NU
Project Lead · Continuous Improvement Coach
Lean Facilitator & Technical Trainer
Manufacturing Process Improvements across Semiconductor & Biomedical Technologies
Transforming complex manufacturing challenges into measurable shop-floor impact and business excellence through Lean thinking, process optimization, and data-driven execution — backed by a proven track record of leading and coaching improvement projects that have delivered over US$6M in savings.
Driving manufacturing excellence — measured in real results.
I help manufacturing teams improve performance and build data-driven problem-solving capability, turning daily execution into sustainable, measurable results.
Strengthen process flow by identifying non-value-added activities and bottlenecks to drive measurable, sustainable shop-floor improvements.
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Coach teams to structure technical issues into clear A3 and Kaizen improvement projects, developing problem-solving capability and sustainable results.
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Align goals, daily management, and performance metrics so strategy becomes clear action and measurable results at every level.
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I'm a Mechanical and Electro-Mechanical Engineer who turns complex process challenges into measurable business results. My background combines hands-on manufacturing, applied research, and continuous improvement — connecting engineering fundamentals with real shop-floor impact.
As a Continuous Improvement Engineer at SHL Medical, I lead and coach Lean, A3, Kaizen, 6S, SMED, and Six Sigma DMAIC initiatives across manufacturing, automation, and tooling processes, supporting teams across Taiwan, the U.S., and Switzerland. My work focuses on improving OEE, reducing waste, identifying and addressing process bottlenecks, and optimizing process flow through Gemba walks, cross-functional collaboration, process mapping, root cause analysis, visual management, and standardization to deliver sustainable, data-driven improvements.
Beyond project execution, I focus on developing people and strengthening continuous improvement culture by coaching teams to identify improvement opportunities, solve problems systematically, and sustain results.
Before entering industry, I built a strong applied research foundation during my master's degree at Tamkang University, focusing on semiconductor and MEMS technology, microfluidics, polymer materials, and 3D printing. That work contributed to a Taiwan patent, 7+ journal and conference publications, and recognition for technical presentation.
My strength lies in connecting engineering fundamentals with practical shop-floor improvement. I translate complex technical topics into structured improvement projects, clear presentations, and practical action plans that managers, engineers, and shop-floor teams can understand and execute. Whether I'm improving equipment performance, optimizing flow, coaching A3 problem-solving, or exploring AI-driven quality applications, my goal is the same: to advance modern manufacturing through Lean thinking, operational excellence, a culture of continuous improvement, and innovation.
A track record built on measurable results, recognized work, and international engineering experience.
Non-confidential project highlights showing practical problem-solving, Lean execution, and measurable impact. All content is the intellectual property of Neethish Kumar Unnam; unauthorized reproduction or redistribution is prohibited.
Award-winning A3 project recognized 1st Place in the 2026 Q1 A3 Closing Review. Improved downtime, maintenance efficiency, and product quality through stable calibration.
Simplified SARA and Madie printing operations, reducing manpower and machine requirements while improving cycle time.
Improved plunger rod productivity through free-fall optimization and reduced Smartline alarms through EPE tape optimization.
Led and coached award-winning DL Kaizen teams to reduce operator pain points, improve workflow simplicity, and strengthen machine and quality performance.
Led and coached award-winning U.S. DL Kaizen teams focused on QC and Bay Area improvements, reducing operator pain points and strengthening shop-floor problem solving.
Reduced scrap rate by 16.5% and avoided 907 tons of carbon emissions, while co-leading a Green Belt project to improve Repatha FAAM St.18 downtime.
Visual proof of non-confidential process improvements and before–after transformations — ranging from technical implementations in Taiwan manufacturing operations to process and layout improvement support for the U.S. new site.
Before & AfterReduced cycle time by 18%, lowered process and maintenance costs, and delivered total savings of US$330K.
Before & After
SavingsRepair frequency 275 → 166 (↓40%) and repair time 16,493 → 8,245 mins (↓50%) — US$392,888 saved.
Before
AfterOptimized inbound/outbound pallet flow and FIFO sorting lanes, delivering an estimated ≈1,150 hours of total lead time reduction for every 100 batches shipped.
Injection molding · root cause analysis on the shut-off face between slider insert and core pin
Root cause
Results & Award
1st Place
Before
AfterReduced walking distance by ≈80% and cut sample-handling time by ≈78% — from 90s to 20s — through FIFO racks.
Before & AfterOptimized EPE tape layout to cut recurring machine alarms — 266 mins/day saved, US$114K overall.
Results
Celebration+305% growth in improvement idea submissions across nine departments.
Part of my work is translating technical detail — equipment layouts, machine behaviour, root causes — into visuals an operator and a director can both read in seconds. Two examples from recent manufacturing projects.
These snapshots represent selected non-confidential improvements suitable for public presentation. Additional projects, detailed results, and implementation records are excluded to protect confidential business and production information.
Recognition for continuous improvement leadership, project coaching, technical innovation, and academic excellence — including Best Facilitator & Best Project Lead recognition for leading cross-functional CI initiatives and driving structured manufacturing improvement executions.
Award-winning structured problem-solving projects from 2023 onward, focused on root cause analysis and measurable manufacturing process improvement.
Coached and supported direct-labor Kaizen teams to deliver practical shopfloor improvements and competition-winning project outcomes.
Strengthened Manufacturing CI engagement through structured submission tracking, department performance reviews, and follow-up routines.
Microfluidic PDMS Face Mask — granted patent recognizing innovation in microfluidic device design and biomedical engineering application.
ISME — International Society of Mechatronic Engineering (台灣機電工程國際學會2022年第七屆全國學術研討會).
Graduate scholarship recipient in Taiwan, awarded for academic performance during graduate studies.
Feedback from directors, managers, and supervisors across manufacturing, molding, printing, and EHS — collected through SHL Medical’s internal review process. Shop-floor testimonial videos available on request.
Benson Chang
Director
Manufacturing Function Feedback received 2026He takes on more than his role requires. When a project needs direction, he steps in, leads it, and sees it through.
He puts real time into training and coaching teams on Lean and CI. The structured reviews he facilitates help managers make faster and better-aligned decisions.
His monthly and quarterly performance reviews provide clear insight into MF function performance, helping managers align priorities, identify improvement opportunities, and strengthen execution across departments.
Ricky Ho
Manufacturing Supervisor
Validation was where we kept losing time. He worked closely with PD to review the schedule, follow up on progress, and reduce validation lead time.
He led the SARA improvement project, coached several A3 and Kaizen projects, and worked with Finance to validate the numbers. That groundwork supported over US$450K in Printing savings.
Alvin Chang
Assistant Manager
What I value is that he does not just hand over a dataset. He explains what it means for Molding and helps us understand what actions to take next.
He coached Cross Mold Utilization, supported the flash issue on plastic components, and contributed to other problem-solving projects through structured analysis and follow-up, helping deliver over US$550K in savings.
Ching Lo
Manager
He asks a lot of questions before proposing anything, which I have come to appreciate. He reads the OEE data properly and shares what he finds with the team.
He acted as a bridge between production and maintenance, working closely with MFMT to bring FAAM downtime down — roughly US$390K+ saved — and coached the team through DL Kaizen, where we took 1st place twice.
Farris Kuo
EHS Supervisor
In the earlier days, there was not much engagement between CI and EHS. That changed after Neethish stepped in, and the collaboration is now part of how we run our ESG initiatives.
Our Scrap Reduction A3 won an Excellence Award and delivered over US$55,000 in savings.
Academic“… retaining his class rank in the top No.1 percentile throughout his master’s program. He can also be able to lead the project alone or with the team.”
Industry“… 展現了他對於本身論文的專業性與研究技能，甚至在我司 UV 雷射加工上展現高效學習能力。”
Industry“Because of his marvellous confidence and communication skills, he knows and understands what he needs to do when collaborating with companies.”
Industry“His ability to learn and grasp new things in a short amount of time has astonished me … he remained in the top 1% in his entire department.”
Written during my master’s degree at Tamkang University and by industry partners I collaborated with. Personal contact details have been redacted.
A practical skill set across Lean execution, manufacturing operations, semiconductor/MEMS foundations, applied research, digital tools, and people development.
Structured problem-solving methods used to identify waste, improve process flow, and build sustainable CI culture.
Project execution and business-impact skills used to improve KPIs, reduce losses, and support operational excellence initiatives.
People-focused capabilities used to facilitate workshops, coach teams, and strengthen continuous improvement culture.
Shop-floor and manufacturing process knowledge applied to improve productivity, stability, quality, and process efficiency.
Applied research and process knowledge developed through master’s-level research in MEMS, microfluidics, and semiconductor-related processes.
Digital and analytical tools used for reporting, data analysis, documentation, automation, and visual communication.
Through my experience as a project coach, facilitator, trainer, and project lead, I coach teams to look beyond surface-level problems by applying Lean tools to identify root causes, structure the project story, and connect improvement actions to measurable business impact.
In 2026, I led the CI engagement and deployment initiative across a Manufacturing Function spanning nine departments and approximately 2,000 employees, driving +305% CI engagement growth through leadership alignment, Lean Champion involvement, stakeholder follow-up, and shop-floor participation.
Top-Down Alignment
Aligning CI priorities with directors and managers to ensure strategic direction and resource support.
Bottom-Up Engagement
Engaging Lean Champions, key stakeholders, and shop-floor teams to generate ownership and sustainable results.
People Development
Building problem-solving capability, confidence, and improvement mindset across all levels.
Microfabrication research with semiconductor-level techniques for next-generation functional devices.
Developed a cost-effective PDMS microchannel platform using semiconductor fabrication techniques — UV Pico laser micromachining, anodic bonding and Parylene C thin-film deposition (CVD) — as an alternative to conventional SU-8 lithography, enabling scalable, reusable, high-precision microfluidic devices for particle separation and filtration.
Bridging MEMS, microfluidics, and semiconductor processes to develop scalable functional devices.
Peer-reviewed work in MEMS, microfluidics, and aerodynamics — plus a granted Taiwan patent.
+ ISME Best Technical Paper and more · Full list on ResearchGate →
Veltech University, Chennai · First Class Distinction · National Mahatma Gandhi Merit Scholarship.
Joined Tamkang University as an exchange student, marking the beginning of my academic and professional journey in Taiwan.
Tamkang University, Taipei · 92.86%, Top 3 in the department · Taiwan MOE Scholarship.
Worked under the auspices of Tamkang University and MOST-TW 科技部-台灣, focusing on Semiconductor-MEMS technology, microfluidics, polymer materials, and applied engineering research.
Taiwan Patent I739591 plus peer-reviewed work in Semiconductor-MEMS, microfluidics, materials, and engineering research.
Continuous Improvement Engineer — driving Lean, SMED, OEE, A3, Six Sigma-DMAIC and Kaizen initiatives across manufacturing.
Certified by MU Sigma Group at SHL Medical, Taiwan.
US$6M+ in documented savings, multiple 1st-place A3 & Kaizen wins, and Best Coach recognition.
已取得台灣外僑永久居留證（APRC），可在台長期居留並自由工作，無需另行申請工作許可或雇主聘僱許可。
Creative and technical interests that shape how I learn, communicate, and see the world — blending AI exploration, visual storytelling, photography, video creation, research-driven learning, books, and continuous self-development.
Exploring AI tools across semiconductor and biomedical applications.
Helping people present their strengths with clarity and confidence.
Creating polished visual stories through editing and motion.
Capturing details and moments through thoughtful composition.
Exploring landscapes and perspectives through aerial visuals.
Reading papers and books to keep learning grounded in evidence.
Open to opportunities in continuous improvement, technical training, operational excellence, manufacturing engineering, and R&D across semiconductor, biomedical, automation, and precision manufacturing environments.