Cathy Krier '92
Senior Reliability Engineer, Cardiac Rhythm Management
Position Description:
I lead teams in assuring independent evaluation of product
performance and safety prior to clinical studies or market release. I provide support for
released products, evaluate field performance and recommend corrective action when
necessary. The following is a summary of my responsibility as a reliability engineer: prepare, review and approve reliability predictions, qualification test plans and reports; provide technical direction to technicians performing the testing and assure the resolution of all design or manufacturing issues raised by the testing; review and approve changes to products in production for reliability impact to aid in the correction of process, design or materials problems; evaluate field performance of assigned products by reviewing field data and unusual returns; respond to customers or make customer visits to resolve issues; provide input in the evaluation of discrepant material and in the qualification of new material to assure that device reliability requirements are met; provide input in the evaluation of MDRs and submissions of requests for approval to the FDA; maintain expertise in international safety standards and serve as a resource to assist in the development of products that meet all international requirements; and supervise technicians and/or engineers. A Lot of team interaction!!
Necessary education or experience:
A B.S. in engineering. Project management, influence management, reliability statistical tools, and experience in customer focused
quality and/or business process improvement are important. You must understand typical customer use of
products like pacing and its applications to treat different types of cardiac disease.
Key skills that are necessary to be successful in your position:
A solid foundation of electrical, manufacturing and biomedical engineering; embedded system software; anatomy and physiology; and field experience.
A description of your path to your current position:
My career started with internships in two different hospitals that led to full-time employment in the
Biomedical/Clinical Engineering Department while completing my degree at MSOE.
From there I gained the medical instrument/equipment knowledge and clinical experience
to work as a field engineer on mechanical/electrical medical instrument/equipment.
Going from a field position to a brick and mortar work environment was a tough decision
but necessary for growth and development. I continuously utilize that field knowledge
and experience as an invaluable reference point when assessing specifications and
qualifications for new products in my current role.
Good (and bad) aspects of your current position:
The medical device industry is regulated. That leads to a lot of generated paperwork, not always the most exciting part of
the development process. The proud moments are when you meet your clinical trial
objectives, put closure to the project file deliverables and receive the regulatory approval
to release the final product you nurtured for so long.
What do you enjoy about your current position?
Variety is the spice of my life.
There is never a dull moment in this role.
On MSOE and Biomedical Engineering
Do you think a degree in BE is a good choice?
Yes, because it provides an educational foundation that you can leverage in many ways if you do not know exactly
what you want to pursue as a career.
Do you think MSOE is a good choice of colleges?
Yes, because of the intimate classroom experience and learning environment with dedicated state-of-the-art lab
facilities.
Why did you choose MSOE's BE program?
Dr. Vince Canino's leadership, challenge and support.
What did you like about MSOE?
Smaller class size compared to traditional university lecture halls, location and lab amenities.
What did you like about the BE program?
Curriculum and collaboration with Medical College of Wisconsin.
What did you like about the student activities and student life at MSOE?
Always entertaining for a variety of interests.
Now that you have graduated and are in the workforce, are
you happy with the education that you received in the BE program at MSOE?
Yes, it was a tough curriculum but it really prepared me to confidently handle the everyday
challenges in the workplace.
| For information about MSOE's B.S. in Biomedical Engineering program, contact interim program director Dr. Charles Tritt at (414) 277-7421. |