Aja***dha

Innovation Management, Team Leadership, Strategic Planning, Budgeting

Director - Materials Innovation at REI

• Location: Seattle, Washington, United States
• Duration: 2023-09 to Present
• Description:

Director- Materials Innovation & Sustainability at Coach

• Location: New York City Metropolitan Area
• Duration: 2022-10 to 2023-09
• Description:

Materials Science Innovation at Nike

• Location: Portland, Oregon Area
• Duration: 2016-12 to 2022-10
• Description: Textile Materials development by continuous research and analysis of new materials, process and technologies. Collaborate with key supply partners to develop and create new material concepts that bring suppliers together for cross-organizational and cross-industry innovation regarding footwear or apparel applications. Partner with Design, Product creation & Categories team - Multi-Channel environment, able to manage multiple projects simultaneously across seasonal launches, meeting calendar deadlines. Materials Roadmap and Strategy - Define and execute short- & long-term materials strategy in conjunction with senior leadership in stage gates approach . - Materials readiness assessment prior to commercial(Buy ready) launch wrt supply, costing, performance and color approvals. Partner with Asia based Nike Liaison offices and global vendor base for factory visit and audits Partner with legal experts /Patents office to help develop materials development agreements, exclusivity and filing IP

Principal Research Engineer-Textiles at Edwards Lifesciences

• Location:
• Duration: 2014-01 to 2017-01
• Description: Research and develop technical solutions for Heart Valve and Delivery System, working independently based on product design and marketing needs. Direct suppliers regarding textile materials, manufacturing processes, and design. Contributed to technical development of new woven, knitted, and braided fabric, as well as medical devices for Transcatheter Heart Valve Business Unit. Amplified internal operations by developing technical capabilities related to textile processes, manufacturing, raw materials, and technology. Set up Textile Center of Excellence and commissioned sample warper, weaving loom, braider, laser cutting machine, and ultrasonic bonding machine. Slashed lead time of sample prototyping from 12 to four weeks by brining all prototyping capabilities in house. Guided project design of 3D PVL skirt for Heart Valve Black Belt Project.

Process Control Manager at Premiere Fibers

• Location:
• Duration: 2005-11 to 2013-12
• Description: Engaged in developing new textile-based products and processes; coordinated trials on Pilot Plants with synthetic polymer-based materials; designed and improved processes and performed quality control using statistical methods (Six Sigma, SPC) and Risk Management; and oversaw Physical and Chemical testing of textile products to establish structure–property relations based on end use, utilized expertise in polymer and fiber science, polymer physics, material characterization and structure-property relations towards applications including optimizing the performance of specialty textile based products, especially Flame retardant fabric,responded to customer complaints and frequently visited various customers in the region to develop solutions for textile-based products and processes to meet customer’s requirements. Over the course of employment, was assigned to work on more complex projects, performed additional job duties as Department Manager for Production Services and Management Representative for company’s ISO 9000 QMS and assumed higher level of responsibilities as skill level and knowledge base increased.Continuous Process Improvement, Product Development, Product Changes, Root Cause analysis of customer complaints, Vendor development, Textile Testing.