Jane Karpinsky Age: 25
The Boeing Company Renton, WA
UNDER THIRTY
sloped roof on a windy Iowa winter day. “The roof was a solid sheet of ice under four inches of snow,” Jane recalls. “While I was slipping around on the roof trying to get the job done, I couldn’t help but feel we could easily improve the installation process. There had to be a more effective method or a tool we could use to make this job easier, safer and far more time efficient." Jane realized later that it had been that moment that “I was starting to think like a manufacturing engineer— evaluating the current process and looking for ways to incorporate improvement.” That interest and ability in improving processes is serving her well at Boeing, according to Thomas Bind- er, 737MAX Product Development Manufac- turing Engineer.
J
“Jane takes any op- portunity to spend time on the factory floor,” he
ane Karpinsky’s first step toward becoming an engineer could have been her last step ever. She was helping her dad—a HAM radio opera- tor—secure a large new antenna to the steep-
“I was starting to think like a manufacturing engineer—evaluating the current process and looking for ways to incorporate improvement.”
said. “She particularly enjoys working with manufactur- ing operations’ focals to identify producibility oppor- tunities. In the short time that Jane has been in her role [since December, 2013], she has already had an impact on the design of a new product.” Jane recalls that occasion: “I had the chance to
coordinate a team with design engineers, opera- tions’ representatives, manufacturing engineers and quality engineers to examine that particular instal- lation process. We were trying to reduce the ergo- nomic stress on the mechanic during the installation process, eliminate manufacturing variability among fastener types used and minimize risk of debris in the
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area. Ultimately, as a team, we proposed to re-orient components in the area to reduce wrist flexion and blind installation of fasteners, and we worked with the design engineers to get our change incorporated into the new MAX configuration.” The design changes were approved and incor- porated into the new configuration, according to Binder, who noted that “this was all done prior to re- lease to the factory, preventing possible injury to the operators and saving the cost of a post-production design change.” For Jane, that project was a lesson in appreciating the value of collaboration. “I’m sure most of us have encountered a time in school where we were working on a project in an assigned group and would have pre- ferred to just complete the work ourselves,” she said. “But I’ve found that many of those group projects have been excellent train- ing for being a more effective manufacturing engineer. Being able to consider and balance the perspectives of
different stakeholders in a situation is proving to be a hugely important part of the manufacturing engineering role I have with Boeing.”
As a student at Iowa State, Jane mentored fellow students, especially incoming freshman, according to Binder. She has also participated in presentations meant to encourage young women to pursue STEM related fields and projects.
“Education on the importance of manufacturing engineering will always remain a priority for me,” Jane said. “I look forward to the chance to share that with others.” Spoken like someone with both feet on the ground.
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