Becoming a process engineer in a manufacturing facility didn't feel foreign because I grew up in that environment, working with my dad in his tool and die shop and injection molding high-precision parts. I graduated with an engineering degree and headed out to forge my own path. I did process and tool design, pilot to production, design for manufacturability, facility transfers, gage R&R studies, process validation...it was fun work.

I took an opportunity to work on a cutting-edge project and it was there I learned about the power of quality and reliability, and I was hooked. This wasn't design (product or process); this was optimizing design. I found awesome mentors in that group, studied hard, practiced the teachings and earned my ASQ Certified Quality Engineering certificate.

Back to the daily operations of the larger corporation, I forged forward with the tools and techniques I learned because I saw what was possible. It wasn't only sitting in a cubicle running scenarios, it was pulling people together to form a brain trust for a time, taking a systematic approach, driving better results, and using it to make better decisions.

I facilitated FMEA meetings for hazards, use, design and process which were productive, improved communication, and helped teams act proactively. An engineer told me that our FMEA session was the most productive facility visit they'd ever had and he thought it improved relations between the facility and corporate. What a powerful example of Quality Thinking!

I helped with ALT testing during design verification, audited suppliers, and was part of a group to help re-define the quality management system...more proven values and three more ASQ certifications.