Yolanda Smit

About Yolanda Smit

Success-driven ASQ Certified Quality Leader with 15+ years of global diverse experience in manufacturing quality management, new product development, project management, operational excellence, continuous improvement, supplier quality, and business process consulting. Proven track record of successfully employing Six Sigma and Lean tools to lead cross-functional product, software, or service implementation project teams, drive out process and cost inefficiencies in the transactional space and manufacturing space, while building stakeholder consensus across multiple organizational levels.I am a unique candidate because my undergrad was in Computer Engineering and Mathematics, but then I have this vast experience in Quality Engineering and Quality Leadership in multiple industries. I have proven time and time again that I can adjust to any work environment or industry. I am often times recognized in the organizations that I work for as “Top Talent” and have been on the “High Potential” list at many of the organizations that I have worked. At one of my previous employers, I was one of 10 women nominated for the Women’s Leadership Program. I am often times promoted to positions of increasing responsibility within a short period of time because I am able to demonstrate capability very quickly. I have a Master of Science in Quality Assurance and two ASQ Certifications. I enjoy mentoring team members and work very well with stakeholders across all levels of any organization. I am also the published author of the Thesis entitled \"ISO Certification: Placebo or Legitimate Effect on Supplier Quality?”

Experience

1. Principal Npi Project Quality Leader

   Itron, Inc.

   Jul 2023 — Present · Charlotte, NC, US

   Spearhead comprehensive NPI quality initiatives for five electric meter software and hardware development programs on the Distributed Intelligence platform, ensuring alignment with customer and organizational goals• Develop and implement tailored KPI frameworks to accurately assess product quality for emerging and mature hardware and software programs, improving actionable insights across project lifecycles.• Lead cross-functional, global teams in driving system FMEA development for complex hardware, firmware, and software integrations, achieving improved risk mitigation and product reliability• Champion defect management initiatives, achieving a 60% reduction in defect cycle time (<30 days) and reducing customer defect escapes by 20% through proactive monitoring of trends in key metrics like Test Execution Rate and Bug Severity• Collaborate with senior leaders to design scalable processes and customer support structures, ensuring successful launches and enhanced customer satisfaction• Direct metric development, capacity planning, and QMS maintenance activities, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence• Facilitate root cause analysis of critical defects, driving process improvements to prevent recurrence and enhance development efficiency

Education

• Wake Forest University

  Master of Business Administration

  2024

• Johnson C. Smith University - JCSU

  Bachelor's Degree

  1999 — 2004

• California State University-Dominguez Hills

  Master's Degree

  2008 — 2012