Bríd Greaney

Can you tell us your  job title?

Quality Technician at TE Connectivity, Galway (formerly Creganna Medical)

Can you share your career path to date?

I have worked in the Medical Device Industry since 1997, starting my career as a Product Builder with Boston Scientific, moving into an Operations Trainer and Supervisor roles on cathether production lines. In 2013, I moved to Creganna Medical where I worked as a Production Team Lead before moving to a Quality Technician role in 2021. I have worked in both cleanroom and non-cleanroom environments providing support with the day to day production activities as well as supporting process improvement and problem solving activities as part of a cross functional team.

What does your current role involve?

In my current role as a Quality Technician, I support the day to day activities on the production lines. These include:

• Attending the morning Tier 1 meetings & escalate issues as appropriate to Tier 2.
• Reviewing inspection records for material and release to the manufacturing line.
• Contain, investigate and disposition non-conformances.
• Support yield improvement and problem solving initiatives with the cross functional team.
• Complete inspections of product and documentation for shipments to steriliser and distribution centres.

What motivated you to start studying?

Career progression was the main reason I returned to college. I had all this experience, but without a recognised qualification my options would be limited. In 2018, I made the decision to return to education & work towards my degree.

Why did you choose this course from ATU?

I researched courses online, but kept coming back to the Level 7 course in ATU. I spoke with colleagues who had completed Quality for Industry and they all said the same thing, that it was one of the best courses to complete as the content covered all aspects of Quality for Industry and that the lecturers were very supportive and helpful throughout the academic year.

How did you find the process of studying online? What elements did you find helpful? Were there elements you found challenging?

For me, online learning was a struggle at the start, but the lecturers went over and above to support us in every module. The group tasks/projects are one of the best ways to learn & get ideas from classmates and it was great to have the classwork available in the Teams channel. Having our lectures recorded was a huge benefit, it made studying & exam preparation easier when you had the recordings to go back to as opposed to reading notes. But studying online has its own challenges, it can be easy to get distracted when sitting at a desk at home.

How did you balance work and study?

I was very fortunate that my family supported me all through my studies and gave me the time and space I needed to complete quizzes, revision & projects. There were days where I struggled to balance everything, but having a study plan and creating study groups with my class mates really helped to get us all through. My advice to any student, create a Teams page and WhatsApp group with your class and use this to bounce ideas off each other.

In terms of your employer, were they supportive of your decision to study? Were there elements of the course that were particularly relevant to your current employer?

My employers, TE Connectivity were incredible supportive throughout all by studies. They provided opportunities to get involved in process improvement projects, many of which I used for college projects. My Manager, Manufacturing and Quality Engineer were a wealth of knowledge & included my in projects to increase my exposure to projects that will benefit my career progression. Each year of the Level 7 course builds on the knowledge of each module and the lecturers ensured we had a good understanding of a topic before moving to a new one.

What advice would you have for anyone considering studying?

My advice is to get involved in lectures and ask questions, because you can be confident someone else wants to know the answer. Create Teams and Whatsapp groups and interact with your classmates. Also, start you projects early! Gather a list of potential projects you think my be suitable & discuss with your lecturer.

In what way has studying online with ATU benefitted your career?

Without the Level 7 in Quality for Industry, I would not have been able to progress my career. With the support from my employer, I am confident that my Quality career lead to an Engineering role.

Did this course provide any unexpected benefits to your career?

Yes, this course focuses on every aspect of Quality for Industry, from Problem Solving to Auditing to Regulatory Affairs. As a production worker, we are aware of the importance of audit and regulatory compliance, but now, I have a better understanding of how and why they are critical to the Medical Device industry and why they decisions we make must comply with the relevant standards.

Did you find that the elements you were studying had practical relevance in your day-to-day role?

Definitely, the Quality for Industry course focuses on the reasons why we do what we do and how any change to process/procedure/drawing/material must be assessed for any potential risks to the finished product or end user and how organisations manage these risks.

What were the key skills you took away from your time studying at ATU?

I believe the best skill I have taken from studying at ATU is risk based thinking, brainstorming solutions to issues and ensuring our decisions/corrective/preventative actions will not impact the finished device or end user. 

Learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Quality for Industry