Head of Digital Innovation & Process Excellence

AboshShirkavand

//Process Excellence//
0+
Years Experience
Process Excellence & Innovation
0+
Projects Delivered
Optimizing Enterprise Workflows
0%
Cost Reduction
Avg savings in Supply Chain
0%
Report Time Cut
Via Automated Dashboards

Technical Command Center

Core competencies across Process Excellence, Project Management, and Digital Transformation.

Process Excellence & Optimization

Six SigmaKaizenPDCAVSM5SRoot Cause AnalysisBusiness Process MappingOperational ExcellenceSupply Chain Optimization

Project & Program Management

Agile/ScrumWaterfallJira AdministrationRisk ManagementStakeholder ManagementProject DeliveryBudget ManagementScope Development

Data & Analytics

Power BITableauLooker StudioBigQueryData AnalysisDemand ForecastingKPI Frameworks

Digital Transformation

Change ManagementDigital StrategyOperating Model DesignTech GovernanceProcess ImplementationSystems ImprovementStrategic Planning

Enterprise Systems

SAPMicrosoft DynamicsOdooSAGESlack AutomationGoogle WorkspaceInventory ManagementMRPProduction Planning

Technical Stack

Next.jsReactTypeScriptTailwind CSSFramer MotionFirebaseGCPPythonSQLAPIsWebhooksN8N

Credentials & Academic Log

Formal education, certifications, and professional learning path.

Academic Milestones

Bachelor of Science in Engineering
IUST
2012 – 2016
Master's in Technology and Engineering Management
URV
2022 – 2023
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
UT
2020 – 2021

Active Certifications

Aha! Product Management Professional
Google Cloud Digital Leader
Google Project Management: Professional Certificate
Master Digital Transformation
Mastering Jira Administration
Product Management Professional Certificate

Professional History

A chronological record of roles, responsibilities, and key achievements.

03

Snoonu

Remote

Head of Digital Innovation

Apr 2025 – Present

  • Own the Application & Digital Transformation function, leading enterprise automation, system integration, and internal platform strategy.
  • Define and govern the internal applications landscape, ensuring tool rationalization, architectural coherence, and long-term scalability.
  • Translate business strategy into digital roadmaps, prioritizing initiatives based on value (ROI), complexity, and organizational readiness.
  • Oversee delivery of cloud-based and AI-enabled solutions that replace manual workflows, improving decision quality and operational throughput.
  • Build and develop high-performing engineering and solution teams, setting delivery standards, governance models, and technical direction.
  • Establish value realization metrics for digital initiatives, tracking measurable efficiency, productivity, and scalability gains.

Digital Process Improvement Manager

Jul 2024 – Apr 2025

  • Led a team of >12 direct employees across IT, Application, and Digital Transformation functions to drive strategic initiatives.
  • Directed 50+ process optimization and automation projects, achieving an extensive reduction in manual effort per department.
  • Oversaw the development and deployment of scalable cloud-native automation/integration tools for seamless system integration.
  • Led enterprise-wide automation initiatives, integrating ERP, Jira, Notion, Slack, and third-party APIs.
  • Drove AI-powered innovations, implementing predictive analytics, automation tools, and intelligent assistants using various LLMs.
  • Championed a data-driven culture, overseeing real-time dashboards in Tableau/Looker, leveraging BigQuery and SQL for strategic decisions.

Digital Innovation Project Manager

Oct 2023 – Jun 2024

  • Managed end-to-end project lifecycles for innovation, system implementation, and process improvement within scope and budget.
  • Implemented automation, optimization, and system integration projects across multiple departments.
  • Created several Web-based platforms for managing projects and observing project KPIs, as well as team performance.
  • Collaborated with senior stakeholders to align digital transformation projects with company-wide goals of process excellence.
02

British American Tobacco (BAT)

Hybrid

SC New Product Introduction Manager

Aug 2021 – Feb 2023

  • Owned supply chain workstream for NPI, coordinating cross-functional teams to enable timely scalable product launches.
  • Managed end-to-end NPI projects, reducing launch timelines from 5 months to 2 months through better planning.
  • Led cost-saving initiatives, reducing procurement expenses by avg 12% via supplier negotiations and sourcing optimization.
  • Designed centralized NPI tracking dashboards using Excel, VBA, and macros as a single source of truth.
  • Streamlined production planning with MRP-based scheduling for 40+ SKUs across multiple lines.
  • Conducted 100+ supplier visits and negotiations, establishing contingency plans to preventing shortages.

Management Trainee (Global Graduate)

Mar 2020 – Jul 2021

  • Rotated through Operations (Source to Deliver), Engineering, Finance, IT, and HR teams.
  • Created an MRP-based planning solution integrating 9 production lines and 5 warehouses to plan 40+ SKUs.
  • Designed Spare Part Inventory Management System using Excel/VBA with data validation.
  • Implemented Predictive Maintenance pillar in IWS to reduce breakdowns and improve machine uptime.
01

Unilever

On-site

Operations Improvement Specialist

Sep 2017 – Feb 2020

  • Led 10+ projects improving OCT, OEE, MTBF, and eliminating quality defects.
  • Designed Power BI dashboards for planning & production KPIs, reducing reporting time by 60%.
  • Managed ERP processes for inventory tracking, material planning, and production scheduling.
  • Contributed to WCM implementation (AM, CS&L, PD pillars), optimizing capacity utilization.

Operations Improvement Officer

Sep 2016 – Aug 2017

  • Supported ERP-driven inventory management and production planning.
  • Conducted data analysis and developed Power BI dashboards for real-time reporting.
  • Assisted in WCM implementation, optimizing Order Cycle Time and OTIF.

Featured Venture

Building production-grade AI applications from scratch.

Flagship Project

Elixiary AI

The World's Best AI Mixologist

The ultimate destination for cocktail enthusiasts. Combining a production-grade AI generator with a massive library of curated recipes and a comprehensive education hub for aspiring mixologists.

Infrastructure & Tech Stack

Next.js 15 (App Router)Firebase GenkitGoogle Gemini ProFirestoreStripe PaymentsTailwind CSS v4Brevo (Email)Cloudflare DNSVercel HostingAlgolia Search

Connect with Elixiary

Genkit
AI Logic Layer
Vercel
Edge Runtime
λ
Firebase
Backend-as-a-Service
Stripe
Payment Infrastructure

Select Projects

A curated selection of impactful projects driving digital transformation and procedure optimization.

Access Governance (Lumos)

Enterprise Systems

End-to-end implementation of Lumos identity governance platform — from vendor selection to change management and policy enforcement.

Impact

Enhanced security compliance and eliminated Shadow IT across 20+ integrated applications.

Deep Dive

Automated Onboarding Communication Platform

Enterprise Systems

Built an automated multi-channel onboarding communication system integrating HRIS, Slack, and Gmail for standardized new hire engagement.

Impact

Standardized onboarding communications and reduced HR manual workload significantly.

Deep Dive

Autonomous Maintenance & Equipment Care (WCM)

Operations & Strategy

Implemented Autonomous Maintenance practices to improve equipment cleaning standards, inspection routines, and early fault detection.

Impact

Improved equipment reliability and reduced minor breakdown frequency.

Deep Dive

Business Trip & Expense Management System

Enterprise Systems

Led acquisition and implementation of Rydoo as the enterprise expense management system with ERP and HRIS integrations.

Impact

Reduced reimbursement processing time by 70% and strengthened compliance enforcement.

Deep Dive

Company Knowledge Management System

Enterprise Systems

Led delivery of a centralized KMS to consolidate policies, SOPs, and governance documents with AI-powered search.

Impact

Eliminated information silos and improved policy accessibility company-wide.

Deep Dive

Contract Lifecycle System

Enterprise Systems

Led initiative for a centralized contract management platform with AI-powered insights and role-based governance.

Impact

Reduced legal risks and decreased time for contract reporting and insight provisioning.

Deep Dive

Custom Odoo Workflow Automation & Approval Engine

Process Automation

Designed custom approval workflows in Odoo to enforce role-based authorization across procurement, finance, and HR.

Impact

Reduced approval cycle time and improved compliance with internal policies.

Deep Dive

Digital Traceability Framework for Materials

Operations & Strategy

Designed a traceability workflow to track materials from supplier receipt through production usage.

Impact

Improved audit readiness and regulatory compliance for new product materials.

Deep Dive

Early Defect Detection & Quality Feedback Loop

Operations & Strategy

Introduced in-process inspection checkpoints and rapid feedback loops to catch defects early during manufacturing.

Impact

Improved first-pass yield and significantly reduced rework during product launches.

Deep Dive

Employee Service Portal

Enterprise Systems

Centralized web portal for employees to submit, track, and manage service requests with automated department routing.

Impact

Streamlined request management and eliminated lost tickets.

Deep Dive

Enterprise AI Assistant & Knowledge Platform

Process Automation

Designed and led implementation of an AI-powered Slack assistant for policy queries, HR lookups, and IT request automation.

Impact

Reduced internal support load and enabled instant, reliable answers for employees.

Deep Dive

Enterprise Data Integration Hub (Odoo-Centric)

Software Development

Led design of cross-system integrations between Odoo and core platforms to eliminate data silos.

Impact

Eliminated data silos and reduced manual reconciliation across departments.

Deep Dive

ERP Governance & User Adoption Framework

Software Development

Established governance standards for ERP usage including data ownership, user roles, and organization-wide training.

Impact

Improved system adoption and reduced process deviations.

Deep Dive

Factory Operations Lead for Product Launches

Operations & Strategy

Served as factory operations lead for 10+ new product launches, coordinating cross-functional readiness.

Impact

Reduced launch timelines and minimized operational disruptions during commercialization.

Deep Dive

Fleet Asset Management System

Software Development

Centralized tool for managing vehicles and garage assets, replacing fragmented Google Sheets with a unified platform.

Impact

Increased data reliability and provided centralized visibility for operations and finance teams.

Deep Dive

IWS Reliability & Maintenance Implementation

Operations & Strategy

Deputy lead for Planned Maintenance pillar, strengthening engineering execution through standardized routines.

Impact

Improved equipment reliability and reduced unplanned stoppages during ramp-up.

Deep Dive

IT Asset Management Platform

Enterprise Systems

Built a custom web platform for centralized IT asset lifecycle management — from procurement to write-off.

Impact

Reduced manual asset tracking effort and improved inventory accuracy significantly.

Deep Dive

IT Performance Dashboard

Data & Analytics

Enterprise reporting dashboard built in Looker Studio for real-time IT support performance analytics via Jira data.

Impact

Enabled data-driven IT support management with real-time SLA tracking and team benchmarking.

Deep Dive

JML Request Automation & Jira Provisioning

Process Automation

Digitized Joiner/Mover/Leaver requests with automated Jira ticket creation and admin approval workflows.

Impact

Automated IT provisioning for employee lifecycle changes, eliminating manual ticket creation.

Deep Dive

Line Changeover Time Reduction

Process Optimization

Led cross-functional effort to reduce changeover time through reorganized staging and standardized procedures.

Impact

Improved changeover efficiency and increased line flexibility during product introductions.

Deep Dive

Line-Side Material Flow Optimization

Process Optimization

Reorganized line-side storage and material positioning to reduce operator movement and prevent line interruptions.

Impact

Improved production continuity and reduced handling inefficiencies.

Deep Dive

NOC Monitoring Dashboards

Data & Analytics

Centralized health monitoring dashboard for telecom services with automated alerts for potential threats.

Impact

Enabled proactive issue detection and reduced downtime response time.

Deep Dive

NPI Launch Visibility Dashboard

Operations & Strategy

Centralized launch dashboard consolidating cross-functional inputs into a single readiness view for leadership.

Impact

Reduced manual reporting effort by 70% and improved launch decision turnaround time.

Deep Dive

NPI Readiness & Scale-Up Framework

Operations & Strategy

Developed a structured readiness framework with checkpoints and governance routines for new product launches.

Impact

Reduced launch lead time from ~5 months to ~2 months with improved reliability.

Deep Dive

Odoo Finance & Operations Module Implementation

Software Development

Led implementation and configuration of core Odoo modules for Purchase, Inventory, Finance, and HR workflows.

Impact

Standardized financial workflows and improved process traceability across departments.

Deep Dive

Odoo Reporting & Operational Insights

Software Development

Designed custom Odoo reporting views and dashboards for real-time operational KPI visibility.

Impact

Enabled real-time operational insights and reduced manual report preparation.

Deep Dive

Onboarding Automation Platform

Process Automation

End-to-end hiring automation from headcount approval through AI-powered CV screening to pre-onboarding workflows.

Impact

Eliminated manual data entry for new hires and automated the end-to-end hiring pipeline.

Deep Dive

Payroll Automation Engine

Software Development

Custom Odoo module that consolidates employee data from multiple systems and automates payroll calculation and reporting.

Impact

Reduced payroll calculation from 4 days to under 1 hour.

Deep Dive

Procure-to-Pay Digitization (Odoo + Penny)

Software Development

Designed the end-to-end digital procurement workflow integrating Penny with Odoo Finance.

Impact

Increased spend visibility and reduced procurement processing time.

Deep Dive

Production Line Efficiency & OEE Improvement

Process Optimization

Led multiple line improvement initiatives to reduce stoppages, improve balance, and eliminate operational inefficiencies.

Impact

Improved OEE, reduced unplanned stoppages, and increased production throughput.

Deep Dive

Production Loss & Downtime Analytics

Operations & Strategy

Power BI dashboards analyzing downtime categories, loss trends, and shift performance across production lines.

Impact

Improved visibility into loss drivers and enabled data-driven improvement actions.

Deep Dive

Production Planning & Material Readiness Automation

Operations & Strategy

Automation tools consolidating production, inventory, and warehouse data for improved planning accuracy.

Impact

Reduced manual planning effort by 50% and improved material availability during scale-up.

Deep Dive

Quality Defect Reduction & Yield Improvement

Process Optimization

Strengthened defect detection practices and operator feedback loops to improve first-pass yield.

Impact

Improved first-pass yield and reduced rework across production lines.

Deep Dive

Real-Time Production KPI Dashboards

Operations & Strategy

Automated production KPI dashboards tracking output, efficiency, downtime, and quality in near real-time.

Impact

Reduced reporting preparation time by 60% and enabled faster corrective actions.

Deep Dive

SafeSpeak – Employee Grievance Platform

Enterprise Systems

Confidential employee grievance reporting module with structured submission, investigation workflows, and SLA tracking.

Impact

Established a trusted channel for employee grievances with investigation SLA compliance.

Deep Dive

AI Policy Summarizer

Software Development

AI-powered pipeline that ingests policy PDFs, extracts content via Document AI, and generates structured summaries.

Impact

Automated policy processing and improved accessibility of corporate governance information.

Deep Dive

Standard Work & Workflow Optimization (WCM)

Process Optimization

Workflow gap analysis and standardized operating practices implementation aligned with WCM standards.

Impact

Improved execution consistency and supported KPI performance improvements.

Deep Dive

Odoo ERP Version Upgrade Program

Software Development

Led Odoo upgrade across major versions (v13→v16→v18), coordinating data migration and module compatibility.

Impact

Improved system performance, security, and scalability across the organization.

Deep Dive

Supplier Capacity & Continuity Program

Operations & Strategy

Led supplier capacity assessments and contingency planning to ensure supply continuity during product launches.

Impact

Reduced supply disruption risks and improved on-time material availability.

Deep Dive

Supplier Performance Monitoring

Operations & Strategy

Structured tracking of supplier delivery performance, material quality, and OTIF compliance.

Impact

Improved visibility into supplier performance and faster resolution of supply issues.

Deep Dive

Supply Team Ticketing Automation

Process Automation

Slack-to-Jira ticket automation with interactive approval, email intake, and full lifecycle tracking.

Impact

Automated ticket creation from Slack and email, eliminating manual tracking.

Deep Dive

Universal Ticketing (Jira)

Enterprise Systems

Jira-based ticketing system integrated with Slack for unified cross-functional project tracking.

Impact

Improved resolution time and cross-functional collaboration.

Deep Dive

Visual Factory & Shift Communication Boards

Operations & Strategy

Implemented visual management boards displaying production targets, downtime causes, and quality alerts.

Impact

Improved operator awareness and reduced information gaps between shifts.

Deep Dive

Warehouse Material Flow & Staging Optimization

Process Optimization

Redesigned staging zones and delivery timing to ensure timely material delivery to production lines.

Impact

Reduced operator waiting time and improved line continuity during ramp-up.

Deep Dive