Employee Profile: Victoria
Value Stream Manager

Autocam Medical (Plymouth, MA)

The following transcript is the result of an internal interview and has been edited for clarity and precision.

Victoria, how did you hear about Autocam Medical?

I started my first Co-Op here through UMass Dartmouth as a Mechanical Engineer in 2011. After graduation, I stayed with Autocam Medical as a contractor for a time eventually leaving to work as a Quality Engineer for a defense contractor.

As I advanced in my career path, I returned to medical manufacturing and engineering design work. One day, I received a call from my previous manager at Autocam Medical asking if I would be interested in coming in to interview for a Value Stream Manager (VSM) position. Many of the same people were here from my initial Co-Op whom I really enjoyed working with, so it was an easy yes for me. That was about eight years ago now.

Tell me about your experience as a Value Stream Manager at Autocam Medical.  

We constantly get new opportunities and challenges. Every single day you’re doing something different, whether it is troubleshooting, optimizing quality, or expediting a customer request. We track each job from order entry through shipping. Each operation is planned and staffed properly to ensure acceptable quality while striving to meet customer deadlines.

The VSM role is highly team-oriented; I work closely with manufacturing, quality, and the machinists daily to ensure we are making good product and moving forward when we encounter issues or setbacks. The challenge of our daily business utilizes all of our skills to brainstorm and come up with a game plan or corrective action. It is a bit like running your own business and requires coordinating resources with other departments to meet and exceed our customer’s expectations. 

What skills do you think are crucial to the VSM role?

I tend to have an even-keeled demeanor which works well here. This job is fast- paced and stressful at times but being able to stay calm and think logically is essential. My mechanical engineering background supports my ability to problem solve and be innovative. We use a sophisticated ERP system and spreadsheets to coordinate schedules and manage product. I can see how a manufacturing or business background could also be beneficial. A VSM provides critical business data to upper management, participates in strategic business planning, oversees a diverse group of personnel, all while providing technical support to customers. 

So, what stands out to you about working at Autocam Medical?

Honestly, the people – my team is what makes this job enjoyable. Each person values what they do here and together we always get the job done. I also love that the products being made are directly impacting somebody’s quality of life. It’s pretty cool to say you had a small part in giving a person the ability to move.