We are the creators of possible: Quality Engineer Remains Fascinated by Med Tech

As a Senior Quality Engineer responsible for the entire BDX portfolio of solutions for India/South Asia, Sumedha Mehta’s role is focused on all facets of quality once the company releases a solution or device into the marketplace.

With nearly 18 years of experience in quality, and with BD for almost four years, Sumedha is fascinated by med tech devices, how they work, and the outcomes they provide to end patients.

“My role begins when we launch products into market because then I start tracking the quality performance, securing feedback from customers, and any regulatory bodies as well, and then applying a continuous improvement mindset to keep enhancing the products – working with a wide variety of teams within BD. We have so many med tech solutions that I’m always learning something new. I love working in this space,” explained Sumedha.

Biochem Grad Appreciates People-Centric BD

Sumedha graduated with her bachelor’s and master’s degree in biochemistry from Kurukshetra University in India. She started her career in manufacturing in Quality Assurance for R&D at MOBPL, where she stayed for almost 15 years. Then she found BD.

“The thing I appreciate about my previous experience is that I have a great understanding of the entire lifecycle of products - not just the end state with the release of the products, which is helpful in my role. I also think BD is such a dynamic and people-centric company that encourages growth and learning so it’s been a tremendous experience overall so far,” Sumedha noted.

Attributes needed to succeed at BD

As she reflects on characteristics an individual needs to succeed at BD, Sumedha calls out three things: a positive mindset, the ability to overcome the fear of failure, and openness to accepting challenges as they come.

“Sure, we have days that are challenging and when things are not quite going well or we may have even failed at something, but I would emphasize that holding yourself accountable and learning from it makes a huge difference. And when you learn, you grow in your role and are ready to accept the next challenge with more confidence,” explained Sumedha.

She continues: “The culture at BD is so motivating. I feel like I belong and have a lot of support all around me. We have such a diverse team, and the company encourages speaking up and holding respectful conversations where we challenge each other, which enables authenticity in our interactions with one another, which is powerful for teams.”

A key influence in her career choice has been family. “Even when I was younger, I saw family members dealing with health issues and it made me want to learn more about the care and treatment they received, which also led me to learning more about products and solutions that deliver care. And the more I learned, the more I wanted to learn. I still feel that way today, which is rewarding on many levels,” concluded Sumedha.