Michael Kavanagh De Amgen discusses the navigation of the manufacturing space and the necessary skills to prosper.
Michael Kavanagh, manufacturing manager of Amgen, joined the organization for the first time with a 10 -month contract in 2013 and uploaded the stairs to where it is today. His professional career involved spending two years working at the company’s headquarters in California, before returning to the offices based in Dublin de Amgen in Daoghaire.
“There is not really a typical day, which is part of the appeal,” he told Siliconrepublic.com. “If we have problems in the line or something is an action as it should do, my work as part of a team is to give a deep immersion in the reasons why and scientifically determine what is wink and how we can solve it.
“That covers everything, from equipment and materials, to problems of problems of problems that can affect production, often with the help of data -based tools that we now use every day. Early start, usually Goit Gimnasio, I am.20 AM, Mi! 20AM, MI! 20AM, MI! 20AM, my reports on duty of!
“The rest of the day is usually a combination of problem solving work and long -term improvement work. The objective is always the same performance, high yields, under time of inactivity and without commitment to patient safety. We run 24 hours, 7 days a week, including weekends and bank holidays, so being available outside normal hours is part of the work in the form of rotation.
Here he talks more about his role in Biopharma Company.
What skills are crucial for your role?
The calm is key. You are working in a highly regulated environment where things can change quickly. Being able to stay composed and think clearly under pressure is vital. I also look for motivation and a good attitude, especially when hiring. In the past, we focus a lot on experience, particularly on aseptic manufacturing. That still matters, but now I am putting more weight on whether some are really interested in work, willing to learn, is able to follow the procedures carefully.
We live through standard operational procedures, so fulfilling, having a security mentality and being willing to speak when something is correct to ensure that quality is crucial. Some of our best people came from different origins, but they had the right mentality. Technical skills also help, or relatives with other complex systems such as PI, SAP, Ebrs. That is an advantage, it shows that they have technical insight, but we train for everything.
What technologies help you and your team day by day?
Real -time data and monitoring tools are massive in our industry. They allow engineers and automation equipment to detect trends, find problems before becoming problems and adjusting accordingly.
We also use a report method called OEE (general effectiveness of the equipment) that helps us track the inactivity time and determine the greatest causes of interruption. That the data feed on improvement projects. If a part of a process is consistently slowing down, we go.
The AI is also beginning to play a more important role, particularly in predictive maintenance, it tells us when a part is failing so that we can replace it before causing problems.
How have intelligent systems altered their work?
I am not the most technical person here, but see how things are evolving. We no longer have to wait for something to go wrong, we can see it coming. That changes how we plan, how we maintain the team and even how we train people.
From a manufacturing perspective, in the past you can rely on intestine sensations or informal feedback to find a problem and that remains important, but now we have the data to support it. It’s not just about fixing things, it’s about learning from them.
OEE reports have been the greatest change in my world. We use it to track interventions and inactivity time and that gives us a clear image of where we are losing efficiency. It means we can solve problems with a scalpel instead of a hammer. You can start making specific improvements.
How does Amgen encourage or support professionals in manufacturing roles?
We have professional development plans (CDP) and a framework called ACM (skill, competition, motivation) that helps people think about what they want to do next. To be honest, I ignored all that duration in my early days in Amgen. I was happy to do the job, but then I owed others progressing and thought, correct, time to take it seriously.
I began to complete my CDP, I looked at the lateral movements and anyone requested a role at Amgen’s headquarters in Thousand Oaks, California. That was a turning point. I learned a lot, both professionally and personally, and returned with a better understanding of how we operated worldwide. He also showed me that the support is there if you are willing to strive and have the right conversations.
What challenges affect your industry and how do they exceed?
Talent. All in this sector seek the same qualified people. Ireland has a strong talent group, but it is small and biotechnology is growing rapidly.
We must be intelligent about how we recline and retain. We trust the references, but we are also looking for candidates from other sectors, people who have worked shifts, followed the procedures and we want to move on to biotechnology. With correct attitude and training, they often do very well.
Have you ever had a mentor, or have you acted as a mentor in a sauce league?
Having a mentor here has a transforming leg. At a crucial moment, just when I began to think more strategically about my career, his guide expanded my perspective and cooled the confidence to follow roles that could otherwise have overlooked.
Now he feels like the right time to guide someone officially. As manager of experienced people, you are an unofficial tutoring in a daily program but not for a specific program. I have been in since 2013 and I have seen what works and what I don’t. I think everyone should experience both and a mentor. You never know everything and learn helping others too.
Do you have any advice for other professionals who consider a career in manufacturing?
It is a gratifying career. Yes, it is demanding, but there is a lot of satisfaction in doing a job that has an impact on the real world. Our sector is evolving. There are more data, more automation and more opportunities to specialize. It is also growing, so it is motivated and is willing to put the job, there is a clear path.
If you are in the fence, I would say the jump. You won repentance.
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