A recommendation from a friend led me to my first job in manufacturing, and with a determined mindset of "I can do this,” I applied for the job at Oliver. When I first started in the Grand Rapids, Michigan facility, I was taken on a tour that showcased five machines in operation (this is quite a contrast to Oliver's current state!).
I started as an inspector, visually looking for defects in the packaging on the line. Over the next 10 years, I bounced back and forth between being an inspector on the line, a senior inspector, a trainer, and on the quality assurance team. Throughout these positions, I gained valuable insights into quality testing and how to look for packaging defects. Each position taught me valuable skills and helped me understand the specificity required in healthcare packaging at every level.
As Oliver grew and acquired new businesses, broadening their global reach, the need for a new standardized ERP system became more and more obvious. There needed to be a more seamless connection from the manufacturing floor all the way to the customer. This new system implementation marked a pivotal phase in my career. Working closely with the transition team allowed me to showcase my product knowledge to ensure the intricacies of our manufacturing operations were met.
The accumulation of all these experiences brings us to the end of 2023. I have always been interested in a role in product specifications, but prior to this year, the timing wasn’t right. So, when a position opened recently, I jumped at the opportunity!
