NICOLE KATHLEEN SWART

• Successfully coordinating and organizing customer projects, I ensured seamless communication and collaboration with customers, external partners, and suppliers, resulting in improved project efficiency and customer satisfaction. Through efficient management of the internal supply chain, production and procurement processes, the products are produced and delivered on time to customers, reducing delays and enhancing overall project performance.
  
  As the functional leader of a project team, I effectively guided the team towards achieving desired outcomes. This was accomplished through clear and transparent communication, enabling the team to align with project objectives and milestones. By calculating costs, setting competitive prices, and developing pricing strategies that maximized profitability, my team and I significantly contributed to the financial success of the projects and my department, generating over half a million € in net sales within just over two years.
  
  Furthermore, my thorough preparation and negotiation skills led to favorable agreements for the company during product price negotiations, securing profitable deals. Overall, my accomplishments in this role highlight my ability to successfully coordinate projects, manage interfaces, and lead cross-functional teams. Through strategic pricing and efficient sales techniques, I consistently contributed to the success of customer projects and the overall profitability of my department.

Successfully commercialized coatings for 3D-printed parts. Managed multiple projects simultaneously by prioritizing tasks according to urgency, resource availability, and alignment with organizational goals. Functionally steered a small laboratory team and leveraged in-house expertise to develop and implement customized colors and coating solutions for customers' specific needs. Provided comprehensive technical support, trainings, and consulting services to customers, ensuring successful implementation of the coatings for 3D printed parts and enhancing customer satisfaction. Conducted research and collaborated with external partners to explore surface treatments and tests for coated and uncoated 3D-printed parts, increasing market penetration and acceptance for coated 3D printed products. Additionally, supported our internal start-ups by addressing their technical inquiries, fostering innovation, and driving growth within my organization.

Successfully developed an integrated processes II waterborne basecoat that significantly reduced formulation complexity and costs. This basecoat enables our customers to apply the coating with lower process costs, increased efficiency, and improved eco-friendliness, resulting in up to 20% reduction in CO2 emissions during the application process. In collaboration with our customization department, the basecoat was developed, approved by customers and implemented in the the customer paint line in less than two years. Working across multiple production sites and departments to ensure the desired outcomes were achieved.

Focusing on hydrophobicity as well as hydrophobic coatings through an extensive literature study. Spearheaded the creation of a comprehensive experimental planning document/Excel sheet. Collaborated closely with our analytical and weathering departments to successfully identify and plan analyses and weathering tests. These efforts were instrumental in gaining valuable insights into the behavior and performance of hydrophobic coatings under accelerated and outdoor weathering conditions.

Successfully edited manuscripts for a module called the Membrane Separations, enhancing language and layout for improved clarity and understanding. Conducted extensive laboratory experiments by measuring light transmission through lathed PMMA rods, contributing to the development of potential photocatalytic reactors. Utilized an integrating sphere to gather precise data and effectively processed the collected information in Microsoft Excel for further analysis.

Gained hands-on experience in various clearcoat technologies, work processes as well as test methods and analyses in preparation for a masterthesis topic focused on analyzing the weathering stability of easy to clean clearcoats for automobiles.

• Achieved success in effectively teaching English as a second language to children aged 5-13. Successfully adapted and integrated into a foreign culture. Accomplished personal objective of saving funds to pursue Master studies.

Effectively served as a simultaneous translator for professors during engineering courses, facilitating effective communication by translating Afrikaans lectures into English. Provided invaluable support to English-speaking students by ensuring their comprehension and application of lecture content during and after class. Played a pivotal role in bridging the language gap, enabling students to fully engage with the course material and excel in their studies.

Productively assessed the need for an additional dosing tank and pump for the coagulation dosing system at the water treatment plant. Conducted a thorough investigation and collaborated with different units and suppliers to gather necessary information for the project. Created a Requirements Operational Capacity (ROC) document for the implementation of the project. Analyzed, documented, and provided recommendations for the conditions and specifications of pumps and motors at the low-level reservoirs on site. Utilization of project documentation of value to and to the disposal of management to make informed decisions on whether to refurbish or install new pumps and motors.

Successfully scaled up the water-cooling sump pumps and piping system to handle increased water volume from cooling towers as a project. This needed to be done due to non-operational pumps causing flooding in the scour pits becoming a safety hazard on site. Created a detailed report with comprehensive calculations for the new pumps and pipes. Due to safety concerns the implementation of the new pumps and pipes were prioritized and scheduled for implementation in 2014.