables, and change management
• Assessment of engineers' skill sets, arranging training, and ensuring that they have adequate skills to execute the project
• Coached team members on professional development opportunities, contributing to improved overall performance
• Evaluated employee performance and conveyed constructive feedback to improve skills
• Negotiates with third-party vendors, contributing to contractual requirements
• Prepare business and project performance metrics, and present them to the customer and LTTS senior management
• Managed multiple strategic projects, with numerous sub-projects or work streams

• Over a decade worked with Japanese OEM and suppliers in USA.
• Clients include Honda R&D, Nissan Tech Center, and Tier 1 suppliers M-TEK-NA, Marelli - NA, and Bertrandt - Germany
• Parts responsibility from scratch to life cycle management, CPM, console, cargo area, appliques, headliners, HVAC, exterior plastic parts
• Design and development with full product life cycle experience by resolving various build issues with respect to design in interior trims
• In-depth experience in global automotive OEMs, Tier 1 processes, and production developments
• Liaison with clients and suppliers, including internal CFTs, involving purchase, sales, quality, and manufacturing
• Plan and schedule different activities during the development phase of the program
• Support design engineers in the design, responsible for technical reports, design review, DFEMA, and DVP&R joint check, proto part evaluation involving OEM, supplier, and quality
• Collaborative communicator with skills in establishing productive relationships with clients, while working with multiple clients from North America and Europe

• Quarterly staff performance award for achieving the timely release of the part in a short span of development time, with quality and performance at Nissan Tech Centre NA