Project: Tokyo Electron "2"


AC Power box 1 & 2

Initial

1997 -A New department manager was appointed.after our segment Manager left to further his career.
The new manager bidded on a "new project" from my existing customer to expand our revenue.
None of the existing engineers wanted to take on the full design task.
Most in engineering had left to advance their careers.


But In order to get the project, I was offered the "opportunity".
I was to design "two new products lines" for the company.
to prove my engineering abilties relative to our department.
I was to design the project from cradle to production then manage it.

Customized Panel Design


I received the schematics and a "parts list" from the customer
and given the constraint on final panel sizes.

Engineer and manager attempted to "rush me" into "quick and dirty" designs in order to rush me to less than ideal results so they could claim my inabilty to perfom the task. I realized this as I had just corrected the last two projetcs which were "quick an dirty" the last two years. I finally sucessfully streamlined and improved production deign, quality, reduced errors in manufacturing and the customer tended to call "me" for solutions, than argue with the lead engineer. It was going to take a "little longer" to ensure I didn't repeat those issues in order to field a better proocess and design.
I re-specified each component from Asian to U.S. market parts.
using the available parts catalogs in our library.
Matching each component as close to operational specifications as possible.
I submitted my revised bill of materials to the customer for approval.


Because of spatial limitations
I decided to model the design in "3D" in Autocad.
I then began the 3D design of the cabinet.
I conducted Heavy "customer collaboration"
on design specifics and quality issues.
I designed the panels and specified the BOM. I Ordered parts
and performed QA checks as parts entered the facility.
I created manufacturing documentation and
sent completed designs to floor for prototyping.
I perfomed time studies of assembly
and then created the future labor routings.
I attempted to modularize and standardize assembly
to make manufacturing more efficient.
Using Promis-E, I extracted wire lists for assembly to study.
Then later designed "prefabricated panels and wire harnesses"
to simplify future assembly.
I worked with manufacturing floor Assembly Team & Test Engineers
until prototypes and all documentation was complete and functional.
I also held meetings with the customer
on quality issues to meet requirements, to the customers satisfaction.

Post Design

Upon Completion, The manager and Engineer told me to hand over the project "to them" for future management. "They" took the design review trip to Japan in my stead. Although I was required to be near phones to answer phone calls and "answer questions for the customer", since they did not have any design knowledge since they did not participate.

Another Segment manager saw this and my achievement and offered me a position on his staff as a "Systems Engineer" in HMI development. My previous department kept requesting me for assitance the following months , while they had hired two other designers (who were my friends I met in manufacturing who wanted to do CAD.) The "Engineer" told me they had "bought the CAD book" and soon would be able to copy my style of customization and development, but continued to call me for answers. They called me once to "infer me" as the creator of problems "they created", in front of the customer, which had been created by two "inexperienced designers", in order to "save face" for their department. My "new Segment manager" finally told me to "stop supporting them" as I had my own job to do.

Back Story

1997 -A New department manager was appointed, after our segment Manager left to further his career.
The new manager bidded on a "new project" from my existing customer to expand our revenue.

The Prior main engineer - now "advisor to the new manager"- attempted to discredit my interest in a Engineering position. - Since I had fixed his designs on the two prior projects. Now that our manager was gone.
Despite my performance and Credentials they set about disuading my interest in advancement.
Including asking another engineer to advise me, "I did not want the responsibilities of being an engineer".
But In order to get the project, I was offered the "opportunity".
to design "two new products lines" for the company.
to prove my engineering abilties relative to our department.
I was to design the project from cradle to production in order to manage later "if I succeeded".


I explained I had been overlooked.
They did not realize
I had the same degree, from the same school, as the manager
they had hired a year before. We graduated a year apart.
Countering comments they had given me concerning advancement and title.
My former classmate was now my supervisor and I had been required to train him, and
setup his project and software tools. I felt I could do more, and had been seeking an engineering position. and explained I had taken the design position to enter the company to seek my "1st engineering position". My peer had been hired elsewhere as an engineer, before he was hired. So they did not realize we were classmates and alumni.

Other managers of other departments were aware of my abilities,
as I had been simultaneously supporting their cad staffs for the previous 3 years beyond my position and department as well as the IT department.
Which is how I was offered a new position as Engineer elsewhere, after I "sucessfully" completed the new products design.