Born in Uberaba (MG), Renan Meneses Oliveira has built a career marked by the combination of technical rigor and management skills in complex industrial environments. A graduate in Mechanical Engineering from the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU) and an MBA in Project Management from Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), he has more than 14 years of experience in process engineering, product development and coordination of multidisciplinary projects in Brazil and Latin America.
His journey began during his undergraduate years, during an internship in the projects area of a large company in the fertilizer sector, where he had his first contact with very complex industrial processes. Shortly after, the engineer took up his first permanent position in an engineering company located in Mogi das Cruzes (SP), working in project coordination for the chemical and mining industries. This experience led him to understand, in practice, how to align planning, execution and multidisciplinary teams around well-defined technical and financial outcomes.
In 2014, Renan joined an American multinational in the food sector, where he participated in one of the most important industrial projects of the decade: the expansion of a manufacturing unit with an investment of approximately 270 million reais, responsible for bringing to Brazil the production of one of the most popular snacks in the world. He was responsible for installing the first two manufacturing lines of the product in the country and, later, he also led the nationalization process of another global brand of biscuits and potatoes, with an additional investment of around 10 million reais. “It was a period of intense technical and cultural immersion. The responsibility was great, but at the same time it was a unique opportunity to learn how to manage very complex projects within a global structure,” recalls the engineer.
His work has seen him progress from process engineer to technical manager of snack and biscuit production technologies, leading teams and projects combining engineering and product development. Renan followed all stages, from earthworks to commissioning and delivery of the lines into full operation, ensuring compliance with performance and safety objectives. The experience has consolidated its specialization in project management methodologies, such as FEL and PMBOK, and in continuous improvement programs, including Lean Six Sigma and PDCA, with direct results in reducing waste and increasing the OEE of industrial facilities.
Years later, he accepted the challenge of leading the process engineering area within a global packaging company, expanding its operations to Chile. Leading product development and production optimization projects, he led initiatives combining sustainability, innovation and operational efficiency. Among the highlights is the development of a new waterproofing membrane that eliminates the use of plastic covers, generating annual savings estimated at 18 million reais for the customer and contributing to the reduction of industrial waste.
With an approach combining technical analysis and business vision, the engineer has implemented change control systems and Change Control Process methodologies, in addition to leading the implementation of Industry 4.0 programs, such as the use of mixed reality in operational training. At the same time, he was appointed responsible for multilaminate packaging technology throughout Latin America, coordinating projects for the Brazil and Chile units. In 2023, it received international recognition by winning the President’s Award, the company’s highest honor, for Project Yellow Tag, a team engagement and continuous improvement initiative that involved more than 300 factories around the world.
Currently, Renan is looking to deepen its overseas operations, focusing on developing sustainable and smart solutions for the consumer goods industry. Its vision integrates technology, productivity and human impact.
“I have always seen engineering as a tool to connect innovation, productivity and people. My role is to transform good ideas into real results, which generate real value for businesses and consumers,” he says.
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