Mehmet Karakas

• Leading a production team of 2 area Manager, 6 Production Engineer and 600 production staff • Responsibility of dishwasher machine production processes; Mechanical manufacturing shop, paint shop, design shop, pre assembly lines and 2 assembly lines.

• Leading of new machinery/equipment purchasing, installation and commissioning projects • Managing CapEx and OpEx activities to acquire, maintain, and upgrade fixed assets • Requirement and cost analysis of new investments, researching new technologies to meet the demand. Fastest installation and commissioning time ever in Torbali factory. Establishment of global cross functions communication to perform first Intercompany equipment transfer in JTI Torbali.

• Integration of JTI global production systems and business model to recently acquired “Ethiopia Tobacco Monopoly Factory” which has been operating for 60 years • Leading a production, maintenance and process improvement teams of 550 employee • Implementing Continuous Improvement activities such as 5S, TPM, 6 Sigma, FMEA • Implementing KPI calculation and improvement studies (OEE, Reject Rate, Productivity, Yield etc.) Solid production increase 25% in 2 years with same equipment and staffing.

• Leading a maintenance team of 12 high skilled technicians and 2 Engineers • Preparing weekly, monthly and annually maintenance plans in line with production planning department • Carrying out the machine maintenance activities at pre-determined time period, and budget Participation to the Global Project team as a representative of JTI Torbali factory for SAP Maintenance system. Implementation of SAP Maintenance system to JTI Torbali factory and training end users; engineers, operators and technicians

• Leading and coordinating Continuous Improvement Activities with contribution of production and all cross functions • Suggestion system, 5S and Kaizen projects management within all GSC functions • Preparation and organization of yearly “Continuous Improvement Conference”. Whole GSC functions were trained and prepared according to 5S regulations. Gold certificate taken in 5S audit. Training program and multiple audits performed in Global JTI functions related 5S.

• Leading a production shift team of 120 staff and 9 team leaders • Responsibility of refrigerator production processes; Mechanical manufacturing shop, paint shop, polyurethane and plastic thermoforming functions • Achieve planned high-quality production volume on time with minimum ratio of scrap • Responsibility of increasing production efficiency and machine technical efficiency, reducing consumption levels of raw materials, reaching factory KPI targets and budgets

• Leading a production shift team of 46 staff and 2 team leaders • Responsibility of mechanical manufacturing shop area of Vestel cooker & oven factory • Installing and commissioning of new production lines As a Mechanical Engineer, I started my career in Turkey’s largest Household Appliances company where I gained a hands-on experience in process and people management. SMED methodology was initiated to decrease mold changing duration. New assembly line installation and commissioning successfully completed