Vikas Patel
Oak Forest,USA
Summary
Mechanical Engineering graduate and ASQ Certified Quality Engineer with over 8 years of diverse industrial experience, specializing in quality functions, continuous improvement initiatives, and project management. Currently leading quality management efforts at PTC Alliance in Chicago Heights, IL, with previous roles including Quality Engineer at Welded Tube of Canada and CNC CAD Programmer/Quality Controller at High Strength Plates and Profiles Inc. Proven expertise in process control, customer complaint resolution, internal auditing, and the implementation of quality systems to ensure compliance with industry standards. A strong commitment to driving operational excellence and fostering a culture of quality makes a valuable asset to any organization.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Quality Manager
PTC Alliance
Chicago Heights, IL, USA
09.2025 - Current
- Manufacturing of steel ERW/HSR DOM tubing for automotive, heavy industrial vehicles and appliance industries
- Overseeing quality department and mechanical lab testing activities
- Responsible for QMS, APQP, PPAP, Audits and LPAs
- Responsible for plant quality systems improvement and management
- Conducting management reviews and reporting weekly and monthly trends to Top Executive Management
- Driving shop floor changes with process strengthening and implementing visual management systems
- Worked on complex problem solving projects using DMAIC, 8D and PDCA methodologies
Quality Engineer
Welded Tube of Canada
Welland, ON, Canada
02.2022 - 08.2025
- Processing of OCTG products which includes heat treatment, non-destructive examination, threading and surface treatment for Oil and Gas Industry
- Monitoring and controlling production activities to maintain QMS
- Initiating, leading and managing continuous improvement projects as a Project Leader like improving heat treatment cycle time, reducing rejections, improving productivity, etc
- Rolled out Layered Process Audit program and successfully leading and improving LPA and Internal Auditing programs
- Facilitating Corrective and Preventive action meetings
- Guiding, training and helping Department Managers in Root cause analysis and Action plan implementation and validation
- Assisting in facility's Risk Management process and identifying new risks and improving risk ratings
- Working with other departments for continuous improvement projects
- Reviewing production KPIs and creating trends to present to Senior Management team
- Collecting and analyzing data to find opportunities for improvements using MiniTab
- Overseeing and managing quality, calibration and metallurgical lab testing functions
CNC CAD Programmer/Quality Controller
High Strength Profiles & Plates Inc.
Greater Sudbury, ON, Canada
06.2020 - 02.2022
- Steel processing plant with 100+ customers ranging from construction, manufacturing, mining, forestry with three operating sites in Sudbury, Thorold and Mississauga
- Production planning as per sales work order to ensure smooth operation of plant machinery and manpower, Leading hand in CAD department in Sudbury plant
- Train new employees for company's process and daily activities
- Understanding customer PO, Sales work orders, and engineering and construction drawings supplied from customers to determine customer requirements
- Selection of best process to complete assigned WO in timely manner and achieve sales targets, working in fast paced environment which demands technical skills and efficient communication skills
- Creating AutoCAD files from customer drawings and templates and nesting it into nesting software to minimize material utilization and minimize machine setup time
- Measuring and inspecting machined and fabricated parts to ensure 100% Quality of product supplied
- Creating QC documents and recording inspection data for future references and audits
- Development and implementation of Quality Assurance plan to achieve targeted KPIs
- ISO 9001 Internal Process Auditing and preparing NCR and CAPA
- Blueprint reading and GD&T
- Inspecting workplace for health and safety, reporting to management for safety related issues, JHSC monthly meeting, accident analysis and identifying potential hazard
Quality Engineer
POSCO Steel
Gujarat, India
06.2017 - 12.2018
- Handled 100+ customers including Automotive OEMs & Tier 1 Suppliers and different industries like construction, manufacturing, processing, metal stampings and fabrication
- Handled 1 certification and 1 compliance audit for IATF 16949
- Conducted 3 Internal Audits for IATF 16949 & ISO 9001
- Lowered customer rejections and return by 10.25% in 2018
- Reduced consumables cost by 2% using recycling ideas
- Managed team of 3 Company employees and 50-55 Contract employees including two shift operations
- Conducted organizational process and quality improvements projects and trained company and contract employees in each month end for NCRs and Action plans to create awareness of process mapping of our products and processes
- Responsible for overall quality control from incoming material to customer end
- Management representative for ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 certification and played major role in implementation and maintain Quality Management System in organization
- Prepared Internal audit schedule, conducted gap analysis, departmental check sheets and performed Internal audits of various departmental processes and filling out various process gaps against standard
- Member of cross functional team to control and maintain overall plant operations and achieve company targets
- Risk management of various organizational processes and Contingency plan preparation and its audits
- Process and Product audit and Non conformance closure
- Customer complaint handling, Root cause analysis, CAPA and 8D closure, FMEA and Control plan revision
- Handled various Customer meetings(Quality Review Meetings), Management Review Meetings, Prepared Action plans of discussed points and its implementation
- Monitoring and recording monthly reports and data for Internal PPM, Customer PPM, Supplier PPM, %Scrap, Rework, COPQ, Productivity, OEE
- New Customer Product development, APQP and PPAP preparation, Process Flow and Plant layout
- Regularly providing training of new product developments and customer requirements to team members
- Processing of Cold Rolled, Hot Rolled, Galvanized Iron, POSMAC and Aluminized Zinc coated steel to Automotive and Non-automotive manufacturers
Quality Assurance Associate
Tenneco Automotive
Gujarat, India
06.2015 - 06.2017
- Manufacturing exhaust and suspension systems for automobile OEMs including Ford Motors, GM, TATA Motors, Volkswagen and MG Motors.
- New Product development, APQP and Product trial run for Ford Motors EU model: Ford Figo and Ford Aspire
- 5 times KAIZEN competition winner & TEN10 Excellence award winner
- Achieved Customer PPM < 0.5 through process control and improvements
- Cost reduction of approx. 5,50,000 INR annually by Supplier Quality Control and New Supplier developments
- Internal process scrap reduced by 1.25% in 2016
- Improved manufacturing processes and cost, scrap rate, quality improvement, and efficiency by planning workflow, space requirements, and equipment layout
- Implemented Lean Manufacturing(Waste reduction, 5S) and Continuous Improvement activities and focus on quality standard (ISO/TS 16949) and Company KPI's
- Carry out inspection of supplier or manufactured parts using CMM machine, evaluating reports and created programs using PC-DMIS software
- Data information such as product details, vendors list, and material specifications has been stored and analyzed by using advanced Excel, SAP
- Prepare and maintain critical spare parts list and ensure availability
- Do Setup changeover as and when required during operations
- Improved safety, quality, efficiency, and product design issues as well as reducing scrap and rework and performed Continuous improvements tasks
- Reviewed Supplier progress to assure adherence to schedules and timelines, modified or changed methodology as necessary to attain objectives within time and cost limit
- Calculating Customer PPM, Supplier PPM, Internal PPM, FTT, MSA, OEE,MTBF,MTTR, Process Capability (Cp & Cpk)
- Preparing weld penetration reports by using destructive testing method using molding, polishing, etching, etc.
- Maintain gauges, instruments and equipment's calibration and its record
- Implementation of 5S, POKAYOKE, Kaizen and responsibility to prepare operator for following SOP and WI at respective machines
- Developed and reviewed Control Plan, PFMEA, SOP and Work Instructions
- Customer complaint resolution 8D submission, CAPA and root cause analysis, 7 QC tools
Education
Industrial Mechanical Millwright Technician - Diploma trade certificate
Cambrian College
Greater Sudbury, ON04-2020
Mechanical Engineering - Bachelors Degree
Gujarat Technological University
Ahmedabad, India06-2015
Skills
- Statistical Process Control
- Technical support
- CMM inspections
- Project Management
- Compliance audits
- Change Management
- IATF Core tools
- Supplier management
- Risk Management
- CNC Programming
- SAP, Oracle, AS400 ERP Systems
- Corporate Quality Management Systems
- ISO 9001 auditing
- API 5CT, API 5C3, API Q1, ASTM A370, ASTM E18, ASTM E10, ASTM A513
Certification
- ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, 2022-08-01
- PMP, 2025-02-01, Project Management Institute
- First Aid, 2021-04-01, Worksite Safety
- SPC, MSA, APQP, PPAP, 2018-06-01, Training and certification provided by Q1 Services-ISO Consultant in Pune, India
- ISO 9001 & IATF 16949 Internal Auditor (Certified), 2018-06-01, Lead Internal auditor for IATF in POSCO
- AutoCAD, 2018-03-01, AutoCAD 2D/3D
- Certified Joint Health and Safety Committee Member, 2021-05-01, Certified Worker member elected by Employees at High Strength Profiles & Plates Inc.
- WHMIS Certification
Languages
Hindi
English
Gujarati
Timeline
Quality Manager
PTC Alliance
09.2025 - Current
Quality Engineer
Welded Tube of Canada
02.2022 - 08.2025
CNC CAD Programmer/Quality Controller
High Strength Profiles & Plates Inc.
06.2020 - 02.2022
Quality Engineer
POSCO Steel
06.2017 - 12.2018
Quality Assurance Associate
Tenneco Automotive
06.2015 - 06.2017
Industrial Mechanical Millwright Technician - Diploma trade certificate
Cambrian College
Mechanical Engineering - Bachelors Degree
Gujarat Technological University
Personal Information
- Willing To Relocate: Anywhere
- Visa Status: Authorized to work in the US for any employer
Groups
- Project Management Institute, 2025-02-01 to Present
- American Society for Quality, 2022-03-01 to Present
Awards
- Quick Six Sigma, 2018-01-01, POSCO India, For project on Cost reduction by Recycling and Reusing packaging material
- KAIZEN Certificate, 2017-02-01, Tenneco Automotive, Received multiple certificate for Process & Quality Improvements
- TEN10 Excellence Award, 2016-10-01, Tenneco Automotive, For following company's values