Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Activities
Timeline
Generic
ALI KAAFARANI

ALI KAAFARANI

Dearborn Heights

Summary

Dynamic General Manager with extensive experience at Element Materials Technology, driving revenue growth and operational excellence across multiple sites. Proficient in Power BI and hydraulic simulation, I excel in strategic planning and team leadership, enhancing lab efficiency and achieving significant margin contributions. Committed to fostering a culture of safety and continuous improvement.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience

Work History

General Manager II- Trialon Labs

Element Materials Technology
Auburn Hills
03.2024 - 02.2025
  • Division: Connected Technology and Mobility Business Unit
  • Responsible for carrying out the strategic vision and goals for the labs to include business development, revenue growth, margin contribution, capital spending and employee development in the testing, inspection and certification industry (tic).
  • Responsibilities include Implementation of the overall business direction, coordination, and evaluation of the facilities.
  • Includes: interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems, overseeing all safety and quality efforts.
  • Also accountable for the location's safety performance; champions and supports initiatives that drive a culture of safety throughout the locations; ensures compliance with SHE policies and procedures.
  • Responsibilities include: Overseeing several departments across 3 sites such as EMC, Electrical, Environmental, Vibration, Fluids, Battery, ICE and EV propulsion, Fabrication and Materials.
  • Full P&L responsibility of $38M business unit across 3 locations.
  • Operational budgeting, setting up 2 and 5-year revenue budgets, capital expenditure and headcount planning.
  • Reporting bi-weekly financial and operational updates to the SVP and EVP, and quarterly to the CEO and CFO.
  • Worked closely with the commercial director and the marketing team to maintain and develop current and future market growth as well as adding new capabilities to each site based on the industry demand.
  • Worked closely with the finance director to optimize operational spending and eliminate production waste. Always looking to improve EBITDA by increasing revenue and reducing production cost and overhead spending.
  • Managed a large team of 100+ talented colleagues with up to 12 direct reports.
  • SQDC implementation at GM level and departmental level for all 3 sites.
  • Holding Monthly townhall meetings to report out to the broader team on safety, quality, financial and business status as well as HR topics and team members recognitions.
  • Driving operational excellence and improving labs efficiency.
  • Collaborate with multiple function groups throughout the organization to drive business excellence.
  • Lab optimization to increase productivity and drive growth.
  • Full sites responsibility
  • Connected Technology and Mobility Business Unit

General Manager I- EMC and Propulsion (ICE and EV)

Element Materials Technology
Auburn Hill
04.2023 - 03.2024
  • Managed $15M operation across 2 sites and responsible for carrying out strategic vision and goals for the labs to include business development, revenue growth, margin contribution, capital spending and employee development.
  • Responsible for implementing growth opportunities, and evaluation of the facilities.
  • Responsibilities include: interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems, overseeing all safety and quality efforts.
  • Also accountable for the location's safety performance; champions and supports initiatives that drive a culture of safety throughout the entire location; ensures compliance with SHE policies and procedures.
  • Responsibilities include: Overseeing multiple departments include EMC/ Electrical, ICE and EV propulsion.
  • Full P&L responsibility and operational budgeting for the Auburn Hills site, EMC/ Electrical lab in the Burton location.
  • Managed a team of 53 talented colleagues with 5 direct reports.
  • SQDC implementation at GM level and departmental level for Auburn Hills and Burton EMC.
  • Holding monthly townhall meetings.
  • Driving operational excellence and improving labs efficiency.
  • Collaborate with multiple function groups throughout the organization to drive business excellence.
  • Lab optimization to increase productivity and drive growth.
  • Full site responsibility for Auburn Hills and Burton locations.

Simulation Durability Global Team Lead

MGA Research Corporation
06.2020 - 03.2023
  • Leading the Hydraulic Simulation Durability business unit companywide across 6 U.S. locations, Canada and China.
  • Responsible for the long-term and daily operations of the Servo-Hydraulic and Simulation Durability Business Group, including: Project quotations and management, Personnel management, Customer relations, Laboratories supervision and expansion, Quality assurance, Strategic planning, Budgetary projections, Marketing and Business performance, invoicing review, purchasing and business model development.
  • Responsible for growing the business unit and sustaining existing customers by leading teams of engineers (16 simulation engineers), technicians (over 30 technicians) and 8 administrators across MGA facilities in the US and abroad in the Simulation Durability Group.
  • Major responsibilities are: Testing/ Engineering/ Facility Budget Tracking and Management.
  • Provide Engineering Team Leadership through coaching and mentoring to accomplish process documentation and best practice in project management and laying out project guidelines.
  • Marketing various segments of the business unit and winning new programs.
  • Provide technical training on road load simulation and rig durability to new and current test engineers and technicians.
  • Oversee test rigs setups, perform real-time data matching (data Iterations).
  • Collaborate with suppliers and OEMs to enhance testing specifications and methodologies, advance testing durability schedules to meet timing and budget.
  • Writing and overseeing technical reports, incorporating results, conclusions, and test recommendations.
  • Lab expansion by adding and implementing new servo-hydraulic capabilities to grow and enhance the business unit.

EV Vibration Durability Technical Lead/ Hydraulic Simulation Business Unit Manager

MGA Research Corporation
Troy
01.2007 - 03.2023
  • Managing a team of engineers and technicians running vibration durability testing on high voltage battery packs including multi-axis vibration using RPC PRO, environmental conditioning and high voltage cycling.
  • Managing a network of Hydraulic Simulation Groups throughout MGA laboratories in the USA and Canada.
  • Responsible for building test labs from the ground up including site planning and working with contractors and vendors.
  • Responsible for reviewing test plans and quotation, work with multiple teams throughout MGA locations to implement customer's test specifications and figure out required testing equipment and transducers.
  • Working directly with suppliers and OEMs to implement test plans and meet program timing.
  • Manage installation of new equipment and leading the process of getting test equipment online and fully functional prior to start on any program.
  • Strategic business planning for the group and finding ways to expand and add additional testing capabilities to meet industry's ongoing demand.
  • Advanced technical training of the simulation engineers and improvement of test procedures to increase testing efficiency and avoid down time.
  • Collaborating with other groups in the company to share resources and implementing cost reduction tools to increase efficiency and profitability.

Business Development Manager/ Marketing and Sales

MGA Research Corporation
05.2015 - 08.2018
  • Leading FCA business development account and resident engineer at FCA, CTC.
  • Working across all FCA groups and MGA's main point of contact.
  • Handling technical reviews, Project quotations and management, Liaison between FCA and MGA project leads.
  • Suppliers' relations and Networking, Wining new business and expanding MGA services across all FCA.
  • Strategic planning, Budgetary projections, Marketing and Sales.

Testing Engineer/Project Leader-Hydraulic Durability Group

MGA Research Corporation
09.2007 - 04.2015
  • Analyzing raw road data for automotive applications to simulate test conditions and validate the system.
  • Major responsibilities and area of expertise: Performing testing using MTS-323 Multi-Axis Simulation Table (MAST) with environmental conditioning.
  • Performing Multi-Axis real time durability simulation on full vehicle suspension systems, 6 degrees of freedom, frame and chassis components.
  • Performing single and multi-axis poke and stroke block cycle durability.
  • Performing Quasi-Static and ultimate strength and vibration testing on automotive structural mechanical components such as: full exhaust system, Shocks and Coil Springs, seat structure, suspension components.
  • Performing Government safety testing, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) including: FMVSS, CMVSS 223/224 Rear under guard impact testing on trailer application under The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration test procedure.
  • FMVSS 214/216 Side Impact and Roof Crush safety testing under the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety requirements (IIHS 216a).
  • Performing Single Axis High Frequency Vibration testing (Electro Dynamic Shaker) components level.
  • Performing Fatigue and durability testing (Key Life testing) on automotive interior.
  • Performing Buzz, Squeak and Rattle (BSR) testing on Instrument panels, Center console and 1st and 2nd row seats.
  • Performing temperature, fluid pressure cycling (Thermal Shock), and vibration testing on automotive radiators.
  • Point of contact to customer and internal resources on the program.
  • Training and supervising test technicians on every program and providing customer updates.

Technical Support Engineer

STMicroelectronics
Livonia
01.2006 - 08.2007
  • Analyzing circuit schematics, and different types of modules for various automotive applications.
  • Building electrical circuits and conducting different types of laboratory testing on motor controllers, airbag devices, and audio modules for XM- Satellite Radios.
  • Coordinating the supply and support of ST 10 microcontroller to the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
  • Other responsibilities: Single point of contact between STMicroelectronics and the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
  • Sales and forecasting. Client support and documentation.

Education

Bachelor of Science Degree - Electrical Engineering

University of Michigan-Dearborn
Dearborn, MI
08.2007

Associate of Science - Pre-Engineering

Oakland Community College
Farmington Hills, MI
12.2004

Skills

  • Power BI
  • V-Lab
  • Lions LIMs
  • D365 F&O
  • Certify
  • MTS Flextest System
  • RPC PRO software
  • Hydraulic simulation
  • N-Code data
  • Damage editing
  • Vishay data acquisition system
  • PSPICE
  • PSIM
  • Winbread board
  • MATLAB
  • STAM
  • Lab view
  • Oscilloscopes
  • Digital scopes
  • Curve tracers

Accomplishments

  • ST Microelectronics Outstanding Recognition Awards, Winter 2006-2007
  • Dean's List - University of Michigan Dearborn, Winter 2005
  • Oakland Community College Faculty Scholarship, Winter 2004

Activities

  • Member of The Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
  • IEEE Organization
  • SAE International
  • Certified first aid CPR AED by the American Heart Association
  • Community service, volunteering, Golfing, playing soccer, Swimming and Skiing

Timeline

General Manager II- Trialon Labs

Element Materials Technology
03.2024 - 02.2025

General Manager I- EMC and Propulsion (ICE and EV)

Element Materials Technology
04.2023 - 03.2024

Simulation Durability Global Team Lead

MGA Research Corporation
06.2020 - 03.2023

Business Development Manager/ Marketing and Sales

MGA Research Corporation
05.2015 - 08.2018

Testing Engineer/Project Leader-Hydraulic Durability Group

MGA Research Corporation
09.2007 - 04.2015

EV Vibration Durability Technical Lead/ Hydraulic Simulation Business Unit Manager

MGA Research Corporation
01.2007 - 03.2023

Technical Support Engineer

STMicroelectronics
01.2006 - 08.2007

Bachelor of Science Degree - Electrical Engineering

University of Michigan-Dearborn

Associate of Science - Pre-Engineering

Oakland Community College

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ALI KAAFARANI