Arumugam Varathaiah

Visionary and results-driven executive with 23 years of distinguished experience in site quality management and contract manufacturing, including 3 years at the global executive level. Recognized for delivering operational excellence, driving world-class quality systems, and ensuring compliance with international standards (e.g., ISO, FDA, GMP). A decisive and integrity-driven leader with a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams, optimizing processes, and fostering a culture of quality across global organizations.

Extensive expertise in Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) industries, managing 42+ OEM customers across diverse product complexities (PCBA, System Integration) and business models (Direct Fulfillment, BTO, CTO, Hub). Adept at navigating High Mix Low Volume (HMLV) and Low Mix High Volume (LMHV) environments, delivering exceptional customer experiences, and achieving operational excellence. Passionate about driving continuous improvement, mitigating risks, and aligning quality initiatives with strategic business objectives to deliver measurable results.

Experienced with executive leadership and strategic planning. Utilizes innovative approaches to drive business growth and operational excellence. Track record of effective team collaboration and achieving results.

Driven and strategic professional with proven track record in leadership and innovative problem-solving. Demonstrates comprehensive understanding of organizational growth and operational efficiency, leveraging expertise in financial management and team development. Committed to achieving impactful results through forward-thinking strategies and effective collaboration.

Proactive and goal-oriented professional with excellent time management and problem-solving skills. Known for reliability and adaptability, with swift capacity to learn and apply new skills. Committed to leveraging these qualities to drive team success and contribute to organizational growth.

• Strong decisive leadership and key team player accomplished, integrity driven professional offering over 23 years manufacturing expertise in Quality Department mainly in EMS manufacturing industries involving over 42 OEM customers and business units from various segments of product complexity (PCBA and System Integration) with High Mix Low Volume and Low Mix High Volume nature, business models (Direct Fulfillment, BTO, CTO, Hub and others).
• Proficient in team building, problem resolution, risk management and procedure development using proven and innovative quality strategies. Customer focus driven with ability to successfully organize complex relationship and work environments. Accomplished change agent utilizing business metric to analyze and develop strategies that address the voice of the customer.
• Dynamic Quality Leadership for overall 6 plants with impressive success in product quality and customer quality engineering for all Jabil customers. Well-structured strategic planning to meet quality expectations of new customer or ramp to volume productions. Awarded Best Quality site within all EMS from numerous customers and maintaining BIC for all customers.
• Result orientated transformation for overall plant quality KPIs. Reduction of critical metrics: RMA DPM from 1500 to single digit, Outgoing inspection DPM from 600 to 36 DPM, VOC from 30 SCARs in a year for overall 31 customers to 18 SCARs for 42 customers, Zero Major and Minor NC for all certification and regulatory audits for past 7 years. Customer Satisfaction Index for Quality hits 90% every quarters.
• Great motivator and strong believer in people development in adding value to organization growth. Nurturing internal talents and managing massive hiring with plant growth. Well-structured SME deployment plan and in-house training plan to address needs of new hiring and existing team. Prepared the team to be organized, collaborative and competitive working under pressure, enjoy challenges and result driven mindset. Experienced in handling major hiring process for Quality Dept. from 210 to 740 within 4 years.
• Hands on in driving sustainable cost saving operationally. Cost saving through department forecasting, failure reduction internal/external plan, engineering/automation improvement and lean saving (DBP).
• Provide expertise during early engagement for new businesses process by involving in plant capabilities sharing, audit engagement and plant assessment activities.

• HEAD OF QUALITY DEPARTMENT, Jabil Sdn. Bhd, 08/2004, present, Managing Quality Department for Penang consisting 6 plants with over 740 employees of Jabil and supported by a group of quality personnel from Quality System team, SMEs IQA, SQE, CE and Quality team in business units., Lead team in hosting major audit such as Product Qualification, Quality System Audit, ESD and RoHS audit., A focal person to present quality KPI’s to Jabil Executives periodically., Set direction On Quality for Plant Wide Improvement Program and establish QMS., Improved Quality and cost saving through elimination of non-value add activities and value engineering., Improved overall scrap cost and supplies by 60% through implementation of zero defects line concept., Provide leadership for NPI (Quality/Reliability/Failure Analysis)., Developed Build in Quality program, spearheaded implementation and monitoring of process quality plan in the plant. Successfully improved core 7 quality KPIs (VOC, OBA, FPY, CRR/IRR, Audit, Scrap and QBR) for the site that consist of 42 customers., Innovated online Quality System – eQRAP, FAST, JCIS, AEM, eLPA, eESD and eChecklist. Breakthrough from manual method in controlling and monitoring quality controls and parameters into system guided automation., Headed ISO 9001 and ESD AS2020 certification for 5 new plant set-ups and first NADCAP certification for plant aerospace businesses., Core team member in registering and compliance of FDA Regulatory on medical device products.
• SENIOR QUALITY ENGINEER, COB Asia Technologies Sdn. Bhd, 07/2000, 08/2004, Played key role on Quality Engineering for Motorola, APM, Maxis, Perkin Elmer, Wallac and EPNCR., Involved in many New Product Initiation and production line qualifications. Development inspection criteria and product sensitivity training manual for technicians and operators. This includes of RoHS and NPI builds., Actively participate in Kaizen activities and Lean initiatives., Provide training to operator, technician and supervisors on new product sensitivity and traceability requirement and development PCBA Handling procedure.
• QUALITY ENGINEER, Solectron Technology Sdn. Bhd, 03/1998, 07/2000, Implement Internal Process audit and coordinate NC., Handle customer complaint and prepare corrective action in 8Ds., Ensure quality level meet customer’s requirement., In-charged Customers (Ericson, Alcatel and Nokia).

• Subject Matter Expert on Quality System Design & Management, GMP, ISO9001 Rev 2015, ISO13485, TL9000, AS9001, NADCAP, IPC-A-610, FMEA, AQP, DFM, FA, SAP, Six Sigma Project, Lean Manufacturing, QRQC, Factor Tree Analysis, ECN/PCN, Best Practice Proliferation (CSPA/MPQS) and Shop Floor Traceability System (MES & EPS System) and Cleanroom setup (10k requirement).
• Achieved Best in Class Rewards and CSI scorecard from majority customers.
• Established reporting matrix for key customers, developing and working with suppliers to meet KPI's.
• International Assignments to Jabil Mumbai & Jabil Vietnam to spearhead, lead and setup quality assurance and quality system in offshore sites.
• Successfully managed process migration of numerous new products from customer sites, other CMs and inter site plants.
• Invited to represent Jabil to APIC (Annual Productivity & Innovation Conference and Exposition) in 2016 by MPC.
• Received Attendee Choice Award for presenting Jabil Quality Project in ASQ World Conference on Quality and Improvement International Team Excellent Award Process Milwaukee, WI in 2016.
• Introduced continuous improvement programs and procedures that allowed sites to improve the quality whilst improving on efficiency.