“I own the etching department in the whole company”

Joshua, Etching Department Operations Manager

My current assignment is to manage the start-up of a brand new etching department, which uses chemistry at a molecular level to create blades by applying a chemical formula to sheet metal at extremely high pressure. The precision of the process is incredible—and it’s essential to delivering a close shave. This is the only plant doing this, which means no matter where our shavers are sold, the blades will have come from here. Braun is experiencing strong growth at the moment, so this project has to be a success to meet demand and volume increases. If all goes well, I’ll have made a considerable impact on the company.

An interesting part of the set-up has been helping the etching machine supplier improve its design to meet our specifications. I’ve been part of a few projects where we’ve helped companies improve their technologies and products. We’re not just innovating internally; if we see an opportunity to improve that will help us create better products, we do it.

P&G is rapidly trying to increase the capability of every site. We’re taking a phased approach to making improvements, beginning with the basics and working up to the most technological improvements that you can make in manufacturing. This will involve lights-out operation and new vision systems for our robots. This is all part of our drive to deliver manufacturing of the future, and it’s a really exciting area to be a part of.

I’m very excited about my future at P&G. I’ve met people who have been here for 30 years and their knowledge is impressive; they’ve seen, done, and achieved so much. I’m really looking forward to building on my skills and experience and becoming one of those people one day.