# S1E48 The Importance of Learning to Say No | Mark Downey

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2020-10-30
- Length: 46m
- Episode: 48
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-30-s1e48-the-importance-of-learning-to-say-no-mark-downey

## Summary

Mark Downey, an application engineer at GoEngineer, discusses his career trajectory from aerospace and automotive engineering to product design at Levolor and Hunter Douglas. He details specific engineering challenges, including designing test equipment for aircraft brake valves, routing power steering hoses with active noise cancellation, and developing cordless blind balancing systems. Downey emphasizes the importance of risk mitigation through FMEA in consumer goods and shares best practices for using SolidWorks, such as simulation and routing tools.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-30-s1e48-the-importance-of-learning-to-say-no-mark-downey#t=0) Introduction: Mark Downey and GoEngineer
- [1:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-30-s1e48-the-importance-of-learning-to-say-no-mark-downey#t=75) Early Career: Aerospace and Aircraft Test Equipment
- [10:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-30-s1e48-the-importance-of-learning-to-say-no-mark-downey#t=631) Automotive: Hose Routing and Active Noise Cancellation
- [17:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-30-s1e48-the-importance-of-learning-to-say-no-mark-downey#t=1070) Consumer Goods: FMEA and Child Safety in Blinds
- [21:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-30-s1e48-the-importance-of-learning-to-say-no-mark-downey#t=1266) Hunter Douglas: Cordless Blinds and Wood Shutter Engineering
- [28:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-30-s1e48-the-importance-of-learning-to-say-no-mark-downey#t=1706) Manufacturing Efficiency: Kaizen Events at Hunter Douglas
- [31:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-30-s1e48-the-importance-of-learning-to-say-no-mark-downey#t=1912) Current Role: Application Engineering and SolidWorks Support
- [36:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-30-s1e48-the-importance-of-learning-to-say-no-mark-downey#t=2196) SolidWorks Best Practices: Simulation, Routing, and PDM
- [43:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-30-s1e48-the-importance-of-learning-to-say-no-mark-downey#t=2589) Career Advice: Time Management and Saying No

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- GoEngineer (company)
- SolidWorks (tool)
- McDonnell Douglas (company)
- Dayco (company)
- Levolor Home Fashions (company)
- Hunter Douglas (company)
- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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)
- [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)
- [009 - “Cutting Through the Noise” with Charles Ventura](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2021-12-01-009-cutting-through-the-noise-with-charles-ventura) (Let's Combinate)
- [An Interview with Matt Berggren](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-16-an-interview-with-matt-berggren) (The Amp Hour)
- [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)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-30-s1e48-the-importance-of-learning-to-say-no-mark-downey. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Being an Engineer.