Michael (Suk Whan) Ko
Senior Development Director
Canton,GA
Summary
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- Senior Product Development & Manufacturing Technology Leader with 26+ years of experience in engineered stone and quartz surface industries.
- Proven expertise in leading end-to-end product innovation, scaling global manufacturing operations, and driving significant improvements in cost, quality, and efficiency.
- Six Sigma Black Belt certified with strong background in formulation science, process engineering, and global OEM strategy.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Language
Work History
Viatera Development Director
LX Hausys America Inc.
04.2016 - Current
- Lead end-to-end product development strategy for Viatera quartz surfaces, driving innovation across formulations, design patterns, and manufacturing technologies
- Led development of the Viatera portfolio, delivering 70+ product launches and multiple high-revenue product lines
- Developed multiple high-performing product lines generating $5M+ annual revenue, including:
- ~ Musica Collection (~$20M/year), Long Vein (~$7M/year), Calacatta Collection (~$20M/year), and Big Vein series (~$12M/year), with continued growth in SOLEA / OCEAN RIDGE (launched 2026, ongoing)
- Increased manufacturing yield from 80% to 93%, significantly improving operational efficiency
- Reduced critical defect rates (pinhole) from 30% to
- Led global OEM sourcing and development strategy across Europe and Asia (Turkey, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Vietnam, India, China)
- Established and enforced global quality standards and evaluation systems across international suppliers
- Built and led high-performing R&D and technical teams across the U.S. and Canada
- Drove technical communication, training, and capability development for global partners
Technical Manager
LX Hausys America Inc.
11.2010 - 03.2016
- Led new product development and commercialization for Viatera brand
- Delivered measurable improvements in yield, defect reduction, and process efficiency
- Executed raw material substitution strategies, reducing production costs while maintaining quality.
- Developed and optimized formulations to enhance product performance and manufacturability
Development Manager
HanStone, Canada (Current Hyundai L&C)
01.2009 - 12.2009
- - Played a key role in greenfield plant startup, including raw material sourcing and process establishment
- - Led early-stage product development and commercialization
- - Trained engineers and operators, building foundational technical capabilities
- - Improved production yield and reduced defects through process optimization
Development & Production Manager
Hanwha L&C, Korea (Current Hyundai L&C)
01.2004 - 08.2008
- Led product development and manufacturing operations for quartz surface materials
- Supported HanStone investment project and production scale-up
- Improved process efficiency, yield, and product quality through engineering innovation
Development & Production Engineer
Daelim Miraton, Korea
03.2000 - 01.2004
- Supported plant operations and product development initiatives
- Focused on formulation development, defect reduction, and process optimization
- Contributed to workforce training and production system improvements
Education
B.S. - Industrial Chemistry
Konkuk University
South KoreaSkills
Engineered Stone Technology Management
Technical Product Management
Technical Project Leadership
Six Sigma Black Belt
Accomplishments
- - Drove 16 years of product development in the U.S., generating approximately $1.3B in cumulative revenue
- - Launched 70+ products including multiple $5M+ annual revenue lines
- - Increased manufacturing yield from 80% to 93%
- - Reduced pinhole defects from 30% to
- - Achieved ~$700K annual cost savings through process and material optimization
- - Provided technical support and evaluation for global OEM sourcing activities across Europe and Asia
Timeline
Viatera Development Director
LX Hausys America Inc.
04.2016 - Current
Technical Manager
LX Hausys America Inc.
11.2010 - 03.2016
Development Manager
HanStone, Canada (Current Hyundai L&C)
01.2009 - 12.2009
Development & Production Manager
Hanwha L&C, Korea (Current Hyundai L&C)
01.2004 - 08.2008
Development & Production Engineer
Daelim Miraton, Korea
03.2000 - 01.2004
B.S. - Industrial Chemistry
Konkuk University
Languages
English
Professional Working
CORE LEADERSHIP EXPERTISE
- - Product Development & Commercialization / Manufacturing Process Optimization
- - Cost Reduction & Yield Improvement / Global OEM Strategy & Supplier Development
- - Plant Startup & Technology Transfer / Formulation Science (Quartz Surfaces)
- - Quality Systems & Standardization / Cross-functional & Global Team Leadership
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP IMPACT
- - Led multi-country OEM development and sourcing strategy across Europe and Asia
- - Successfully supported new plant setup and ramp-up in North America and Korea
- - Established standardized quality systems across global suppliers
- - Delivered new product launches at scale, aligning R&D with commercial success
CORE LEADERSHIP EXPERTISE
- - Product Development & Commercialization / Manufacturing Process Optimization
- - Cost Reduction & Yield Improvement / Global OEM Strategy & Supplier Development
- - Plant Startup & Technology Transfer / Formulation Science (Quartz Surfaces)
- - Quality Systems & Standardization / Cross-functional & Global Team Leadership