Operational Excellence at Havelaar

As an Operation Associate, the student will be responsible for several key objectives related Havelaar’s operations in Canada. They include, but are not limited to:
• Developing and executing an office reopening plan during COVID-19
• Overseeing the office renovation
• Managing various purchasing and accounting activities
• Supporting the ongoing recruitment of new talent
• Contributing to additional developmental projects

In short, the student will be helping the company move forward with the next step of its growth process, establishing a solid footprint within Toronto’s electric vehicle research and development community.

Significance of the project
This project is significant to Havelaar. The activities described above will enable Havelaar to continue to grow and realize its potential for commercialization. In the short term, it will help Havelaar safely resume its R&D operations that had been impacted by COVID-19.
There are two notable challenges to the cleantech space, specifically related to electric vehicles. One is the prolonged lead time for research and development, resulting in a long time to market compared to more commoditized tech products. My efforts in executing an office re-opening plan and expanding operations will enable, if not catalyze, this R&D process. Second is the challenge of acquiring and retaining top engineering talent that align with the company’s culture and objectives. I hope my efforts in recruiting will help Havelaar in this regard as well.

Faculty Supervisor:

William Mitchell

Student:

Partner:

Havelaar

Discipline:

Business

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of Toronto

Program: