Daniel Salzmann

Quality and Health & Safety Manager at Sécheron-Hasler Group and BU

Yens, Vaud, Switzerland

About

Looking for a new challenge in leading engineering or quality teams and running hands-on cross-functional projects while developing human potential. Strong at building positive relationships between individuals, I create enthusiasm, team-spirit, and momentum. I am an achiever, learner, and take responsibilities for execution.

Experience

  • Sécheron SA (8 yrs 3 mos)
    • Quality and Health & Safety Manager at BU and Group level
      Jul 2019 - Present · 7 yrs

      Leading all-levels team in Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Quality Management, Health & Safety and Environment (QA/QC/QM/HSE) across multiple sites in Europe for a regulated industry (Rail Industry), I feel responsible to develop people, create a Lean mindset, and lead cross-functional initiatives to continuously improve products and processes. Increasing customer satisfaction and enjoying it! - Demonstrated leadership capability with positive collaborative values - Built and developed a Quality team of 15 direct reports, across QA-QC-QM-HSE activities - Unlocked human potential focusing first on inter-personal behaviors and attitude - Coached individuals to tackle complex problems in process and products development - Monitor and improve KPI / PI to instil fact-based decision-making and delegation - Strengthen customer satisfaction across Asia (Japanese, Chinese), Europe, and US clients - Built positive partnership during customers / clients audits and visits - Secured release of finished goods at 100% for Quality Control / Quality Assurance efficiency - Developed client - internal - supplier non-conformity treatment platform for standardization - Trainee on 8D, 5Why, non-conformity treatment across Quality teams and other departments / sites - Established purchasing-quality collaborative mindset to secure supply-chain - Decreased by 50%+ the non-conformity backlog and strengthened root-cause elimination mindset - Secured 100% calibration of control means / gauges in Metrology - Mastered smooth succession from a 15-years experienced previous manager - Re-design 100% of QMS processes while deploying a dedicated software at Group level - Expanded scope of ISO certifications from 5 to 14 sites with positive impact on customer satisfaction - Maintained ISO17025 accreditation of Laboratory for new products homologation (R&D, INDUS) - Stimulated excellence of QMS / Business processes as internal auditor (multiple ISO standards)

    • Quality Engineer Multi-Sites Projects
      Apr 2018 - Jul 2019 · 1 yr 4 mos

      Improvements are on the way in Quality Environment Health & Safety (QEHS) across multiple sites in Europe. Enjoyed it!

  • Head of Development and Project / Program manager at L.E.S.S. SA
    Feb 2016 - Sep 2017 · 1 yr 8 mos

    L.E.S.S. SA, ECUBLENS VD (Switzerland); 10 employees; startup in fiber optic technical lighting for quality inspection and automotive industry. • Managed the department of development (3 direct reports) including strategy deployment, prioritizing, scheduling, cost evaluating, and tracking of multiple projects • Established project/program management processes, product quality reporting, debriefing and continuous improvement, after-sales service (from helpline to returning repaired product) • Improved production line by increased key-component production yield from <20% to >80% • Bug-tracking of electronic software down to zero bug in close collaboration with sub-contractor • Contributed to unlock rapid prototyping bottleneck (low-cost online CAD, 3D printer, internship)

  • Manager of Operations at Lyncée Tec SA
    Jan 2011 - Feb 2016 · 5 yrs 2 mos

    LYNCEE TEC SA, LAUSANNE (Switzerland) ; 12 employees ; leader in digital holography microscopy for standard and customized solutions in 3D nano-scale real-time measurement. • Key contributor in company culture transformation from startup to structured SME with strong customer focus; strategy deployment • Managed operations (production, supply-chain) and opto-mechanical R&D projects (design of new products as well as sales-customizations for clients). Up to 2 direct reports. • Decreased production lead-time from 100 down to 50 days: using Value-Stream-Mapping analysis and waste-slashing continuous-improvement initiatives on products, production procedures, and supply-chain management • Increased sales price net margin by 10%: through opto-mecanical re-design (BOM reduced by 50%) • Decreased assembly costs by 24%: establishing production documentation and transferring tasks from engineers to operators • Deployed a full-size ERP system in less than 2.5 years: covering CRM/sales, purchases, accounting, HR, warehouse, production, and project management (customization, R&D, continuous-improvement) • Fully established procurement and production documentation within 3 years: redesign opto-mechanics of all products, change CAD software (SolidWorks) and backup infrastructure, create R&D-to-production transfer process, wrote a Lean-inspired Quality System • Managed ~40 suppliers, secured procurement of ~1000 parts, optimized cost of ~250 BOM

  • Project Leader R&D and Head of Optical Sensors at Radiometer Medical
    Nov 2002 - Oct 2010 · 8 yrs

    RADIOMETER BASEL AG, Basel (Switzerland); Business unit of Radiometer Medical (DK); 1700 employees; owned by Danaher Corporation (US); 55’000 employees; Radiometer Basel is leader in non-invasive transcutaneous blood gas monitoring systems. • Realized the world-first optical transcutaneous blood gas monitoring system using laser modulation spectroscopy for carbon dioxide continuous monitoring. Performed tests on human volunteers validating the technology • Managed a team of 3-6 people (1 direct report) was spread over three locations and was working in three languages: Lausanne (French), Basel (German) and Copenhagen (English). I demonstrated high inventiveness and efficient on-site/on-line team management. I applied multiple tools from the Danaher Business System (Danaher Corporation) including Lean and project management tools. • Executed budget building, R&D planning, reporting at all levels, opto-electro-mechanical design, assembly and characterization. Documentation according to all related standards: ISO13485-Medical Device, ISO14971 - Risk Management, ISO60625 - Laser Products, IEC61010 - Electrical Equipment, IEC60601 – Medical Electrical Equipment, FMEA, and more… • Managed technology transfer from university to industry. Hired two engineers and trained them to transfer know-how in-house. Convinced management, by functional model demonstration, about the value of optical technology for transcutaneous business future • Took responsibility for on-line facilities improvement. Chose and demonstrated tools for on-line data, meeting and documentation (VPN, WebEx, Screen-sharing). Gained the acceptance of the management for routine use • Evidenced Critical-Chain project management (and ProChain add-on of MS Project) as a solution for improving program and resources management of the R&D group

  • EPFL (Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland)
    • PhD in Microtechnics / Applied Optics
      1998 - 2002 · 4 yrs

      I developed the first optical gas sensor using modulation spectroscopy and applied to non-invasive transcutaneous blood gas monitoring.

    • Research assistant
      1997 - 1998 · 1 yr

      Research assistant in the European project NIRSI - Responsible for Students’Practice in Optics and Integrated Optics I developed an optical mammograph prototype based on photon-density-waves detection in phase and amplitude (near-infrared laser light).