Hardware Podcasts

S1E46 The ABCs of Industrial Automation | Mauricio Romero

Being an Engineer · 23 Oct 2020 · 45m · Episode 46

What this episode covers

Mauricio Romero, a senior manager of metrology at Johnson & Johnson’s Vistakon division, discusses the practicalities of industrial automation in medical device manufacturing. He explains how to decide when to automate by weighing value against cost, highlighting a failed project where over-automation reduced flexibility, and emphasizing safety and ergonomics as key drivers. Romero details the architecture of automated systems, comparing PLC vendors like Allen Bradley and Siemens, and outlines the rigorous IQ/OQ/PQ validation process required for FDA-regulated equipment. He advises young engineers to gain hands-on experience through internships and to treat end-user technicians as the primary customers during design.

Most relevant to

large enterprises

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Johnson & Johnson, Vistakon, Americ Disc, Allen Bradley, Siemens, BNR, Wonderware, Emerson
Chips
PLC
Tools
LabVIEW, HMI

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Additive Snack · 1h 02m

    When Production Overtakes Prototyping: Materialise’s Next Phase of AM

    Bart van der Schuren, CTO of Materialise, explains how the company transitioned from a 1995 service bureau to a production powerhouse, recently surpassing prototyping with serial manufacturing. He details the three pillars of Materialise—manufacturing, software, and medical applications—and highlights rapid adoption in hearing aids, dental, and drones, contrasted with the slow, recertification-heavy aerospace sector. Van der Schuren argues that AI-driven automation and in-situ quality control are critical for reducing New Product Introduction (NPI) costs and scaling production in regulated industries.

    Scaling productionAI & machine learning
    10 chapters

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 28m

    The New ROI of Automation w/ Scot Lindemann

    Scot Lindemann, CEO of Mission Design & Automation, explains that the ROI of automation must extend beyond simple labor replacement to include quality, consistency, and labor availability. He argues that automation should be treated as a continuous improvement journey rather than an all-or-nothing investment, citing examples like a football manufacturer who found value in smaller, targeted automations instead of a full line overhaul. Lindemann highlights how automating expensive capital equipment, such as in injection molding, can unlock hidden capacity without necessarily replacing the human operator. He advises manufacturers to start small, partner with integrators for long-term support, and focus on reducing process fragility caused by labor shortages.

    Scaling productionPricing, margins & unit economics
    6 chapters

  • Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast · 42m

    Ep. 10 - Automation Equipment

    Lucian Shapar and Stephen Halls of Opulo discuss their experiences with manufacturing automation, categorizing tools into 'easy wins,' 'easy punts,' and 'on the fence' decisions. They highlight specific successes like the 'Bobby' belt cutter and the 'Gundam' software testing suite, while warning against over-engineering solutions for tasks that are better handled by vendors or manual processes, such as their failed attempt to automate belt winding. The conversation emphasizes pragmatic decision-making, referencing the XKCD automation chart and Seth Godin's 'The Dip' to determine when automation is truly worth the investment.

    Design for manufacturing & NPIScaling production
    6 chapters

  • EMS@C-LEVEL · 9m

    How Design-First Thinking Supercharges Manufacturing Performance with Clarity Design Founder Tom Lupfer

    Tom Lupfer, President and Founder of Clarity Design, explains how integrating engineering and manufacturing under one roof creates a competitive advantage for his Southern California-based EMS company. He details how data from Ko Young inspection systems (SPI and AOI) and Python-driven automation closes the loop between design intent and production reality, enabling rapid redesigns during the pandemic supply chain crisis. Lupfer also discusses the company's strategic focus on medical devices, leveraging ISO 13485 and FDA registration to serve regulated customers, while emphasizing a hiring philosophy that places engineers directly in front of clients to ensure manufacturability and speed.

    Design for manufacturing & NPIManufacturing partners & offshoring
    6 chapters

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 04m

    305: Humans Have a Terrible Spec Sheet

    Amanda Wozniak, a principal engineer at Amazon Robotics with a background at Analog Devices, the Wyss Institute at Harvard, and NxStage, discusses her career path from semiconductor design to biomedical engineering and robotics. She explains the critical gap between academic theory and practical engineering, highlighting how parasitics and non-ideal component behavior often cause circuit failures that textbooks ignore. Wozniak also details the challenges of navigating FDA regulatory processes for medical devices and the importance of establishing robust quality systems early to avoid bureaucratic busywork. Finally, she addresses the realities of being a woman in tech, offering advice on handling sexism, avoiding burnout, and recognizing that engineering is fundamentally a team sport rather than a solo endeavor.

    Careers & educationAnalog & power electronics
    8 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Being an Engineer. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.