Chao Ken Hsu

About Chao Ken Hsu

Results-driven Senior Technical Program Manager with 15+ years of hands-on and leadership experience in semiconductor manufacturing and lithium-ion / solid-state battery production. Extensive background in process development, equipment industrialization, and factory ramp-up from pilot lines to multi-GWh high-volume manufacturing. Successfully led global manufacturing programs across fabs and battery cell production lines covering electrode, assembly, and formation processes.Highly experienced in resolving complex yield, reliability, and execution challenges through data-driven methodologies including SPC, DOE, Six Sigma, and FMEA. Known for strong cross-functional leadership, vendor management, and quality system implementation within automotive and high-reliability environments. Trusted partner to executive leadership for driving capital efficiency, operational excellence, and scalable manufacturing outcomes.

Experience

1. Lead of the Technical Program Management

   Volkswagen Group

   Mar 2023 — Present · Salzgitter, DE

   Accountable for global manufacturing execution of lithium-ion battery cell production lines, including Dalian (2 GWh) and Salzgitter (40 GWh), aligned with PowerCo unified-cell industrialization targets.•Established and governed end-to-end battery manufacturing capability (electrode through formation), supporting PowerCo’s first North American unified-cell line from concept freeze to production readiness.•Stabilized high-risk programs with 6–12 month delays by leading 10–20 person cross-functional task forces, resolving FAT delay, commissioning delay, process/equipment design issues, and restoring delivery confidence.•Provided functional leadership and governance across process engineering, equipment and vendor strategy, ramp-up, quality systems, and MES, ensuring manufacturability and scalability.•Owned manufacturing roadmaps and risk management, enabling transparent executive decision-making and reliable industrialization outcomes.

Education

• National Taiwan University of Science and Technology

  Master, Science in Engineering

  1999 — 2001

• Tatung Institute of Technology

  bachelor, Materials Engineering

  1995 — 1999

Skills

• Product Development
• Semiconductors
• Doe
• Metrology
• Jmp
• Process Improvement
• Optics
• Yield Enhancement
• Engineering
• Yield
• Six Sigma Green Belt Certification
• Electronics
• Testing
• Pecvd
• Design of Experiments
• Manufacturing
• Process Simulation
• Materials Science
• Failure Analysis
• Semiconductor Industry
• Characterization
• Thin Films
• Fmea
• Spc