# S1E46 The ABCs of Industrial Automation | Mauricio Romero

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2020-10-23
- Length: 45m
- Episode: 46
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-23-s1e46-the-abcs-of-industrial-automation-mauricio-romero
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/abcs-industrial-automation/

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-23-s1e46-the-abcs-of-industrial-automation-mauricio-romero#t=28) Introduction: Mauricio Romero and Johnson & Johnson Vistakon
- [1:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-23-s1e46-the-abcs-of-industrial-automation-mauricio-romero#t=61) Romero's Early Career: Programming, Americ Disc, and Injection Molding
- [11:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-23-s1e46-the-abcs-of-industrial-automation-mauricio-romero#t=706) Deciding When to Automate: Value, Cost, and the Risk of Over-Automation
- [18:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-23-s1e46-the-abcs-of-industrial-automation-mauricio-romero#t=1100) Future of Automation: Collaborative Robots and System Architecture
- [21:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-23-s1e46-the-abcs-of-industrial-automation-mauricio-romero#t=1306) PLC Vendors: Allen Bradley vs. Siemens and Structured Text
- [24:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-23-s1e46-the-abcs-of-industrial-automation-mauricio-romero#t=1449) Engineering Habits: Attention to Detail and Pre-Mortems
- [28:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-23-s1e46-the-abcs-of-industrial-automation-mauricio-romero#t=1733) Safety Design: Zero Access and Protecting Operators
- [33:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-23-s1e46-the-abcs-of-industrial-automation-mauricio-romero#t=1992) Automation Vendors and Technician Involvement
- [36:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-23-s1e46-the-abcs-of-industrial-automation-mauricio-romero#t=2216) Validation Process: IQ, OQ, PQ, and the V-Model
- [38:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-23-s1e46-the-abcs-of-industrial-automation-mauricio-romero#t=2330) Career Advice: Internships and Selling Ideas to Business Leaders

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Johnson & Johnson (company)
- Vistakon (company)
- Americ Disc (company)
- Allen Bradley (company)
- Siemens (company)
- BNR (company)
- Wonderware (company)
- Emerson (company)
- LabVIEW (tool)
- PLC (chip)
- HMI (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [When Production Overtakes Prototyping: Materialise’s Next Phase of AM](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-10-13-when-production-overtakes-prototyping-materialises-next-phase-of-am) (Additive Snack)
- [The New ROI of Automation w/ Scot Lindemann](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-02-08-the-new-roi-of-automation-w-scot-lindemann) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Ep. 10 - Automation Equipment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-12-07-ep-10-automation-equipment) (Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast)
- [How Design-First Thinking Supercharges Manufacturing Performance with Clarity Design Founder Tom Lupfer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-03-11-how-design-first-thinking-supercharges-manufacturing-performance-with-clarity-de) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [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)

## Citing this page

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