Vigneshwaran Hariharan

Engineering leader with 14+ years of experience across industrialisation, system development, technical project management, automation and robotics. 10+ years of international experience in Germany leading automation from concept through equipment development, validation, commissioning and production ramp-up. Experienced in coordinating multidisciplinary engineering teams, suppliers and global stakeholders; managing technical risks, quality, changes, schedules and equipment budgets; and establishing scalable engineering standards and workflows. Strong bridge between business/operations and engineering centers, with hands-on expertise in software, robotics, machine vision, PLCs and data/AI systems.

Deputy General Manager – Automation and Process Engineering at Motherson Electronics Components Private Limited (2025-11 – Present)

• Leading the automation vertical with 10+ Engineers with focus on R&D, process engineering and automation
• Driving greenfield industrialization and automation planning in collaboration with global engineering teams
• Lead capital projects and NPI from concept through validation, commissioning, and production release
• Lead project management for automated part handling, AMRs, collaborative robotics and complex AOIs
• Partner with Manufacturing, Maintenance, Quality, IT, EHS, Supply Chain, and Program Management.
• Drive Lean, Six Sigma, RCA, and automation initiatives that improve safety, quality, throughput, and cost.
• Managing plant-level automation, robotics, AMRs, AI/ML, and data analytics strategy to boost efficiency
• Supporting local suppliers and building long-term operational capabilities as per strategic roadmap in India
• Spearhead readiness of local facility for export-oriented operations (EOU) compliance

Production Process Manager at Robert Bosch GmbH (2022-05 – 2025-10)

• Led industrialization of eAxle, radar, ECUs and inverter manufacturing lines for EVs worth 20 M€
• Oversaw brownfield line setups in Hungary, Germany, China for high-mix low-volume production lines
• Collaborated with global teams on process validation, regulatory compliance and digital infrastructure
• Directed cross-functional / multicultural teams for improvement and innovation in production processes.
• Implemented Industry 4.0 and AI-driven predictive analytics, optimizing yield and maintenance cycles.
• Project management and vendor management of associated manufacturing equipment considering budgets
• Draft equipment, architectures, process drawings in collaboration with product / process developers and suppliers as per DFM and assembly requirements, GD&T, tolerance stack analysis
• Function owner of complex measurement systems: dispensing, laser bonding, assembly, feeding, labelling, handling systems, SPI, CCI, AXI, AOI, THT and define their requirement specifications
• Prepare control plans, perform risk assessment, inspection planning and review FMEA as per APQP
• Support production ramp-up, firefighting and prepare MSA Type 1/3/7, Cm/Cmk, Cp/Cpk as per QMM
• Lead a team of engineers for problem solving task forces and knowledge transfer for global operations

PLC and Robot Programmer – Automotive Electronics at IPTE Platzgummer GmbH (2021-11 – 2022-05)

• Technical project management for electronic equipment manufacturing and automation
• PLC/Robot programming for fully automated lines for Tier 1 automotive suppliers [Fanuc, UR, Siemens]
• MES integration, digital architecture planning and integration with onsite data analytics for customers
• Expert for solutions for vision-based machine learning, inspection and measurement

Development Engineer / Project Manager - Electronics at Eberhard AG (2017-10 – 2021-10)

• Technical project management and development of inline testing systems for AE worth 5 M€ / year
• Process/line development for manufacturing of ECU housings, SMT LV/HV connectors for Tier1/2/3 suppliers
• Achieve customer quality processes for mechanical/electrical/optical testing and handling equipments
• Programming, commissioning and pilot trials of complex measurement systems for achieving zero defects
• Agile development for 2D/3D vision algorithms using C#.NET, Python, Halcon, OpenCV and smart cameras
• Selection of PLCs, robots, vision systems and drives for development of new customer specific equipments
• Development of human-robot collaboration systems with UR/Kuka Robots and PLC programming
• Continuous improvement of machinery standards, process / machine capabilities without loss of quality

Software Developer / Project Manager at IBG Robotronic GmbH (2015-04 – 2017-10)

• Development and programming of vision systems for advanced assembly and handling worth 2M€/year
• Selection and development of 2D/3D vision systems viz. camera, optics, illumination for quality control
• Experience in integration with robots/PLC, commissioning of vision guided automation/robotics systems
• Coordination with engineering teams from concept to commissioning and training for customer projects
• Validation of measurement systems quality metrics for achieving customer quality requirements

Engineer – Design at Askar Microns Private Limited (2009-09 – 2011-07)

• Development of flow line production system for slant bed CNC machines as part of QM
• Mechanical design of fixtures and claddings for CNC machines using Solidworks
• Planning and selection of mechanical and control architectures for customer requirements.

Trainee Engineer – Control Engineering at Titan Automation Solutions (2008-07 – 2009-07)

• Offline and online programming of PLCs and robots for semiautomatic assembly lines
• Inspection and testing of pneumatic / hydraulic circuits and wiring in electrical panels as per EPLAN
• Commissioning of automated assembly and end-of-line testing machines

M.Sc. in Automation and Robotics – Technical University of Dortmund, Germany (2011-10 – 2014-12)

Bachelors of Engineering in Mechatronics – Anna University, India (2004-08 – 2008-05)