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Supplier Quality Director - Early Education
My name is Dr. Zeynep Bruce. I studied engineering which means that I know a lot about the how to plan and create machines and how they work. Machines can be everything from simple tools and small parts of machines to complex and big machines. I have actually gone to university and completed a doctorate degree in mechanical engineering which is the highest studies that someone can have as an engineer. I am currently working as a Supplier Quality Senior Director in a factory called Cummins. I have been working for Cummins for more than 17 years.
Meet the professional
But what does “Supplier Quality Senior Director” mean? It means that here at Cummins I have to make sure that all the small machine parts and materials that factories in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific give to Cummins are very good and work well, exactly how Cummins wants them to. We call these factories that provide Cummins with all these machine parts “Suppliers”. By checking the small machine parts and other materials we receive, allows us to put these small machine parts together to create bigger machines, engines and power systems. But how do I do that? Well, to begin with I work with other people in a team here at Cummins. This team checks how factories that give Cummins all these machine parts create them, solve any problems they the materials have and make sure that the parts that are delivered to Cummins factories all around the world. My role is important because I make sure that people continue to trust that we work well here in Cummins and that the machines we create are safe and work well. This role is connected a lot to STEM because I use the things I know about engineering to check the things we create, the things I know about science to solve problems and use the latest technology to make sure that the things we create are good.
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Skills
Technical knowledge
"Studying about and then actually working with machines is very important to knowing how products are created and how they are supposed to work.”
Problem Solving and attention to detail
“knowing how to solve problems and paying attention to details help me catch issues early and guide teams toward solutions that work well.”
Communication and leadership
“I lead a team and work with suppliers in different locations around the world, so I need to clearly explain what Cummins wants and tell them how they can improve. I also have to keep good relationships with them in order tokeep working with them.”
Analytical thinking
“I also read and analyse texts about these products often.”
Advice to take away
My advice to students is to stay curious and explore different areas of work to find what truly excites them. They should not be afraid to try out different types of work while they are learning. This will help them understand how to become better and practice their skills. Another great advice is also to become good at STEM subjects at school, because these skills are essential in so many areas of work and can help them in a wide range of jobs. Moreover, they should work on ways to communicate well and solve problems. Lastly, they should be persistent and open to keep on learning. Jobs often take paths that are not planned, and every experience can help them grow.
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Disclaimer
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. Also supported by Scientix®, an initiative of European Schoolnet.