# S1E11 Farm Boys Make the Best Engineers | Tommy Davis

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2020-06-03
- Length: 40m
- Episode: 11
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-06-03-s1e11-farm-boys-make-the-best-engineers-tommy-davis

## Summary

Tommy Davis, a Director of R&D at West Pharmaceutical, discusses his journey from welding farm tools as a teenager to leading engineering teams in medical devices. He details the value of his PE license and Six Sigma Black Belt certification, explaining how statistical methods and FMEA analysis helped him solve complex drug delivery system issues. Davis also reflects on the evolution of engineering tools, the challenges of recruiting talent, and the importance of rigorous requirements gathering to prevent costly late-stage design changes.

## Chapters

- [0:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-06-03-s1e11-farm-boys-make-the-best-engineers-tommy-davis#t=13) Introduction: Tommy Davis and West Pharmaceutical
- [1:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-06-03-s1e11-farm-boys-make-the-best-engineers-tommy-davis#t=73) Farm upbringing, FFA, and early welding projects
- [8:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-06-03-s1e11-farm-boys-make-the-best-engineers-tommy-davis#t=530) The PE license process and career impact
- [14:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-06-03-s1e11-farm-boys-make-the-best-engineers-tommy-davis#t=895) Six Sigma Black Belt training and drug delivery case study
- [19:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-06-03-s1e11-farm-boys-make-the-best-engineers-tommy-davis#t=1186) FMEA methodology and risk management strategies
- [23:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-06-03-s1e11-farm-boys-make-the-best-engineers-tommy-davis#t=1381) Requirements engineering and material selection pitfalls
- [28:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-06-03-s1e11-farm-boys-make-the-best-engineers-tommy-davis#t=1680) Transition from design engineer to R&D Director
- [30:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-06-03-s1e11-farm-boys-make-the-best-engineers-tommy-davis#t=1851) Recruiting challenges and industry evolution
- [35:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-06-03-s1e11-farm-boys-make-the-best-engineers-tommy-davis#t=2137) Future of CAD, additive manufacturing, and hiring

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- West Pharmaceutical (company)
- Bristol Myers Squibb (company)
- Argon Medical (company)
- Future Matrix (company)
- Texas Medical (company)
- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)
- FFA (other)
- Six Sigma Black Belt (other)
- FMEA (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [305: Humans Have a Terrible Spec Sheet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-10-03-305-humans-have-a-terrible-spec-sheet) (Embedded.fm)
- [215 - Why Aren’t Technical People Leading Drug-Device Audits?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2025-11-26-215-why-arent-technical-people-leading-drug-device-audits) (Let's Combinate)
- [214 - The Best 5 Certifications for ANY Quality Career Path (CQE, Green Belt, CQA & More)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2025-11-19-214-the-best-5-certifications-for-any-quality-career-path-cqe-green-belt-cqa-mor) (Let's Combinate)
- [004 - “Until They Know How Much You Care” with Andy Robertson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2021-10-27-004-until-they-know-how-much-you-care-with-andy-robertson) (Let's Combinate)
- [053 - "Duct Tape and Bubble Gum" with Chris Tsai](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-10-05-053-duct-tape-and-bubble-gum-with-chris-tsai) (Let's Combinate)

## Citing this page

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