S5E33 Devon Copeland | Working for Apple & Tesla, Building a Better MFG Execution System (MES)

Being an Engineer

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In this episode, Aaron Moncur interviews Devon Copeland. The conversation covers topics such as the engineering decision-making process, the importance of side projects, traceability in manufacturing, implementing a Manufacturing Execution System (MES), and strategies for accelerating engineering speed.

Main Topics:

• Copeland's childhood experiences that inspired him to become an engineer
• Engineering projects, such as the American Solar Challenge, and communication strategies
• Insights from working at Apple and Tesla, including the art and science of engineering decision-making
• The value of side projects and how they can benefit an engineering career
• Traceability in manufacturing, including digital twins and automated inspection
• Using Serial's data analysis tools to improve manufacturing processes
• Implementing an MES and preparing for the integration process
• Challenges and solutions for Serial as a startup, including getting the word out and accelerating engineering speed

About the guest: Devon Copeland is an accomplished engineer with extensive experience in hardware engineering and product design. He is currently the Co-founder and CTO of Serial, a company that aims to streamline manufacturing data analysis, making it easier for engineers to identify and resolve production issues swiftly. Devon's background includes significant roles at Apple, Tesla, and Aeryon Labs, where he contributed to the development of high-profile projects like the Apple Watch Ultra and the Tesla Model 3.

Links:
Devon Copeland - LinkedIn
Serial Website

About Being An Engineer

The Being An Engineer podcast is a repository for industry knowledge and a tool through which engineers learn about and connect with relevant companies, technologies, people resources, and opportunities. We feature successful mechanical engineers and interview engineers who are passionate about their work and who made a great impact on the engineering community.

The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment such as cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us on the web at www.teampipeline.us

Bab

1. Engineering decision-making process and childhood memories of bridge building competition. (00:00:00)

2. Engineering projects, solar cars, and communication strategies. (00:03:07)

3. Engineering decision-making process, storytelling, and visual aids. (00:08:47)

4. Side projects and their importance in engineering careers. (00:14:25)

5. Traceability in manufacturing, including digital twins and automated inspection. (00:19:38)

6. Using serial data analysis to improve manufacturing processes. (00:24:11)

7. Implementing a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) for tracking and managing manufacturing processes, including preparation and communication requirements. (00:29:21)

8. Challenges and solutions for analyzing sub-assembly data in manufacturing. (00:34:07)

9. Accelerating engineering speed with automation and streamlining processes. (00:39:50)