Independent · Controls · Robotics · Safety

Ken Walter

Senior Electrical Controls &
Machine Safety Specialist

Three and a half decades inside Honda of Canada Manufacturing’s welding department—robotics, PLCs, safety systems, and $25M capital projects—now offered through an independent practice built on a single idea: there’s always room for improvement.

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Years in the field
36+
Capital projects led
$50K–$25M
Certified Machine Safety Expert
CMSE®
Robot platforms
3maj.
01 — About

A career on the floor.
An independent practice with the same standards.

RFI Automation is Ken Walter’s independent consulting practice for industrial controls, robotics, and machine safety. The same depth that has kept Honda’s welding lines running for thirty-six years — now available to your team.

Work spans the full arc: line-down troubleshooting, controls and safety design reviews, robot integration, PLC programming, functional-safety strategy, capital project leadership, and mentoring engineering teams. The lens is always the same — production has to run, people have to go home safe, and there is always room for improvement.

02 — Capabilities

Engineering depth across the stack.

RFI stands for there’s always room for improvement. That’s how I approach a robot cell, a safety review, or a $25M install — with the assumption that we can do it cleaner, safer, and more reliably than yesterday.
— Ken Walter, Founder
03 — Experience

Honda of Canada Manufacturing.
Welding department · 1989–2026.

  1. 2018–2026

    Advanced Technical Staff — Technical Advisor

    • Senior technical authority for electrical, controls, and safety challenges.
    • Advanced troubleshooting, system optimization, and engineering guidance.
    • Advised leadership on safety compliance, automation strategy, and equipment lifecycle planning.

  2. 2016–2018

    Engineering Group Leader

    • Led a multidisciplinary engineering team for welding automation and electrical systems.
    • Oversaw project execution, resource planning, and technical reviews.
    • Ensured compliance with safety standards and corporate engineering requirements.

  3. 2010–2016

    Technical Coordinator / Senior Electrical Reviewer / Safety Specialist

    • High-level electrical and safety reviews for new equipment and automation upgrades.
    • Departmental safety specialist — CSA, ISO, and corporate safety standards.
    • Coordinated technical work across engineering, maintenance, and production.

  4. 2004–2010

    Project Manager — Electrical Engineering

    • Capital projects from $50K to $25M within the welding department.
    • Design, procurement, installation, commissioning, and contractor coordination.
    • Delivered on schedule and on budget with safety and quality requirements met.

  5. 1997–2004

    Industrial Electrician — Weld Equipment Services

    • Troubleshooting, wiring, and repair of welding automation equipment.
    • PLC programming (Yaskawa, Mitsubishi, Omron) and integration of sensors and safety devices.
    • Supported continuous improvement and equipment reliability initiatives.

  6. 1989–1997

    Robotic Technician

    • Taught and programmed Honda, Fanuc, and Yaskawa robots.
    • Supported robotic welding operations, maintenance, and optimization.
    • Trained technicians and operators.
04 — Credentials

Education & certifications.

05 — Contact

Have a controls,
robotics, or safety
problem worth solving?

Send a note with what you’re working on — scope, timing, and constraints. You’ll get a thoughtful reply, not a sales pitch.

Email ken@rfiautomation.com Phone 705 · 333 · 4351
Based in Ontario, Canada