Employee Spotlight with Ron Goldberg, Engineering Manager at Clark Engineering

Ron Goldberg Manufacturing Manager at Clark Engineering

Welcome to the Employee Spotlight series, where we bring you an exclusive interview with industry experts and shining stars in their respective fields. In this edition, we have the privilege of featuring Ron Goldberg, an accomplished Engineering Manager at Clark Engineering.

Ron brings a wealth of experience, expertise, and authority to the table, making him an invaluable asset to the company. Join us as we delve into Ron’s journey, his insights on engineering, and his invaluable contributions to the field.

Meet Ron Goldberg: A Passion for Engineering

Can you walk us through a typical day as an Engineering Manager
at Clark Engineering plant?

A typical day at Clark involves checking the status of current projects and adjusting priorities to maintain the timeline. Planning future improvements, to reduce setup time, increase production, reduce fallout, and problem solving the daily issues.

What is your favorite thing about working at Clark Engineering?

My favorite thing about Clark Engineering is the potential of the company, and being part of the team that will push Clark from good to great. 

What are the key challenges you face in managing an engineering team and how do you overcome them?

The engineering team is the best group I’ve ever worked with. They’re self-starters and need very little management to do their job. 

How do you prioritize and manage multiple engineering projects simultaneously?

I will assign someone to oversee the project, and allow them to allocate resources, while I am kept up to date. I’ll review the project throughout the process and guide the project to the end.

 

What strategies do you use to promote collaboration and communication within your engineering team and with other departments?
Regardless of the command structure, I always ask. I tend to get a more positive response when you ask for a small favor, instead of barking orders. Be approachable. People need to know they can talk to me. I try to be attentive and interested. 
 
How do you ensure that engineering projects are delivered on time and within budget?

Planning! A sure-fire way to fail is improper planning. I like to take as much time as needed to plan the project and gather as much information as possible, I then review the project with the engineering team and ask for as much input as possible. I then adjust the plan accordingly before releasing the project to the team.

What is the favorite part about your job?

The empowerment given to us allows us to explore new ideas and expand our skillset.

Could you share an example of a complex engineering problem you recently encountered and how you approached its resolution?

We lost a supplier for a particular operation that was not apart of our current capabilities. We, the engineering team, had a brainstorming session on how to resolve the issue. By using input from our team, I created a plan, and a backup plan to insource the operation. With a lot of ingenuity and problem solving from every member of the team, we’re able to resolve the problem. 

What steps do you take to continuously improve manufacturing processes and drive operational efficiency?
My goal is to never have an issue twice. It’s about documenting, and planning maintenance at regular intervals. Having reliable Support people that are well trained with strong work ethics.
What role do you play in fostering the professional development and growth of your engineering team members?
I had the unique opportunity to work side by side with the engineering team as a co-worker before becoming the Engineering Manager. This allows me to be more empathetic in their daily struggles and understand what support they require. I hope that they have as much respect for me as I have for them.
  
What’s the most unique part about working here?
The most unique part of working for Clark Engineering is the fact that I feel like I’m working towards something and not just maintaining the status quo.
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