Mark Smith
Manufacturing Process Engineer
Swindon
We are the manufacturers of possible: Mechanical Engineer. Dad. Cyclist.
Mark Smith bikes to work most days. The dad of two works at the BD Swindon, U.K. site as a Manufacturing Process Engineer. For Mark, traveling to work this way is merely an extension of his love for cycling.
“I’m a member of the 360VRT Cycling Team so I enjoy biking to work,” he said. “When I’m racing during a weekend event, it puts me very much in the flow state. There is obviously a huge fitness benefit to cycling too, but I love how it helps me clear my mind for a few hours and focus solely on one thing.”
Improving Machines as a Manufacturer of Possible
Mark’s responsibility at the Swindon site is to make the machines as efficient as possible in the plant, by reducing scrap and increasing output. He has been with BD for six years working on projects across the assembly lines and injection molding machines.
“Swindon is in operation constantly, so even small refinements to the way a machine operates will be magnified to result in big gains over the weeks, months, and years,” explained Mark. “You can have a massive impact on production, which is a great feeling to be able to reduce waste and make operators’ day to day life running the machine easier and less stressful.”
Family influenced Engineering Career Choice
Mark knew from an early age that he wanted to be an engineer. His grandfather was the Chief Electrical Engineer for BBC Two (a broadcast television channel in the U.K.) and his father is a scientist who worked on the Large Hadron (particle) Collider in Switzerland for several years when he was young. Mark graduated in 2009 from the University of Nottingham with a degree in mechanical engineering.
Perhaps another reason why Mark is appreciative of the work he gets to do at BD is that it aligns with his belief in the organization’s Purpose: advancing the world of healthTM. Mark was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes shortly before joining BD, so working for a global MedTech company focused on critical devices and solutions took on a more personal significance.
“I have been surrounded by BD products and devices in hospital rooms, both for myself and for my family and it brings home the importance of what we make and the value of our product quality. It hits home how it impacts individuals in vital circumstances.”
