Rabi Guthrie: Data Quality Manager in Singapore , X1

Taking a big sideways step into the world of Data Analytics. Key deliverable in this new role will be to transform manufacturing data into actionable business decisions. Continuing to build on my experience in product development, project management and manufacturing, and growing a whole new skill set in the world of data and data analytics. Exciting times ahead!

I am responsible for leading the planning, execution and management of activities that enhance the quality of over four million Cordfree products a year. I collaborate with stakeholders from teams such as RDD and Operations, as well as key manufacturers and suppliers, to define, track and communicate quality KPIs and deliver project quality requirements. Together, my team of diverse Engineers identifies, influences and leads on opportunities to improve the quality of design, assembly, manufacturing and customer service. We are also responsible for the design of tools and processes that enhance the capability of our stakeholders to identify, communicate and escalate quality risks and issues throughout the global business. Working in product development and people management roles in the UK and SEA, I have experienced the entire product development lifecycle, as well as successfully developed skills in leadership, communication and collaboration across a diverse breadth of international business functions and cultures.

With Dyson posting revenues in 2016 in excess of $3billion, the coming years will see Dyson grow exponentially, and controlling Product Quality is key to creating and maintaining consumer trust and brand reputation. Dyson designs its products in the UK, but Malaysia and Singapore is the hub of Dyson manufacturing and supply. I am a Senior member of the Quality team who's role it is to deliver projects into a production environment with the goal of achieving consistent, high quality production output on millions of Cordfree products. Our team is responsible for taking product concepts from the UK and translating them into manufacturable finished goods ready to be shipped to our global customers. Working closely with Dyson Engineering and Operations teams, and key suppliers across South East Asia, I am responsible for developing industry-leading Quality practices and implementing them into new and existing Dyson manufacturing activities.

As a Senior Reliability Engineer my role involves a wide range of tasks and responsibilities, primarily aimed at driving Quality and Reliability into current and future Dyson products. Working with Design Managers and Design Engineers in the UK, it is my job to support and influence the design of new and novel designs and technologies by presenting compelling arguments, gleaned from historical field data, customer feedback and a sound engineering judgement. Progress of these future products is tracked through to our manufacturers in Asia, where I monitor and provide feedback on final Reliability and Validation testing, driving further changes to the design before the product is launched in-market with all major risks successfully driven out.

Working in the Global Quality & Reliability team, this role's primary aim was to investigate arising Reliability issues with in-market Dyson products. This was achieved through data analysis and engineering investigations on assemblies returned from the field, in order to identify the root-cause of failures. Using knowledge gleaned from a variety of sources, data was presented to Design and Manufacturing teams in the UK and Asia in order to influence future improvements to designs, manufacturing controls and assembly lines, in order to drive a higher level of Reliability into Dyson products.

Placed within the Quality department of a world-renowned high-tech luxury goods provider. Working with Advanced Development and Mechanical Engineering teams in the early conceptual development of new products, driving in reliability with data-led decisions. This was achieved by using FE (Finite Element) tools to determine risks associated with new designs. I also developed automated systems and services for Reliability testing purposes. This included utilising CAD and RP (Rapid Prototyping) to design and create complex assemblies which married mechanics, pneumatics, robotics and electronics. I enjoyed the cutting-edge nature of the job; pushing the applications and development of novel materials, coatings and textiles into new products, as well as the creative process of engineering design.