Akshay Ashok
Results driven dynamic professional with 5.5 years of experience leading new product development, cross-functional execution, and operational improvement initiatives across the automotive and manufacturing sectors. Proven track record of delivering large scale cost optimization, accelerating development timelines, and solving complex business problems through analytical thinking, stakeholder collaboration, and data driven decision making.
Work Experience:
5.4 Years
Industry:
Aviation & Automotive | Manufacturing & Engineering
Function:
Operations & Supply Chain | Project & Program Management | R&D
Maruti Suzuki India Limited (India's largest passenger vehicle manufacturer) | Gurugram, Haryana
Senior Associate Manager - Engineering Research and Development
- Led the design, development and vehicle integration of a compact CNG pressure regulator used across multiple platforms and models delivering ₹650+ million in annual cost savings in FY25-26 through cross-functional collaboration with Supply Chain, Quality, Assembly team and Suppliers.
- Led the design and development of CNG system for Maruti Suzuki’s first Bharat NCAP/ Global NCAP 5-star CNG vehicles, the Dzire and Victoris. System design ensured compliance with offset deformable barrier, full frontal and rear crash regulations.
- Engineered India's first underbody CNG system for the Maruti Suzuki Victoris, significantly increasing usable boot space, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction.
- Designed end to end simulation models for the dynamic motion of flexible hoses (considering string vibration, sagging and tolerance stack up) to control risks and minimise work redundancy. Reduced overall manhours by 15%.
- Initiated and led localisation projects creating commercial impact of approximately ₹214 million in FY-25-26 at MSIL through value engineering in collaboration with supply chain and quality.
Assistant Manager - Engineering Research and Development
- Owned the design, vehicle integration (layout design) and part development of safety critical CNG system components for 7+ high volume models, contributing to $4+ million in business impact. Singlehandedly met Concept DR, DMDR, Drawing release timelines for these models.
- Identified gap in testing requirements of Maru A parts and introduced Maru AR instructions in technical specification drawings for the first time in Maruti Suzuki Engine division improving the safety and reliability of critical components.
- Resolved critical fuel leakage issue observed in production line in a fuel filter joint through structured analytical method, that enabled reuse of existing parts, avoiding costly injection moulding die development and thereby reducing analysis cost by 80%; Led feasibility study of corrective design measures and implemented them across multiple models.
- Managed and Implemented 20+ high-priority CARV requirements, including material changes and machine/line duplication, ensuring on-time implementation with 0 production downtime through data-driven analysis and collaborative part validation.
L&T Technology Services (LTTS) (Global engineering research and development services company) | Vadodara, Gujarat
Associate Engineer - Digital manufacturing Services
- Contributed to the development of a digital transformation/ twin framework for Covestro’s global manufacturing plants that improves client operating performance by minimizing unplanned events, enabling predictive maintenance, improving decision-making and enabling data standardization among Covestro’s multiple manufacturing plants across the globe.
- Planning, execution and delivery of SmartPlant suite implementation of multiple global sites for Covestro by combining plant and engineering data, standardizing symbols and workflows in accordance with ISO and plant-specific standards.
- Led cross-functional collaboration for Covestro's CAOJING plant and ANTWERP plant, serving as the primary LTTS engineering interface and coordinating technical discussions with global client team, site team and LTTS internal stakeholders.
- Automated graphical quality check report making using macros in MS Excel, cutting QC cycle time by 30% and reducing errors.
- Completed data migration of all CAOJING plant data from more than 300 unorganized 2D drawings to an integrated platform using Hexagon Smart Plant P&ID and Smart Plant 3D. The migration was completed successfully with 95% error free data leading to before time delivery, customer satisfaction and approval.
Thermosen Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (Manufacturer of thermistors and temperature sensing solutions) | Bengaluru, Karnataka
Graduate Engineer - Operations and Manufacturing
- Improved soldering efficiency and reduced rejection rates by designing a conveyor-based semi-automated soldering line for thermistor production using CAD tools reducing part production time by 15%.
- Delivered 10% savings in manhours by streamlining material movement between pressing, sintering, and testing operations.
- Ensured 100% availability of critical factory utilities and tools, avoiding downtime, by managing end to end procurement and coordinating with local and international vendors to secure timely, cost effective supply.
- Developed interactive dashboards to track ongoing and completed new projects. Designed visuals to identify metrics and mitigate risks.
- Received Employee of the Quarter award twice in Maruti Suzuki for introduction of Maru AR instructions in drawing for the first time and design and development of a new compact CNG Pressure Regulator.
- Fast track promotion from Assistant Manager to Senior Associate Manager at Maruti Suzuki India Limited within 2 years due to continued impact creation and ability to take up responsibility.
- Received Spot Award at L&T Technology Services for innovation in graphical QC methodology using macros in MS Excel.
- Received distinction award in 3 semesters of mechanical engineering for being among the top 10 percent of the class.
- Ranked AIR 3 in overall combustion event at the national level competition, ENDURO STUDENT INDIA in 2020.
- Finished with AIR 5 at manoeuvrability event at BAJA SAEINDIA 2020
- BTech (Mechanical), PES University
- Minors degree in Computer Science Engineering, PES University
- Ready Engineer Certification, Tata Technologies
- Sustainable Energy – Drivers and Changes, University of Edinburgh through PES University
- Advanced Excel certification, Macquarie University
- Represented PES University at national level events like BAJA SAEINDIA and ENDURO STUDENT INDIA.
- Team lead of Suspension and Steering domain at the automotive club of PES University – Team Haya Off-Roading.
- Core Team member of finance and budgeting at the automotive club of PES University – Team Haya Off-Roading.
- Coordinated department-wide safety initiatives at Maruti Suzuki India Limited, including workplace 5S implementation and testing vehicle safety management, ensuring compliance with safety standards and operational excellence.
- Conducted market research on stainless steel abrasive flap discs, analyzing pricing, user feedback, and competition benchmarking and presented improvement strategies to enhance disc performance based on customer input for Grindwell Norton Ltd as part of summer internship.