Catching up with Gardien’s Rick Meraw
December 17, 2015 | Dan Beaulieu, D.B. Management GroupEstimated reading time: 10 minutes
Meraw: Yes, that’s correct. The lessons learned within one Gardien environment, be that at a customer site or service center, are shared with the rest of the group. I see my role as being the person who is responsible for transferring these lessons between our centers of excellence and making sure that nothing is lost in translation.
Beaulieu: Now that I know more about all of this I want to get back to your role as VP of Global Quality Assurance. In the realm of all that we have just talked about, how do you do all that it requires, which I now consider a pretty big job?
Meraw: Well, first of all there is the lesson distributor that we just talked about, but beyond that I am the person who makes sure that OnTrack and all of its modules are being effectively and consistently implemented and then followed. I have to make sure each location is doing the same thing in the same way. I spend a lot of time working on the processes and process improvement, getting them all in line and making sure our staff work in the exact same way. When I identify a process improvement I coordinate with our OnTrack programmers to make sure we effectively incorporate it within the system.
Beaulieu: So you are like the consistency police?
Meraw: Exactly—that’s why the title is Global Quality Assurance. If we go back to the previous example I gave on RMAs, I’m responsible for making sure that every center of excellence is processing them in the exact same way. I make sure that they are entering the defect codes correctly and that everyone is tying in with their certifications and that everything is handled in a timely manner. Another part of my role is being responsible for our own internal quality audits, making sure that equipment is calibrated regularly and that preventative maintenance programs are adhered to. Again, much of this is proactively handled within OnTrack.
Beaulieu: So what this all comes down to is consistent processes, data analysis, consolidation and communication.
Meraw: Yes, in a nutshell, that’s my job
Beaulieu: Since we’ve talked about data so much in this article can you address how you handle it? I know that companies are very sensitive as to how their information is handled and privacy maintained.
Meraw: Absolutely, and I’m glad you raised this point. We adhere to the strictest of privacy standards. When we consolidate data it is anonymized and aggregated. I want to make that very clear. We are not taking one company’s set of secrets and passing them on to another company. We are putting the data together in an objective, non-personal, and anonymous way so that we can provide a class leading service. The fact that OnTrack is ITAR compliant clearly demonstrates our understanding of confidentiality.
Confidentiality and discretion are hugely important to us. We literally work with hundreds of PCB fabricators and this is only possible if we maintain their trust.
Page 3 of 4
Suggested Items
RTX Introduces the Collins Airport Surface Awareness System
05/10/2024 | RTXCollins Aerospace, an RTX business, introduces Collins’ Airport Surface Awareness System for real-time tracking, monitoring, and recording of both aircraft and ground support equipment at airports.
Airbus Finalises Acquisition of Aerovel and Its UAS Flexrotor
05/10/2024 | AirbusAirbus has finalised the acquisition of U.S.-based Aerovel and its unmanned aerial system (UAS), Flexrotor, in a move to strengthen its portfolio of tactical unmanned solutions.
Lockheed Martin Receives $451M to Upgrade Additional US Army and International M270 Launchers
05/10/2024 | Lockheed MartinThe U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $451 million contract to recapitalize additional M270 systems expanding its domestic fleet of launchers and providing upgrades for global partners.
BAE Systems and Eaton Expand Collaboration to Deliver Electric Drive Solutions for Heavy-Duty Trucks
05/08/2024 | PRNewswireBAE Systems, a leader in electric propulsion, and Eaton, a global power management company, are expanding their collaboration to include electric vehicle (EV) solutions for heavy-duty trucks.
OSI Systems Receives $6 Million Order for Electronic Assemblies
05/08/2024 | BUSINESS WIREOSI Systems, Inc. announced that its Optoelectronics and Manufacturing division has received an order for approximately $6 million to provide electronic assemblies to an advanced engineered solutions OEM.