Manufacturing
How manufacturing expertise became the unexpected foundation of my entire tech career
The Accidental Manufacturing Expert
What started as a "boring" job at GE's manufacturing plant became the thread that would weave through my entire career, opening doors I never expected and providing insights that would prove invaluable across multiple domains.
The Reluctant Programmer
Fresh out of college, I actively avoided software development. C and C++ felt painful and abstract. Instead, I focused on hardware at GE Intelligent Platforms, designing embedded computing solutions for VME and CompactPCI systems. Little did I know this "hardware focus" would eventually lead me back to software—but with a crucial difference: real-world context.
Early Lessons
- • Circuit board design
- • Component sourcing
- • Production testing
- • Customer support
- • Real-world deployment
"Manufacturing isn't just about making things—it's about understanding how businesses actually operate. When you've worked in manufacturing, you understand supply chains, inventory management, quality control, and most importantly, how technology problems translate into real business problems."
The Entrepreneurial Edge
GENI Startup
Manufacturing expertise became my ticket into entrepreneurship. GENI needed someone who understood hardware product design, production management, and field deployment realities. My background made me the perfect fit for CTO.
The IT Advantage
Enova Premier
As IT Production Manager, manufacturing knowledge became my superpower. I could speak the language of plant managers, understand PLC systems, and design solutions that made sense for the factory floor.
The Software Evolution
Manufacturing gave me something unexpected: a domain where writing software finally made sense. With Python and JavaScript, I could build applications that solved real problems on the factory floor. Programming wasn't abstract anymore—it was a tool to make people's work lives better.
This led to FunnelCloud, where I managed MES deployments across 50+ automotive plants, and to MESXpert, my industrial IoT platform bridging OPC UA systems with modern web technologies.
The Through-Line
Looking back, manufacturing became the foundation that enabled every career transition. It provided business context, domain expertise, and credibility that pure technical skills couldn't match. From hardware to IT to software development, manufacturing knowledge was the constant that made each move possible.
Business Impact
Understanding how manufacturing operations affect the bottom line
Technical Depth
From embedded systems to modern web technologies
Problem Solving
Real-world context for technology solutions
Key Learnings
Domain expertise is often more valuable than pure technical skills
Understanding how things are made provides unique problem-solving insights
Manufacturing experience creates credibility across technical roles
Real-world context makes software development more meaningful