Career Development (Article 2)

As time passes , we experience different situations in life physical , environmental changes and some personal. All these experiences have value and most of all the value is from what we learn , and how we move ahead in life. Choosing the right career can impact all of these experiences and measuring success in life is not about how much money or wealth you have, it is all boils down to the basics your health and happiness. Every person may have a different outlook on what health and happiness truly is, and that all comes from the family , friends and sometimes where you may live.

I would like to share some of the Pro's and Con's of each career move and maybe help others with early stage career development.

Augat Corporate

Pro's - First job, excellent training and diversity. Learned management early on in career and how different organization run. Teamwork was essential to health and happiness both at home and inside the workplace.

Con's- Wish I could have spent 4 years doing the same, was a pleasure to work with the people and many I stayed in contact with for years after leaving the job.

After settling into my new job at the Texas Instruments facilities, I met young engineers and highly educated members of the four thousand employee based staff located in Attleboro. Texas Instruments as a corporate goal was driven to educate the staff and grow the careers of the employees throughout the organization. I worked in the Connectors Systems division, part of MMD Materials group. This division made both military and consumer electronic related connectors and sub-systems. I was placed into a role as a sustaining engineer/automation engineer and worked in the facilities responsible for automation equipment and high speed stamping presses. I designed the first FMS ( Flexible Manufacturing System) a computer controlled AU system to build connectors from a lot size of one to one hundred pieces. This system was estimated to build internally at one million dollars and we were able to modularize reducing the cost to less than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars per machine. The system was able to reduce direct labor from thirteen employees to two people (and once two systems were in place reduce direct labor to one and a half). In the 80s these automated systems were used to reduce the capital equipment , labor and manufacturing quality issues. The exposure of integrating this new technology and reducing overall operational expenses warranted a promotion and recognition as the top one percent of the companies employees and a move from a job grade twenty four to twenty eight. I led a team of both technical and non technical staff to help the installation of automation for single in line memory module sockets creating standard operating procedures (SOP), just in time ( JIT) , statistical process control ( SPC) and Juran Quality tools to reduce scrap and increase production efficiency. I was able to get first hand knowledge of military spec production of products and see how small orders were managed effectively using tools aiding in quality control management systems. Technical Training in metals, plastics, metal finishing and automation controls was provided along with process, flow charting, reliability engineering, failure mode analysis and other tools for design and manufacturing. I also acquired my first patent while employed at Texas Instruments and held a Trade Secret within the Connector Systems Division (CSD) group. Texas Instruments was one of the best companies within my career for promoting furthering education and providing technical education to their employees.

Texas Instruments

Pro's - With no hesitation to add, excellent training and diversity. This company was one of the most memorable places I worked for and the team was outstanding , dedicated and most employees were there for many years ( 20+).

Con's- The group I was working in was subject to military budget spending. The consumer products were highly competitive and many customers started manufacturing in China at that time. Many of the young engineers (like me) were being displaced, and although I had some security at that time I was looking at working for a more stable industry.

After working at the Texas Instruments facility, I decided to move into a so called "recession proof" consumer products market. My career transitioned to the Juvenile Industry market in 1990. It was a longer commitment or approximately ten years I worked within a new industry that was highly regulated and required international travel around the globe. Having a background in design, plastics, metals and materials finishing, I transitioning into a new error managing the development of new products from manufacturers around the world. When I was at my prior job, I was shocked to think manufacturing would transition overseas, and now I started to learn why this transition was happening. Initially I was able to help develop a line of giftsets growing the sales revenues within the organization and assist in engineering technical issues the company may of had with ongoing products. As time progressed I acquired several patents and was part of a team that helped grow the company from twenty million to over a hundred and thirty million in sales revenues. I expanded my knowledge with FDA, GMP , UL and CE , including Project Management certificate, and Six Sigma Training certificate. I also led the Care and Safety Team bringing new innovative items to the line working with wireless technology(RF) , infrared thermometer technology ( IR) and other leading category product changes. I was promoted to director of engineering and worked in a role managing new product development and suppliers around the globe. I actively took part in costing, budgets, legal , project management training, supplier certification, organizational processes and the departments profit and loss for over thirty employees in the product development team. There was a transition in my career , one that would put me at a crossroad for many years to come. I had to decide do I want to continue my technical career and Director of Engineering role or do I want to move ahead into a Vice President of Product Development role. I had a choice and a chance to try both, and found out that if you understand time management and allocation of resources you surely cant effectively do both. As time passed, I saw changes within the industry and also at that time the company was under pressure of being sold, so I decided to go back to school and take some courses to further expand my career along with re evaluating the so called " recession proof" Juvenile Industry.

Kiddie Products/ the First Years

Pro's - Excellent International Experience, traveled to Southeast Asia(China and Taiwan), India, Canada, Mexico, Thailand and Japan. Learned about strict regulatory controls, program /project management and costing ( domestic and international). Developed with teams over 100 new products a year from concept through in stock , working with out side agencies for design packaging and testing. Work with customs, brokers and freight ( both domestic and international) . Worked on Patents, legal budget and other associated legal matters. Very well structured company , based on metrics and growth. The company developed unique or improved products that were essential to everyday parenting.

Con's- The company did experience growing pains and was later sold to a licensing company. The innovation that existed when the company was managed by previous owners was diminished, selling primarily licensed branded products.

As time passed, I went through a transition at a point in my career I decided to start consulting with my diverse background of knowledge I had attained and work for various companies in different industries. I was looking for technology, a well managed competitive and process oriented company. Is there any companies out there that can offer a work life balance?