Meet...Karm Matharu, Senior Consultant
Karm Matharu brings over 20 years of direct manufacturing experience in Maintenance, Toolroom, Quality, Training, Lean, Engineering applications with extensive experience in tier 1 and tier 2 providers.
He holds a Six Sigma Greenbelt and Blackbelt Certification granted by the AlliedSignal/Honeywell organization. In addition, Karm has earned Emerson’s Lean Champion Certification, a Diploma in Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University, and a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Mohawk College.
Karm’s leadership and managerial achievement extends to a wide range of senior operations level positions including Operations Excellence Manager, Lean Manufacturing Manager, and Quality Manager. He was also responsible for managing both Maintenance and Toolroom departments. He has led many Continuous Improvement teams whose focus has ranged from implementing new manufacturing cells, predictive & preventative maintenance projects, quality improvement teams, setup and cycle time reduction projects, and many other Kiazen events.
He recently applied his leadership skills to successfully transform a large company by coaching his employees through the implementation of 5 S + 1, multiple Kanban systems, and Visual Management processes.
His coaching style of leadership resulted in employee teams applying Value Stream Mapping tools that resulted in a 50% reduction in inventory and a 25% increase in stable productivity in 2 ½ years. Karm was responsible for implementing a formal training program that equipped the operations group with skills in Lean Thinking, 5 S, and, a wide variety of technical topics from blueprint reading to greenbelt training.
Karm’s blend of hands-on practical experience and managerial and leadership experience – which focuses on achieving results through people – has equipped staff at all levels and departments while giving him the ability to see and understand the ‘big picture’ to better help his staff and other department achieve success.
Karm’s broad experience extends to tier 1 and tier 2 automotive suppliers and includes the truck and wood industries to give him an excellent basis to effect change in culture, and turn ideas into action. One of his main strengths lies in developing a supported Vision – and the strategies needed – based on Value Stream Mapping and working with teams to meet both personal and team goals and objectives.
This year Karm has been requested by the 2007 Canadian Regional Conference to deliver a full workshop on Standard Work. He is in demand for the effective way in which he interacts and involves manufacturing practitioners.
Contact Karm at kmatharu@hpsinc.ca
