Experiences
PAX Streamline. Novato, CA;
Principal Mechanical Engineer 05/2009 to 05/2010
· Primary technology transfer engineer to bring the original prototype design in VX from a partnering company into SolidWorks at PAX Streamline.
· Design and integrate conditioner assembly, regenerator assembly, inter-heat exchanger, enclosure assembly, and sump assembly that make up the entire product.
· Complete documentation, manufacturability and cost improvements to transform the prototype design to a limited production state.
· Designed a laser beam profiler to examine the laser beam characteristics to improve scribe accuracy, reduce time to re-align 8 parallel beams, and improved PV module power output.
· Designed a test bed to investigate and optimize performance of bus bar tape guidance.
Novellus, San Jose, CA;
Senior Mechanical Engineer 03/2006 to 10/2008
· Conducted multiple failure mode and effect analysis on critical customer tool reliability issues. Designed corrections to cable fatigue failures, vacuum leaks, wafer position sensor failures, and wafer pedestal failures while minimized field retrofit cost and tool down time.
· Over 2.5 years, saved company > $4 million dollars in warranty and product costs. Improved tool availability from < 93% to >97% at customer sites.
· Used Pro/Engineer, designed a new wide temperature wafer process pedestal that enabled the tool to be used at 130 C and 300 C processes without changing tool configuration, thus improved customer tool utilization and extending product market life.
New Wave Research, Fremont, CA;
Senior Mechanical Engineer 01/2004 to 03/2006
· Used SolidWorks and PDMWorks, designed diode pump laser subsystems to improve product manufacturability and yield by 30%, laser output performance by 25%, laser life by > 50%, and serviceability.
· Led the opto-mechanical engineering and design of AccuScribe 2112 LED Laser Scribing System that improved throughput to over 300% and accounted for > $12 million per year of profitable sales since 2006 to present.
Tilia, Inc., San Francisco, CA;
VP Research & Development 09/1999 - 06/2002
· Set up document control, part number system, configuration control, BOM and ECO process, and new product development and introduction process for a highly popular kitchen appliance, the FoodSaver.
· Used Pro/Engineer, increased FoodSaver product models offering by 200%. Transferred design to off-shored manufacturers at higher production volume and lower cost. New products saved more than $3 million in reduced cost of goods per year. Developed and put into production > $1 million of tooling to increase capacity to meet market needs.
· Helped grow business from $80 millions in 1999 to $173 millions in 2001.
Sunny Design, San Mateo, CA;
Consulting Engineer 05/1994- 07/1999
Principal clients and projects
· Therma-Wave, Inc. As project engineer, spearheaded the successful development and integration of a 300 mm wafer thin film thickness inspection tool which included optics plate, suspension system, wafer stages, electronic systems, pneumatic systems, vacuum systems, cables, user interface, and a robotic front end.
· Strasbaugh Corporation. Conduct root cause failure analysis on a chemical mechanical polishing tool. Designed a pneumatic actuator that eliminated tool failures and saved more than $3 million in warranty cost.
· Raychem Corporation. Designed telephone Network Interface Remote Terminal housings, and line card systems that helped launch a $100+ million telephone multiplexing product. Recaptured and documented production equipment for a launch of a new heat trace wire manufacturing plant in Ireland.
Maxoptix, San Jose, CA;
Manager, Mechanical Engineering 01/1993 - 05/1994
· Used AutoCAD, successfully designed, debugged, released, and launched a magneto-optics disk drive that exceeded a 5-year, 500,000 load / unload cycle, product life reliability requirement.
DISC, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA;
Manager, Mechanical Engineering 01/1990 - 12/1992
· Used AutoCAD, engineered high performance, high capacity, 5.25 inch media, optical disk drive library systems with 250, 500 and 1000 cartridges. Designed and integrated mechanical systems, 5 axes mechanisms, electronic packaging, and air handler. Successfully launched product and IPO.
Contact:
Luther T. Nieh
650-722-0392