Engineers are asked to do more with fewer resources. This has driven many companies to have a renewed focus on Lean, the process of reducing waste in a process without reducing value. Linda Snow-Solum and her team look for ways to make engineering more efficient, more productive, and more effective by standardizing tools and processes across Rockwell Collins every day.
In the face of changing regulations and constant pressure to deliver products faster, smaller, and with the latest functionality, there is always pressure to make more improvements. Linda says that the biggest challenge is to identify what actually makes engineering more efficient. During this process, the key is to identify what steps add value and what steps are wasting time. Linda adds that women can be helpful in this process because we think differently than men, which brings a different perspective to a male dominated field.
Once you have identified an improvement, Linda warns, “the hardest part about it is, even if we do get some brilliant insight, how do we get people to change?” This is where the soft skills of leadership become important because “so much of this job is more about the psychology of change, getting people motivated, getting them to understand,” she says.
“Listening is a very important skill,” Linda says. “You have to find out what drives people, what motivates them, what’s compelling and makes them want to do what I need them to do.” The insight gained from listening to the engineering perspective which will ultimately be implementing the change will help to identify solutions which make the process of adopting a change through a Lean initiative easier for everyone.
Linda Snow-Solum is a leader at Rockwell Collins and in the community. At Rockwell Collins, she is the Senior Director of Engineering Infrastructure Development & Lean. Linda also serves on the board of Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN) and recently finished her term as President of Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS). She is also a member of SWE-ECI.
Once you have identified an improvement, Linda warns, “the hardest part about it is, even if we do get some brilliant insight, how do we get people to change?” This is where the soft skills of leadership become important because “so much of this job is more about the psychology of change, getting people motivated, getting them to understand,” she says.
“Listening is a very important skill,” Linda says. “You have to find out what drives people, what motivates them, what’s compelling and makes them want to do what I need them to do.” The insight gained from listening to the engineering perspective which will ultimately be implementing the change will help to identify solutions which make the process of adopting a change through a Lean initiative easier for everyone.
Linda Snow-Solum is a leader at Rockwell Collins and in the community. At Rockwell Collins, she is the Senior Director of Engineering Infrastructure Development & Lean. Linda also serves on the board of Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN) and recently finished her term as President of Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS). She is also a member of SWE-ECI.
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