We are the manufacturers of possible: From the Tijuana Plant to Columbus West ISC Site

With a decade of working at BD, Edmundo Ramirez Lara has held a variety of roles – from process engineer to continuous improvement engineer and from lean leader to his newest and current role of BD Excellence Manager.

“In 2024, I celebrate 10 years of service with BD, seven of which I spent working for the BD Tijuana Medication Delivery Solutions (MDS) site and the last three here in Columbus West. I love that I get to interact with so many people across all areas and levels and that learning is continuous at the company. BD is always evolving to satisfy customer demand while maintaining a competitive cost. My role is about creating and executing operational strategies that drive value and help achieve operational excellence,” said Edmundo.

A Day-in-the-Life

Edmundo emphasizes that he starts everyday by spending a few minutes with the people who report to him and wishing them a good start to their workday while reviewing action plans and activities, which includes a heavy emphasis on BD Excellence as the mindset.

“After I review the day’s pending items and new requirements, I perform my Gemba walk through of the production floor, as part of our Daily Direction Setting process, to ensure things are operating smoothly and if any issues crop up, I present them at our daily meeting where the most urgent items are discussed and addressed. The rest of my day is focused on continuous improvement activities such as implementing programs to increase efficiency and reduce waste, and planning and executing Kaizen Blitz events to accelerate the saving program through elimination of losses, and on building the strategy for next fiscal year,” explained Edmundo.

Contribution and Culture

One of the ways Edmundo feels he is a manufacturer of possible is by working daily with his team on converting high-level visions and concepts into strategies that lead to positive outcomes and enhanced performance metrics.

And the BD culture supports his focus and contribution. “Our culture is based on constantly challenging ourselves to achieve the goals of each fiscal year in a respectful way, keeping in mind that safety and quality remain top priorities at all times,” noted Edmundo.

Keys to Success and Inspiration Close to Home

According to Edmundo, some attributes that have helped him succeed at BD include: flexibility, perseverance, discipline, and human skills. Additionally, reflecting on how he remains inspired by the work he does, he looks no further than his wife, Brenda Alvarez, who works within the Quality function at the Columbus ISC Site.

“My wife has always been the primary motivator and inspiration for my work at BD and my career overall – ever since we studied together in Mexico City during our time at university,” explained Edmundo.