Johan Harmsen MaSc
Product Engineer/ (H)905-***-****
Continual Improvement Specialist *************@*****.***
LinkedIn.com/in/johangharmsen
PROFILE
A facilitator of the Improvement Process with demonstrated expertise in selecting, implementing
and sustaining improvement projects within core processes, products and/or services.
The main facilitating activities comprised: Performing investigations and pre-studies; Quantifying
and reducing risks to the operation; Deploying Lean Six Sigma programs and removing project
“Roadblocks”.
CORE COMPETENCE
Product Engineer -CANDU Nuclear Fuel Product/ Process Qualification
Six Sigma Master Black Belt (SS/ DFSS/ Project Management
Lean Manufacturing/ Triz) Preparation of Proposals
Statistical Analysis and Decision Making Team Leader Investigations (Taproot®)
Design Support (AnoVa/ DoE/ MSA/ CPA)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
CAMECO FUEL MANUFACTURING (CFM) FORMERLY ZIRCATEC 2006-2013
CFM manufactures nuclear fuel bundles and reactor components for CANDU reactors and is
part of the Fuel Services Division of CAMECO (3000 employees).
Product Engineer of Nuclear CANDU Fuel Bundles (2009-2013)
The main responsibilities are the delivery of the product to the customer within product
specification, address customer concerns, manufacturability of new products and support of the
operation to reduce product risk.
Project leader of a manufacturability project which comprised a pre-study and feasibility
stage of a new developed product (37M fuel bundle). All the objectives of this approximate
$5M project were delivered in time and within budget.
Performed a pre-study in reducing Beryllium airborne particles in the production of uranium-
dioxide fuel bundles (health concern). The study was used as input to the design of newly
developed manufacturing processes (1st part of Master thesis obtained at RMC, Kingston).
Performed a pre-study that prescribes how to develop alternative braze material to replace
beryllium, currently used in the appendage-to-cladding joints of the fuel bundle. (2nd part of
Master thesis). This pre-study is used as input to an industry broad feasibility study,
financed by the CANDU-Owners Group (COG) and spearheaded by AECL.
Publication and presentation of the beryllium study at the 11th CNS Nuclear Fuel
Conference.
Planned, executed and reported upon more than 20 investigations addressing incidents,
accidents (Taproot®) and customer (Bruce Power) concerns.
2/ 2
Continual Improvement Coordinator (2006-2009)
The main responsibilities are implementing and sustaining the CI-project program within CFM
(formerly Zircatec).
Instructed Green Belt classes (>75% of salaried staff).
Created a MS-Access database (DMAIC structure) that was used for tracking, deploying and
coaching of Green Belts to support their project completions.
Developed a strategy based selection tool for the prioritizing of improvement projects.
W orked with Lean Manufacturing consultants to increase productivity (target >35%) in the
Port Hope plant.
INDALCO ALLOYS DIVISION OF LINCOLN ELECTRIC CANADA 2000-2006
Indalco Alloys (Mississauga, ON) is a manufacturer of aluminum welding wire and TIG rods and
is a full subdivision of Lincoln Electric, a world-wide supplier of welding materials (5000
employees).
Quality Assurance Manager and Six Sigma Master Black Belt (2000-2006)
The main responsibilities are the customer satisfaction, the warranty levels, managing the
quality department (8 employees) and for implementing and sustaining the ISO9001 standard.
The Six Sigma Master Black Belt is responsible for the Six Sigma program at Indalco Alloys and
Lincoln Electric Canada.
Reduced the customer warranties from 2.7% to <0.1% within 2 years.
Assisted in training of more than 50 Black Belts at Lincoln Electric Cleveland OH.
Trained 21 Green Belts and 4 Black Belts at Lincoln Electric Canada Toronto.
The Six Sigma Project program included 34 projects which generated benefits of $500,000
per year in yearly hard savings.
DAF TRUCKS (THE NETHERLANDS) A PACCAR COMPANY 1989-2000
DAF (5500 employees) manufactures heavy trucks for the European market (25-30% market
share) and is located in Eindhoven (NL).
Dedicated Black Belt of the Truck Assembly Plant (1998-2000)
Quality Improvement Engineer in the Sheet Metal Plant (1993-1998)
Maintenance & Control Engineer of the Maintenance Department (1989-1993)
EDUCATION
Master of Applied Science in Nuclear Engineering, Royal Military College, Kingston, ON,2012
Change Management Program, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, 2010
Mediator course, Conflict Resolution, Trent University, Peterborough, On, 2008
Taproot® Advanced Investigation Team Leader Course, System Improvements, Inc, 2008
Six Sigma Master Black Belt Program, SBTI, San Marcos, TX, Wave 3, 2001
Six Sigma Black Belt DAF-Truck, IBIS University of Amsterdam, 1999
Quality Management, Ceditec, University Eindhoven, Netherlands, 1995
Bachelor Electrical and Electronic Engineering, HTS, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, 1983
SKILLS
Communication: Presentations, Interviews, Surveys and Facilitating Meetings
Language: English, Dutch and German
Computer: W ord, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Minitab, FACT, Delphi, Visio, MS-Project