“Engineering Problem Solving: Why Structure Matters"

Abstract: Engineering problems rarely arrive with a clear cause or an obvious solution. Under pressure, teams can move quickly from a symptom to a proposed fix, only to find that the problem returns. A structured approach helps engineers define the problem, test possible causes, coordinate across disciplines, and verify that corrective actions work.

Biography: Matt Parry is a mechanical engineer, technical instructor, and owner of Parry Consultants, where he provides engineering consulting and professional training. He spent nearly 30 years at Seagate Technology in product development, reliability engineering, failure analysis, laboratory leadership, and quality systems. He has taught 8D problem solving and corrective action to engineers and leaders in the automotive, electronics, and pharmaceutical industries, and has been a guest lecturer for Purdue’s School of Materials Engineering.