From Robots to Results: Scaling Manufacturing with People in Mind

Leading Engineering for Special Processes: Balancing Cost, Complexity, and Cross-Functional Strategy

I work in Special Processes, which handles non-standard manufacturing operations—from custom robotics and lasers to large machines that form, cut, or chemically process parts. As a Tier 1 supplier, just one step removed from the end manufacturer, our team works closely with automotive OEMs to quote new business and determine the lowest-cost methods to manufacture new vehicle components.

Our team supports:

• Quoting and selling new business

• Influencing product designs to improve manufacturability

• Defining and quoting requirements for new equipment and tooling

• Sourcing cost-competitive quotes for machines and tools

• Purchasing and evaluating equipment at the supplier’s facility

• Optimizing process flows and CAD layouts

• Installing, setting up, and training plant teams to operate the equipment

I provide oversight and guidance on timing, budget, documentation, and design. I also help shape strategy to balance workloads and ensure we have the right people in the right place and time. This becomes especially important in a remote work environment, where planning for redundancy and overlap is essential to avoid burnout and maintain project continuity.

Breaking Siloed Thinking in Engineering: Passion, Ownership, and Planning Win Every Time

Our team works with many SDTs (simultaneous development teams) and interfaces with different business functions regularly. Like many companies, we sometimes face challenges with siloed thinking.

What I’ve found helpful is taking ownership with passion—that tends to break down walls. Building relationships outside of work goes a long way, too. We all succeed or fail together. That’s why I believe it’s my responsibility to speak up for what’s right, even if it’s not technically my area. Passion and drive tend to win people over; that mindset helps shift the focus toward shared outcomes.

It doesn’t matter what project we’re on or who owns it—we all need to push for the best result for our customers.

We also run virtual builds as a standard part of our process. Preparing ahead of time and having a plan B for weak spots helps ensure a smoother and more robust product launch. That kind of preparation brings teams together and builds trust across functions.

Balancing Automation and People: Efficiency Starts With Ergonomics

Automation is a massive part of the job, but nothing works without people. Safety is first and foremost, but we also focus heavily on operator ergonomics—weight, height, reach, and travel distance. Optimizing how far someone has to walk is essential to their well-being and often leads to better product quality.

The best solutions come when people, processes, and technology align around simplicity, safety, and shared goals

Scaling Training Across Teams: Clarity, Accessibility, and Constant Variety

Yanfeng is a large company with operations around the globe. I’ve helped create and lead training sessions for my areas of expertise using video chats with both audio and visual content. Live closed captioning helps bridge the gap for our non-English-speaking teams, and electronic translation tools are also helpful. We cover around 50 special processes, so there’s always something new and exciting to keep people engaged.

Making Continuous Improvement Count: Simplicity Over Complexity

The key to continuous improvement is not creating unnecessary work. When everything is on the table, it turns into a box-ticking exercise. We have to streamline and make the tools easy to use. The process must be simple, and photos go a long way in communicating complex concepts and bridging language gaps. Remove duplication, say it once, say it right.

Advice for Future Leaders: Focus, Integrity, and Perspective

My advice to anyone looking to advance in their role is as follows:

• Be honest about the good and the bad. Trust is the backbone of sound relationships.

• We rarely work alone. Give credit where credit is due. Celebrate the little and large successes of those around you often.

• Respect everyone you work with. You never know who you might be working for.

• Put energy into the areas you can control or influence. Spend no time on the things you can’t.

• Take time to plan and step back occasionally to look at the big picture.

• Bring a positive & optimistic attitude. This will keep you moving while others stall.

• Brainstorm as if you have all the time, money, and resources in the world.

• Set your priorities straight. Becoming a workhorse is easy, but it’s often more important to work on the right things at the right time than to get everything done.

The world is full of problems and opportunities, which is exciting because there is plenty worth doing. I hope that you find some piece of my experience helpful.