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Curriculum Vitae in latin means “course of life”. True to the meaning of the word, this is not just a high level overview of my background like a resume but am gonna dive deep! *Why I did what I did. If you are strapped for time, please download my resume **here**!*

Education

Rochester, NY

2007-11

GPA - 8.1/10

Vellore, India

2014-16

GPA - 3.8/4

• Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering

  Aug 2007 - Dec 2013

  Honestly, I struggled a bit in college. Mechanical Engineering was challenging. Not so bad that I failed, but I had to work hard. I was an above average student. I throughly enjoyed learning everything but hated the exams. Nevertheless, I would not change my major if I went back in time.

• Masters in Packaging Science

  Jan 2014 - Aug 2016

  Distribution dynamics was my favorite class in school. Who cares what the outside looks like? Does it protect the contents while being being cost effective? Thats a good challenge, finding the sweet spot. That’s engineering!

Why Mechanical & Packaging?

Back home (India, if thats not already obvious) we choose college majors based on the highest likelihood of a well paying job. Mechanical engineering was notorious for having the least paying and grueling jobs out of college. I still chose the field, because I wanted to learn how things worked. May be I am biased, but I strongly believe that a background in mechanical engineering lays a solid foundation for learning everything else. And packaging, well I worked for a bit in IT industry after college while I was trying to figure out what to do next. I am not particularly proud of this period as I still feel it was quiet wasteful but I did not force anything (wu wei baby!).

When i decided I wanted to come to the US for higher studies, mechanical and industrial engineering were my 1st and 2nd choices, then I got in touch with one of my undergrad friends who was in the US at the time, studying packaging at RIT. I spoke to him for a bit on google chat (yes, am not very young). I was intrigued, then I spent the next few weeks learning about the field and I was committed. I thought with a background in Mechanical engineering and Master’s in packaging, I will have a solid background and well set for a job in the future (was not as easy landing my first job with a visa which I learnt about later). I ran with that decision! No regrets.

<aside> 📈 Career Timeline

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Work Experience

Zimmer Biomet

Engineering Manager Jan 2024 - Present

Principle Packaging Engineer (CPI/PME Team lead) June 2022 - Jan 2024

Senior Packaging Engineer II Dec 2019- Jun 2022

Senior Packaging Engineer I Oct 2017 - Dec 2019

Packaging Engineer I Sep 2016 - Oct 2017

What I do at ZimmerBiomet

I started my professional career in the US as a full time engineer at Zimmer Biomet (ZB). I am not one to get super excited about life events but I vividly remember the day I got the call offering me a job at ZB. I initially did not understand the challenges of landing a job as someone here on a visa, but within a couple of months after well over a hundred rejections it became quiet apparent. I am and will forever be grateful for the team that hired me here. I started as an entry level engineer and as evident by my career progression within the company, I believe I have done a decent job. I was promoted 4 times in a little over 7 years and now manage a team of excellent engineers.

I manage a team of 6 full time engineers and 6 contractors of varying levels of experience. Below are all of the aspects of packaging I work on and manage at Zimmer Biomet.

• Packaging Operations (production support): Everything packaging related as part of End-of-Line (EOL) manufacturing. From being the process owner for packaging SOPs to addressing concerns of packaging operators on a day to day basis for continuous improvements. The time between 2020 and 2022 was especially challenging due to the supply chain constraints which was only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We worked on addressing multiple material shortages by quickly finding alternate vendors and qualifying them and the new material for use. Not to mention the regulatory challenges as we are talking about medical device packaging that directly contacts implant. We learnt a lot!
• Manufacturing Network Optimization: My team works with the MNO group who are responsible for setting up internal and external manufacturing plants for multi-sourcing the same SKUs as a business continuity and cost savings measure. This has been a huge success for the company as the team consistently delivers millions of dollars of cost savings on an annual basis. We handle the packaging aspects of all these “transfer” projects. We work with manufacturers located in countries all over the world, China, Ireland, Germany, France, UK, Mexico to name a few.
• Post Market Engineering: My team along with the broader packaging development group, regularly get feedback from end users (also marketing and sales teams in the field) on the packaging design which are addressed as part of continuous improvement projects. In addition, we also manage the complaint handling for packaging design specific complaints which are trended on a monthly basis for anomalies.
• CAPAs & Issue Evaluations (IE): We own and support Corrective Action Preventive Action concerning packaging design and development. These can be a result of internal or external audit findings or as part of customer feedback/complaints mentioned above. The team successfully complete 8 IEs and 2 CAPAs in 2023 alone.
• Sourcing/Supplier Quality: Responsible for coordinating with the sourcing team on identifying new packaging material vendors that meet the internal standards. We also work with supplier quality engineering group on audits, supplier change notices and corrective actions.
• EU-MDR (European Union - Medical Device Regulations): The EU-MDR regulations have significantly impacted the packaging and labeling of medical devices. These regulations mandate enhanced traceability features and increased transparency of information to the end-user. As a result, we had to redesign our packaging and labeling to include Unique Device Identifiers (UDIs) and ensure our product labels are compliant with these new rules. This involved collaborations with the regulatory, quality, and manufacturing teams to align all the necessary changes and ensure a smooth transition without disrupting the supply chain.

RIT Packaging Dynamics Lab

Packaging Dynamics Lab Technician Feb 2014 - June 2016

My Time at the Packaging test lab @RIT

Choosing the packaging industry was a decision that truly resonated with me during my time at the RIT Packaging Dynamics Lab. I extend my deepest gratitude to Mr. Tom Kausch for offering me the opportunity to work at the lab during my time at RIT.

As an international student with an F1 Visa, I was technically limited to 20 hours of paid work each week. However, I found the lab so interesting, leading me to spend virtually every possible moment there. My routine started in the lab each morning, was punctuated by classes, and concluded again at the lab in the evenings. The lab wasn't just a workplace; it was a second home where I thrived among the test equipment and engaged in running distribution tests for a diverse array of companies nationwide.

The interactions with visiting engineers were particularly enlightening, offering me a window into the vast career opportunities within the industry. These conversations, coupled with hands-on experience, significantly broadened my understanding and fueled my passion for the field.

Reflecting on my time at the lab, it was more than just an employment opportunity during college; it was a cornerstone experience that affirmed my career choice and profoundly shaped my professional ethos in the packaging industry.

CooperVision

Packaging Engineer Co-op Jun 2015 - May 2016

What I did at CooperVision

I purchased my first car, a 2006 Honda Civic, right after I joined this co-op at CooperVision for $4k. The decision was based on the need for commuting, as the company was a 30-minute drive from the campus, not because I was earning a hefty salary. The car still runs like a dream! Returning to the main topic, at CooperVision, I was part of the packaging and labelling team. My role involved a lot of travel between the corporate office and the distribution center. I was given the opportunity to carry out material testing, coordinate distribution studies, and assist the warehouse manager with automation lines and logistics. Since I worked on multiple long term projects, the management let me return to CooperVision part-time for a second term to continue working on them!

Caterpillar

Mechanical Engineering Intern Jan 2011 - May 2011

WABCO-TVS

Mechanical Engineering Intern Nov 2009 - Dec 2009

Internships as a Mechanical Engineer

As a mechanical engineering student, I interned at two of the largest manufacturing companies near my hometown.

At Caterpillar, I spent two months shadowing the plant manager and learning about OSHA regulations. I grasped the importance of maintaining a safe workplace and the potential hazards machine operators could face daily. This experience was eye-opening. It allowed me to understand the practical realities of heavy equipment use, something that studying theory or campus work could never fully convey.

At WABCO-TVS, a collaboration between WABCO Germany and TVS Motors India focusing on commercial vehicle brake systems, I dedicated five months to enhancing lathe coolant system efficiency. My role involved integrating an advanced in-tool coolant dispensing system, aligned with 3R sustainability principles (reduce, reuse, recycle), to optimize the manufacturing process and minimize environmental impact. This initiative not only improved operational efficiency but also contributed to the company's commitment to sustainable manufacturing practices.