Santosh Acharya

An experienced engineer who, after graduating in Electrical Engineering and Computer Applications joined Indian Aluminium (INDAL-Orissa Extrusions operation) as Trainee Engineer-Maintenance in year-1993.Groomed as the most confident and dependable person in the field of maintenance and plant automation during the tenure till year-2001.

Tried a different professional assignment that is as ‘Sales and Service Team leader’ in the only Indian company that manufactures automated road construction equipment (for 8 months); but didn’t felt comfortable, thus again switched back to Maintenance/Plant Automation through an overseas assignment i,e. in Dubai Aluminium. There I got an opportunity of working with multi-culture and more competitive environment, where motivating a team of technocrats not only maintaining but also keep improving the OEE of all equipment in Casthouse was the best met challenge.

Continuous improvement, gaining more experience in maintenance/projects and the Inclination towards Plant Reliability, paved the path to accept the Reliability Engineer’s position in Oman in year-2009. Initially involved in leading the Shift maintenance team along with the Reliability function to get the maximum exposure on day to day failures and later got very good opportunity of leading the asset management evolution system in this much young company named Sohar Aluminium, which is functional since yr-2008.

Sr. Reliability Engineer, Sohar Aluminium, Sohar, Oman Jun’2011 -date

• Leading as Process Owner at Casthouse for the Implementation of Rio Tinto Alcan’s Asset Management program, which includes multiple processes like Asset Tactics Development (ATD), Defect Elimination(DE), Condition Monitoring(CM), Hydro-carbon Management(HCM), Work Management(WM) and Operate for Reliability(OR)
• Leading and Motivating the Maintenance and Operation team for carrying out visual condition monitoring by utilizing the Look, Listen and Feel technology which purely through effective use of Human sensors. Recognizing the effort is key to make it effective. 
• Motivating the team for continuous improvements that can enhance safety condition, ensure cost saving and avoid repetitive manual tasks.
• Leading the Journey from “Repair on condition” philosophy to “Eliminate causes of condition”. After the successful results of moving from “Replace on life estimates” to “Repair on condition”.
• Leading the cross functional Defect Elimination Team for providing efficient solution to complex problems 
• Preparing the CAPEX project justification, presenting them to Investment committee for approval and playing a key role on every step of the project from conceptualisation to performance evaluation and even developing FMECA, life cycle study.
• Preparing master schedule for the annual maintenance activity, proposing the annual OPEX Budget for that and chalking-out further action plan based on actual spending
• Leading the bi-weekly Maintenance and Reliability planning meeting, thus prioritizing the maintenance tasks based on the criticality and best for business need basis. 
• Carryout internal audit of maintenance systems for ensuring compliance to DNV quality & EHS system requirements. Active participation in FRACAS of all EHS issues
• Preparing the framework of “Operate for Reliability” philosophy, where every operator will get involved in Reliability program rather than the productivity only.
• Responsible for conducting detailed technical evaluation on suggested Management of Change (MOC) on the Plant assets for ease of approval. 
• Actively participate in Reliability Engineering network, that shares knowledge and best practices 
• Review of PM, condition monitoring plans, methods and evaluate the efficiency, adjust them to optimize the maintenance needs, thus saving money and effort. 
• Identify and implement cost saving measures by finding out cost effective, but reliable alternate spare, evaluate reparability and local sourcing. 
• Active member of feasibility and detailed design, HAZOP, HAZAN activities for upcoming projects

• CRE (Certified Reliability Engineer) from ASQ
• Degree in Electrical Engineering from Institution of Engineers(India) 
• 3 Years "Diploma in Electrical Engineering" 

From State Council of Technical Education & Training, Orissa

• 1½ Year "Adv. Network-Centered Computing" (ANC)course; From NIIT, India