Independent consultancy · Hong Kong

Consumer hardware,
from prototype to
mass production.

I run new product introduction programs and Asia supply chains from Hong Kong.

Over twenty years with consumer electronics brands, managing contract manufacturers in China, Taiwan and Vietnam for teams based in the US and Europe.

NIKEPHILIPSSPHEROTWELVE SOUTH

01 / The right fit

Who I work with

Most of the companies I work with have their design team in the United States or Europe and their manufacturing in Asia.

In most cases there is a date that matters, and no one in the region who owns it.

Up there with the best of the best, and I stand by that 100%.

Jordan Rice
VP Nike Innovation Portfolio & Partnerships

02 / Expertise

What I do

Schedules A single plan from prototype through EVT, DVT and mass production, with the critical path maintained throughout.

Long lead items Identifying which decisions determine the build date, and when they have to be made.

Suppliers and contract manufacturers in Asia Capability assessment, multi sourcing, DFM, build readiness and inspection.

Build entry and exit What must be in place before a build begins, and what must be closed before the next one starts.

Requirements Translating product intent into a specification engineering can build from, with the assumptions documented rather than left open.

Bridge, in three directions Between engineering and manufacturing, between English and Chinese, and between a US design team and a factory floor in China. I ensure common understanding.

03 / Track record

Selected work

NIKE

Nike x RTFKT Cryptokicks iRL

As NPI Program Director I led the China contract manufacturer, the gearbox assembly partner and the US engineering team from inception to mass production on Nike’s auto lacing, app enabled shoe. Assembly line readiness, qualified test stations, tooling, cost held through the program, and the schedule kept.

The border then closed, and neither the US engineers nor the Hong Kong team could cross it. It stayed closed considerably longer than anyone anticipated, so a significant part of the role became identifying contingencies before they were needed. I located and qualified a prototyping house in Hong Kong and brought it into this and other programs, which allowed prototyping and development to continue throughout.

programs

The Cryptokicks build led end to end, and seven further programs supported on costing, sourcing and prototyping.

Directing our Asia team and supply chain partners on very complex technical products during very challenging times. COVID, no travel.

Jim Stevenson
Innovation Leader, Nike

Product video · Nike x RTFKT Cryptokicks iRL Watch on Instagram

SPHERO

Sphero Mini

As Senior Product Manager I took a ping pong sized app enabled robot from concept to launch, working with engineering, sales and marketing in the US and the manufacturing team in China.

I also project managed Sphero BB-8, the Star Wars licensed robot that was the number one selling US toy in the Youth Electronics category in both 2015 and 2016.

US$10M

Sales in three months, with development cost recovered in the launch month.

Sphero BB-8 droid beside its NPD award for 2015 number one selling toy in the U.S. in youth electronics — BB-8 with its 2015 NPD #1 Selling Toy in the U.S. award · Sphero Mini retail unit Sphero website

Sphero Mini app-enabled robotic ball in its clear retail box — BB-8 with its 2015 NPD #1 Selling Toy in the U.S. award · Sphero Mini retail unit Sphero website

PHILIPS

Home communication portfolio

Six years creating and managing a global portfolio of new home communication products, from entry level through the design range, supporting sales offices worldwide and the business cases behind their deals.

99%

On time delivery across every project, on a portfolio of over €28M.

Philips 8000 Series Design cordless phone with a wood and aluminium handset resting on its base — Philips 8000 Series Design cordless phone · wood and aluminium handset Philips product page

PRENETICS

ONEdna+ with HSBC Life

A physical product with the software and service layer around it: the DNA test and report, the campaign site and film, and a full health management application. I ran in house and offshore software teams in agile, alongside UX, graphics and medical. I also led the laboratory system changes required for CAP accreditation.

months

From inception to launch.

ONEdna+ campaign banner: a family portrait carrying the HSBC Life and Prenetics marks with the call to action Activate Your ONEdna+ — ONEdna+ campaign · Exclusively for HSBC Life, powered by Prenetics

04 / Lately

Recent work

Three engagements since I started my consultancy.

CM selection, for a robotics startup

I researched the candidate contract manufacturers, ran the RFQ, compared the quotes and produced the analysis for the team. I built the evaluation form so that every engineer assessed each factory against the same criteria, then organized and ran the tour.

researched

quoted

visited

awarded

Six factories assessed by eleven people in a single week.

Inspection and compliance setup, for Twelve South

I evaluated the firms providing physical product compliance services, downselected to one, then extended the engagement to on site inspection in China and Vietnam. I produced the supplier scorecard, the inspection report template and the sample plan, and reviewed their product development milestones alongside it. Twelve South website

12 to 1

Compliance firms evaluated, one selected, then extended to on site inspection across two countries.

Product and design, for Scale Social AI

As Head of Product and Design at an AI product company I run the function with a team of three: myself, one full time and two fractional.

I own the release plan, write the requirements engineering builds from, direct the two designers and run the quality assurance myself. I also set how the team works, from where requirements are kept to who closes a ticket and when. That is why three is enough. Scale Social AI website

34 brands

In three months. Fully branded application experiences shipped by three people.

05 / The engagement

How I work

Time commitment

Most engagements run between 10 and 30 hours a week. Most of the companies I work with do not need a full time program manager. They need someone senior for part of a week.

Deliverables

Many consultants provide a recommendation. I produce the schedule, the long lead register, the requirements and the build criteria, and then I follow them through.

How engagements begin

Usually with a short initial piece of a few weeks, to establish the plan and the long lead position. After that I remain with the program through to mass production.

06 / In their words

References

All six are on LinkedIn, unedited.

Carmen is up there with the best of the best, and I stand by that 100%. She's diligent, driven, extremely bright, multi-lingual, and holds a fathomless depth of knowledge. If you have an opportunity to work with her, as a PM or Engineering partner, I highly recommend you jump at that opportunity.

Jordan Rice

VP Nike Innovation Portfolio & Partnerships

I had the opportunity to work with Carmen for several years at Nike. She is a fantastic engineering/development PM. Carmen was responsible for directing our Asia team and supply chain partners on very complex technical products during very challenging times (COVID, no travel). She is a great team player/leader that is able to maintain a sense of urgency and keep her team focused on the highest priority work streams. I've worked with dozens of PM's in my career, and Carmen is among the best!

Jim Stevenson

Innovation Leader, Nike

I had the pleasure of working with Carmen at Sphero. Carmen excels at managing complex projects from conception to completion, demonstrating exceptional skill in coordinating both local and overseas engineering teams and liaising with factories. Her ability to streamline product development and ensure timely delivery is remarkable.

Josh Savage

Sphero

As a product design engineer, working with Carmen was critical to program success. Carmen manages external partners well, keeping them on schedule, ensuring technical deliverables are met, and communicates challenges quickly and effectively. She also holds internal teammates accountable, making sure we keep up our end of the vendor agreement from a design standpoint. Carmen challenges everyone on the team in the best possible sense, and raises everyone's ability to deliver world class hardware.

Brian Aznoe

Product Design Engineer

I worked very closely with Carmen as she headed up program management for our team at Prenetics. Impeccable discipline, attention to detail, and ability to drive a consistent process while adapting to changing client needs and requirements.

Runbin Dong

Scale Social AI

Carmen is willing to walk an extra step to ensure things can be done and she always delivers what she commits. I am amazed with her exceptional communication skills. She is a great team player and team members enjoy working with her together. I do recommend her for any project management and NPI role.

Vincent Li

Business Development Director, Richsound Research

View these references on LinkedIn ↗

07 / A little background

About me

I grew up in Hong Kong and in Canada, and took my degree in electrical engineering at Queen’s University in Ontario. For over twenty years I have been taking consumer products from prototype into production at Nike, Philips and Sphero, and for the last two years through my own company in Hong Kong.

Because of my hybrid background in manufacturing and digital products, I am comfortable managing complex projects across industries, whether it involves factory floors, product strategy, or building new technology platforms.

I am fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. That matters more than it may appear, since most of my work sits between a design team in one country and a factory in another.

08 / Start a conversation

What are you building?

I am currently taking on new work. Tell me about your product and where it is in development, and I will come back with how I would approach it and what the first few weeks would look like.

carleung88@gmail.com

+852 9169 9260 Find Carmen on LinkedIn

Consumer hardware, from prototype to mass production.