Kirishanth Poobalasingham

I am a bilingual (German and English) Automotive Engineering graduate with a specialization in business management and manufacturing. I have extensive knowledge in numerical data-based feasibility studies, advisory reports, project management and supply chain processes, especially autonomous truck deployment for hub-to-hub operations.

My late project for my dissertation in collaboration with the FedEx Depot in Exeter, was regarding the deployment of autonomous trucks to enhance one of their supply-chain processes. Here, I investigated the feasibility and the financial impact of implementing and deploying autonomous trucks. A TCO (total cost of ownership) approach was applied to devise complex truck cost models on Excel for manually driven trucks utilized at present and for three scenarios of autonomous truck deployment. The outcomes from the cost models were then analysed and evaluated, which resulted in potential annual savings in operational costs, ranging from £17,165.00 to £51,106.00 for one specific hub-to-hub truck operation. In a 5-month internship with NPS Diesel B.V., I was tasked with investigating potential solutions to overcome high fuel consumption and excessive thermal stress on diesel particulate filter system components of yacht engines. This involved developing graphical flow diagrams for control systems to be utilized for the control unit of yacht engines’ diesel particulate filter systems. I have also participated in many group projects, including an assignment on the sudden production demand for the Tesla Model 3s for the European market, for which I had to conduct a feasibility study and compose an advisory report for stakeholders, that also included a three-year profit and loss statement for two different production plans. The field of activity of another project extended over the creation of an ideal research and development plan as well as the preparation of a business plan, which also contained a cost-efficient production plan based on the basic principles of LEAN management. An electrically powered vehicle for the last mile delivery was to be developed for delivering mails and parcels, which also corresponds to the European regulations. Furthermore, I completed a minor for project management in offshore wind energy during my studies where I, as an energy consultant, researched the offshore wind energy technology and composed a tender plan for placing a bid and operating an offshore wind farm in the Netherlands for an energy asset consulting firm in Germany. Through numerous jobs in order processing for logistics and transport companies like TNT Express, FedEx Express or Mainfreight logistics, I have additionally acquired a solid understanding of warehouse supply-chain processes.

I have recently graduated with a 7 (dutch equivalence of a 2:1) in automotive engineering from HAN University of Applied Sciences with a specialization in business management and manufacturing. Through my bachelor study in the Netherlands, I have already been able to gain a lot of insights into the engineering profession, both in theory and in practice. By participating in various projects during my studies, I already spoke to real customers and attained an insight of the professional world.