S5E24 Dion Lopes | Manufacturing processes & Implementing New Technologies

Being an Engineer

In this episode, we delve into Dion's remarkable journey in medical device manufacturing. We explore his wealth of experience and expertise, spanning crucial aspects such as product development, regulatory submissions, and the implementation of various manufacturing technologies.

Main Topics:

• Pneumatic welding process challenges and qualifications
• Best practices for developing and optimizing nitinol welding processes
• Experience overcoming a tough FDA regulatory hurdle
• Principles for mentorship, failure, and learning in engineering
• Evaluating and implementing new technologies
• Skills required for today's manufacturing engineers

About the guest: Dion Lopes is an accomplished engineering leader with a deep track record in the medical device industry. Dion's career highlights include key roles at several top organizations, such as Director of Manufacturing Engineering at Imperative Care, Senior Manager of Manufacturing and Production at Intersect ENT (now part of Medtronic), and various leadership positions at PneumRx and Ortho Clinical Diagnostics.

Links:
Dion Lopes - LinkedIn

About Being An Engineer

The Being An Engineer podcast is a repository for industry knowledge and a tool through which engineers learn about and connect with relevant companies, technologies, people resources, and opportunities. We feature successful mechanical engineers and interview engineers who are passionate about their work and who made a great impact on the engineering community.

The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment such as cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us on the web at www.teampipeline.us

Chapters

1. Dion discusses assembling a team and submitting a response (00:00:00)

2. Dion discusses what inspired him to become an engineer (00:00:55)

3. Growing up with an electrician father and enjoying taking things apart (00:01:03)

4. Dion discusses his experience with pneumatic welding of nitinol wire (00:02:44)

5. Aaron asks about challenges of welding nitinol specifically (00:05:28)

6. Dion provides detailed examples of process inputs and output (00:12:44)

7. Principles Dion emphasizes for mentorship and being mentored (00:20:55)

8. Skills Dion thinks are important for today's manufacturing engineers (00:28:04)