May Employee Recognition: Andrew Dunham

MAY EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Andrew Dunham

Director of Quality & Continuous Improvement

Joined Natech: April 18, 2016

Andrew has been a role model of mine here at Natech since the day I started. He truly understands the importance of quality and what it takes to ensure “Great Products Get Made.” I am honored to contribute to the organization as a part of his team and cherish the new skills he teaches the team at large. His dedication to the organization, client requirements, and general work we do here at Natech is unparalleled.

Joseph Valenti, Quality Manager

Q: What do you do at Natech?

As the Director of Quality, I oversee Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Regulatory compliance. This includes working with our talented Quality staff to make sure great products get made, managing internal, customer and supplier audits, maintaining a robust Quality Management System, and working on continuous improvement initiatives that have big impacts. Additionally, I oversee the production that takes place at 85 West, which includes receiving project transfers, optimizing processes, and developing a skilled team.

Q: What’s your favorite part about working at Natech?

Problem solving and participating in challenging projects. The satisfaction of working hard, paying attention to the little (but meaningful!) details, and seeing the impact of our efforts once a project is launched.

Q: What made you interested in a career in manufacturing?

My career has been mostly in manufacturing, in some capacity or another. Prior to joining the team at Natech, I worked with another manufacturing company who built products that ended up in satellites and radar systems. Seeing the end use of what I helped to build, however minor my role may have been, was beyond gratifying. Plus, I like to work with my hands, and Natech certainly keeps these hands busy.

Andrew knows Natech quality like the back of his hands. His years of experience, knowledge, and problem-solving skillset are obvious. I know I speak for a lot of people here at Natech when I say I feel confident and supported when working with Andrew on any given project. He also adds both sugar and spice for endless laughter and entertainment throughout our workday.

Lori Jockers, Project Engineer

Q: What skills have you learned here and how has that helped the company?

I have learned many skills throughout the many facets of the company. I have achieved comfort in navigating the realm of ISO and regulatory requirements. It is essential that, as a medical device manufacturer, we cross our t’s and dot our i’s. Learning how to make the process to do so easy in order to enforce compliance with requirements has helped us tremendously.

Q: How do you feel like you’ve grown or changed at Natech?

I’ve become more confident in my capabilities and more comfortable with communicating my needs.

Andrew takes quality seriously. He is a hard worker who is willing to roll up his sleeves and do what is necessary to get the job done the right way.

David Kachoui, COO

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

I spend most of my time outside in my gardens or doing some DIY projects at home. I also enjoy spending time with friends and family in Vermont and upstate New York, where I get to disconnect from the world and simply enjoy nature. I love old houses and history, so I visit these kinds of locations as often as I can.

Q: What is something that most people might not know about you?

I’m an open book – I think everyone here has learned a random, unpublished fact about me at some point in time.

Andrew always makes me laugh and gives me some stress relief when we talk.

Paul Thal, General Manager, Thal Precision

Q: What’s one thing that you can’t live without?

Fresh, mountain air and the saltiness of the sea.

Q: What personal goals do you want to achieve in the next 5 years?

That’s personal.

We don’t call him Handy Andy for nothing! Andrew has seen all parts of the manufacturing and quality process at Natech, and it feels like he’s mastered it all. He is always driving for the good of Natech and the good of his team. Whether he is organizing work cells, creating Work Instructions, wow’ing our ISO auditors, managing our QMS, creating a training platform, jumping in to help his team, or just busting a sick dance move, you know he is giving 110%. I have personally benefited from Andrew’s knowledge and his ability to train, and his impact spreads throughout all parts of the organization.

Ashley Turrell, Director of Marketing & Strategy

Q: What are your favorite Natech memories?

Hands down, the Joan Rivers incident. Other favorites include the baseball game, picnic-ing in the park, and bonding with the people I work closest with.

Q: What motivates you?

Truth and existential happiness.

Q: What is your proudest achievement while working here?

Achieving our ISO 13485 Certification, with the help of the team.

Andrew’s hard work and diligence makes sure that the Natech organization maintains its current ISO and FDA certifications and expands for future ones.

Josh Romero, Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Q: What are your goals for the company in the next few years?

Receive additional certifications and expand our production and contract manufacturing facility.

Q: What are 3 traits that define you?

Bold, confident and determined. I am an Aries, after all.

Q: How would you describe Natech in 3 words?

Opportunity. Growth. Connection.

Andrew’s ability to understand and break down complicated assembly processes into simple steps, and then train his team on better ways to perform is a real inspiration!  I’ve worked closely with him on two recent projects, both of which are starting up imminently, and it was been such a pleasure to work with him in planning out the workflows of each cell and optimizing the way we complete the work.  Keep up the great work Andrew!

Mike Botta, Director of Engineering Services