ANGELA KIHARA
Mission,BC
Summary
Results-driven professional with over 5 years of experience optimizing specifications for seamless production and compliance in dynamic environments. Proven track record of successful new product introductions and effective stakeholder engagement. Expertise in project execution, maintaining high standards in data quality management, and applying sensory analysis to drive organizational excellence. Committed to fostering continuous improvement and innovation while leveraging strong communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. Actively seeking roles in Quality Management Systems with a long-term goal of transitioning into people management, new product development, and systems and specifications management. Recognized for a collaborative approach and dedication to cultivating a culture of excellence.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Specifications Management Coordinator
British American Tobacco
03.2022 - 11.2024
- Led end-to-end execution of new product introductions with zero quality non-conformances, ensuring full compliance with technical and manufacturing protocols.
- Optimized product specifications and Bills of Material to support seamless production and operational efficiency.
- Maintained over 95% data quality compliance in the Cigarette Making and Modern Oral factories.
- Implemented productivity and cost-saving initiatives that improved manufacturing efficiency while maintaining product integrity.
- Collaborated with R&D, production, and quality teams to align on product specifications and targets.
- Spearheaded sensory analysis processes, enabling informed business decisions across Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Initiated High-Performing Organization (HPO) principles training and quality department assessments using the Principle-Based Assessment Tool.
Operations Intern
British American Tobacco
05.2021 - 03.2022
- Led loss analysis initiatives in filter rod manufacturing, reducing filter tow waste by 57%.
- Conducted quality performance audits, increasing Filter Rod Quality by 5% within three months.
- Supported implementation of Statistical Process Control (SPC) for precision and data accuracy.
- Collaborated with Autonomous Maintenance Pillar to implement and train Equipment Owners on Autonomous Maintenance that achieved a 50% decrease inefficiencies on one of the production modules.
- Collaborated with the Sustainability Department to enhance safety practices in the Filter Rod Department.
Data Collection Enumerator
Aquaculture Business Development Program (ABDP)
12.2020 - 12.2020
- Conducted detailed data collection and verification on aquaculture operations, ensuring high data accuracy and reliability.
- Supported quality assurance of collected datasets through cross-validation and root cause analysis.
Fisheries Officer Intern
County Government of Nyeri
10.2019 - 10.2020
- Ensured compliance with ISO 9001:2015 and HACCP standards in post-harvest fish handling and processing.
- Conducted microbiological testing and quality audits to uphold safety and product integrity.
- Developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Wamagana Fish Factory and provided training to local fish farmers.
Quality Control Officer Attaché
Trufoods Limited
06.2017 - 09.2017
- Inspected raw materials and finished products to ensure compliance with safety, quality, and nutritional standards.
- Conducted laboratory testing following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP).
- Supported R&D efforts by contributing to new product formulations and quality improvement projects.
Education
Post-Graduate Diploma - Project Management
Kenya Institute of Management
Kenya01.2024
Bachelor of Science - Food Science and Technology
University of Nairobi
Kenya09-2018
Skills
- ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems
- HACCP, GMP & GLP Standards
- Statistical Process Control (SPC)
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Data Quality Management & Analysis
- Project Planning & Reporting Tools
- Strategic Specifications Management
- Results-Driven New Product Introductions
- Effective Stakeholder Engagement
- Effective communication skills
- Project management and team alignment
Accomplishments
- Developed Cigarette Dye Management System – Improved dye management and alignment with manufacturing specifications by designing and implementing a new cigarette dye coding system.
- Digitization Benchmarking & Project Lead – Led benchmarking with South Africa to enhance digital specification displays in Kenya; strengthened risk management and stakeholder collaboration across IDT, Production, and QA teams.
- Specifications Error Resolution & Benchmarking – Resolved specification download errors and optimized display through benchmarking with Modern Oral Factory, Sweden, preventing quality non-conformances.
- Stakeholder-Inclusive New Product Introduction Sign-Off – Revamped sign-off process to include all manufacturing stakeholders, boosting cross-team communication and alignment.
- Incoming Materials Quality Standard Developer – Established a quality monitoring standard for incoming materials, reducing non-conformances and improving overall quality control.
- Filter Rod Waste Reduction Achievements – Cut Filter Tow Waste Factor by 57%; reduced dry sampling ejections from 500 to 200 rods, saving one pallet annually; standardized splice ejections to cut filter loss by 25% (from 4 pallets to 1 pallet/year).
Languages
English
Full Professional
Certification
1. PDCA Method Fundamentals Course by TR Training
2. Lean Six Sigma White Belt Certification by The Council for Six Sigma Certification
Timeline
Specifications Management Coordinator
British American Tobacco
03.2022 - 11.2024
Operations Intern
British American Tobacco
05.2021 - 03.2022
Data Collection Enumerator
Aquaculture Business Development Program (ABDP)
12.2020 - 12.2020
Fisheries Officer Intern
County Government of Nyeri
10.2019 - 10.2020
Quality Control Officer Attaché
Trufoods Limited
06.2017 - 09.2017
Post-Graduate Diploma - Project Management
Kenya Institute of Management
Bachelor of Science - Food Science and Technology
University of Nairobi