Transformative Quality Manager | End to End Quality Strategy & Process

  • Received an award or special recognition
  • Networked with other professionals
  • Limited-edition achievement recognizing early members of Workfolio
  • Considered an authority in a particular field
  • Taught a subject or trade to others
  • Considerable experience using technology
  • Received one or more promotions within an organization
  • Endorsed by co-workers or clients
  • Spoken in front of an audience about an area of expertise
  • Has had direct reports in an organization

Summary

Stephen Saunders
Quality is everyone's responsibility!
Quality is about making organizations perform for their stakeholders – from improving products, services, systems and processes, to making sure that the whole organization is fit and effective.

Managing quality means constantly pursuing excellence: making sure that what your organization does is fit for purpose, and not only stays as is, but keeps improving.

Over the past 20+ years of experience in Telecom R&D, I have had the opportunities to hold several different roles, with the roles focused on Quality & Transformation being the most interesting and rewarding of my career.

If you review my profile you will find my background includes examples of a broad range of Quality & Transformation roles and accomplishments that I have completed while in various Wireless R&D roles.
From a business perspective, my attention to detail and dynamic analytical skills have resulted in many improvements in processes and results in System Test, Change Request Management, Design and Corporate Scorecards.

I have led or managed several Quality & Transformation projects from conception to completion, including documentation, training and lessons learned activities and would welcome the opportunity to discuss any opportunities that may be available.

My core competencies include:
✔ Wireless Quality Leadership
✔ Quality Management
✔ Business Transformation
✔ Global Multi-site Project & Release Management
✔ TL9000 Audit Experience
✔ Analytical skills on Complex Issues & Data
✔ Software Verification Management & Processes
✔ Global Functional Management
✔ Development and Delivery of Process & Tools
✔ Government of Canada Level 2 (Secret) Clearance

Available to discuss new opportunities in the Ottawa area, please contact me at steve@sbsaunders.com

TECHNICAL SKILLS:
Software & Tools
• Microsoft Office 365
• IBM ClearQuest Defect Change Tool Administrator
• HP Quality Center Administrator
• Q&A Maker
• Livelink/Sharepoint

Timeline

  1. -
    Mobile Networks Automation Quality , Nokia

    Manage quality and development of mobile networks global metrics and key performance indicators (KPI) to ensure measurements are developed and available through modernized metrics portal. Lead modernization and automation of knowledge database to certify global team could effectively retrieve information on new metrics/KPI pages and related info.
    • Created metrics/KPI report, incorporating multiple existing metric pages and tools into 1 unified database.
    • Performed metrics/KPI automation governance, delivering service on time with high level of quality.
    • Produced new knowledge base, using QnA Maker, building, training, and publishing question and answer bot with multiple response types

  2. -
    Mobile Networks HetRAN Quality, Nokia

    Oversaw 20+ global team members to deliver highest quality GSM, WCDMA, SRAN, and CloudRAN products, services, and solutions from research and development (R&D) team.
    • Collaborated with R&D teams with on-going focus on customer quality, continuous improvement, and quality innovation through transformation, improving results.
    • Exceeded key scorecard targets by 15% in 2017 by implementing quality improvement plan (Quality2.0) and continuous improvement plan.
    • Transformed quality team structure, aligning with business needs and accomplishing 0 attrition following changes.
    • Enhanced customer perceived value (CPV), exceeding target by 2% for 2017.
    • Implemented Lean Six Sigma initiatives, achieving 400% above target goals.
    • Completed external TL9000 audit for Manilla R&D team, utilizing extensive planning and preparation.

  3. -
    Wireless 2G/3G Quality Leader, Alcatel-Lucent

    Directed global team members to carry through GSM and WCDMA products, services, and solutions from outsourced R&D team. Collaborated with R&D teams with on-going focus on customer quality, continuous improvement, and quality innovation, and assured SLA quality objectives were met.
    • Decreased customer critical issues (CCI) 50% by increasing quality rigor and milestone requirements.
    • Generated new reporting for executive presentations, growing global team quality awareness.
    • Met all requirements for outsourced R&D SLA with monthly quality reviews and continuous improvements.
    • Completed Sprint improvement plan, strengthening customer satisfaction.

  4. -
    Wireless LTE LR14.1 Release Management , Alcatel-Lucent

    Handled change of global CR management for LTE LR14.1 release. Analyzed change requests (CR) metrics and mitigated issues.
    • Conducted CRs successfully through daily conference calls and prediction model reporting.
    • Captured lessons learned with improvement plan created and completed.
    • Improved defect change tracker (DCT) tool, attaining improvements with CR handling.
    • Designed CR training modules and delivered training to global R&D teams, gaining R&D efficiency.

  5. -
    Wireless System Test Quality and Transformation Pr, Alcaltel-Lucent

Experience Highlights

  • Automation Quality Manager
    Performed metrics/KPI automation governance
  • Mobile Networks HetRAN Quality
    Collaborated with R&D teams with focus on customer quality & continuous improvements
  • Wireless 2G/3G Quality Leader
    Directed global team members on GSM and WCDMA products, services, and solutions from outsourced team
  • Wireless LTE LR14.1 Release Management
    global CR management for LTE LR14.1 release. Analyzed change requests (CR) metrics.

Education Highlights

  • Algonquin College
    |Precision Electronics certificate
  • Harvard Business Publishing - Accelerated Leadership
    3 Accelerated Leadership courses completed

Interests

  • SPORTS
    working out and playing sports, including ice hockey, football and basketball.
  • PLAYING GUITAR
    KEEP PLUGGING AWAY ON MY ACOUSTIC GUITAR WITH THE HOPES OF STARTING A GARAGE BAND ONE DAY
  • OUTDOORS
    I enjoy camping and spending time with my family and friends
  • TRAVELING
    DISCOVERING THE WORLD FROM EXOTIC BEACHES TO RUSTIC CAMPGROUNDS

Results

  • 15%
    key scorecard targets EXCEEDED IN 2017
  • 400%
    above lean six sigma TARGET SAVINGS for 2017
  • 23%
    INCREASE IN CHANGE REQUEST EFFICIENCY

Skills

  • QUALITY MANAGEMENT
    20+
  • FUNCTIONAL MANAGEMENT
    20+
  • Analytical skills
    20+
  • TRANSFORMATION
    20+
  • Project Management
    18
  • TL9000 Audit Experience
    18
  • PrOCESS IMPROVEMENTS
    16

Location

Ottawa, Canada