Athithyan S. Krishnasamy
Woodstock,Canada
Summary
Results-driven Industrial Engineer with 3+ years of experience leading high-volume warehouse operations, workforce planning, and material flow optimization. Proven track record of applying Lean methodologies, data analytics, and continuous improvement tools (PDCA, Kaizen) to boost productivity, reduce costs, and enhance safety. Skilled in SAP, AutoCAD, Power BI, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver operational excellence and scalable process improvements.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Operations Supervisor
General Motors of Canada
Woodstock, Canada
05.2023 - Current
- Led daily operations of a unionized workforce of 60+ employees, ensuring productivity, safety compliance, and alignment with corporate objectives..
- Coordinated with HR and operations teams to dynamically adjust staffing based on real-time conditions, reducing overstaffing and understaffing risks.
- Conducted weekly quality and process audits using PDCA, contributing to the warehouse earning a top quality ranking across North America.
- Led a cross-functional project to optimize warehouse layout and material flow, overcoming bottlenecks and inefficient routes, which increased parts picking productivity from 45 to 63 LPH — a gain of over 40% that directly improved order fulfillment speed and reduced picker fatigue.
- I led my team to consistently achieve cost-saving targets for 6 consecutive months, navigating complex trade challenges and supply chain disruptions, demonstrating resilience and effective resource management under pressure.
- Drove continuous improvement initiatives, leveraging Lean and Kaizen events, to reduce errors and improve throughput.
- Collaborated cross-functionally with IT and Quality teams to enhance warehouse automation tools, including implementing vibration feedback for scanner devices used by deaf employees, improving accessibility, and accuracy.
- Monitored daily business plan metrics and implemented corrective actions to improve safety, quality, process efficiency, and cost control.
Indirect Material Purchaser – MRO
General Motors of Canada
Woodstock, Canada
02.2022 - 04.2023
- Designed and implemented an Excel-based inventory control system, increasing material visibility and order accuracy.
- Streamlined PO approval process, reducing turnaround time from 2 days to 1 day.
- Negotiated vendor contracts and optimized sourcing strategies, achieving over $15,000 in quarterly cost savings.
- Managed purchase orders using SAP MM and Ariba, onboarding new suppliers to the SRM portal.
- Conducted root cause analysis on supply disruptions and implemented contingency plans to mitigate risk.
- Developed EOQ and forecasting models; collaborated with procurement teams in the US, Mexico, and India to align inventory strategy.
Supply Chain Team Lead
KCT Garage
Coimbatore, India
02.2017 - 06.2019
- Led a 25-member team managing automotive parts logistics, procurement, and warehouse optimization.
- Implemented Lean methodologies including VSM, FMEA, and PDCA cycles, reducing operational waste and cutting order wait times by 15%.
- Negotiated vendor contracts, saving $45,000 USD through strategic sourcing and parting-out operations.
- Coordinated import/export compliance and production scheduling across multi-functional teams.
Education
Master of Engineering - Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, Lean Systems, Project Management
University of Windsor
Windsor, ON, Canada01.2021
Bachelor of Engineering - Automotive Engineering
Kumaraguru College of Technology
Coimbatore, India01.2019
Skills
- SAP (MM and Ariba)
- Maximo
- Power BI
- Microsoft Office Suite
- AutoCAD
- Minitab
- Tableau
- Lucid charts
Certification
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
- Pursuing Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
Timeline
Operations Supervisor
General Motors of Canada
05.2023 - Current
Indirect Material Purchaser – MRO
General Motors of Canada
02.2022 - 04.2023
Supply Chain Team Lead
KCT Garage
02.2017 - 06.2019
Master of Engineering - Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, Lean Systems, Project Management
University of Windsor
Bachelor of Engineering - Automotive Engineering
Kumaraguru College of Technology