Helping prepare FIBA Technologies’ new manufacturing plant in Sweden for an important visit by certification agency Bureau Veritas (BV) brings a special kind of pressure. With the $multi-million investment, the careful construction of each piece of machinery, and the experience going into designing the production line, the manufacture of high pressure Type 1 gas vessels also requires BV’s sign-off on the products.
This is why Patrick Finn is in Sweden, having temporarily left behind his day job in FIBA’s Quality Assurance (QA) department in the US.
“My day job in Littleton, Massachusetts is totally focussed on detail and quality,” explains Patrick. “So I have close knowledge of the training and certification side of our manufacturing process.
“In Sweden I am co-ordinating the Quality manual, and putting together the training for the people who will replicate my work here.”
Patrick is renowned for being extremely accurate and precise. He has a knack (some might say obsession) for detail.
One example of the tasks he is carrying out in Sweden is training the operators on the details of the production forms that go into making each single tube. From the hydro form to the threading form, every production form is vital to the finished product.
Highly-Respected QA Team
Patrick joined FIBA’s QA team in 2022 and is part of a strong and highly-respected team on which both FIBA and its customers rely. Having studied psychology at college, Patrick is a skilled people person who has earned the trust of those who have been at FIBA far longer.
Each of FIBA’s six manufacturing and service centres in the US, plus its site in Taiwan, has its own QA team and they share their knowledge and experience.
“I think very highly of my QA colleagues,” he explains. “They are skilled but patient. Knowledgeable but happy to share their experiences.
“Before joining FIBA I had a stint in accounting, as well as on the HR side of the company. But I was always destined to work in QA. It’s exciting and each day is a new challenge. Whether interacting with the products, or colleagues or customers, my approach is that we are problem solvers – and that’s a real positive.”
Patrick is aware that his natural tendency towards precision in the everyday tasks and his ability to respond quickly has paid dividends.
“I am a details man. And the QA team performs under pressure and that suits me perfectly,” explains Patrick. “I wanted to be hands on, but with real responsibility. FIBA is a great place to progress if you show commitment and an eagerness to learn.”
Is There a Typical Day?
Patrick’s day usually starts with checking the orientation sheets for the shift, walking the assembly floor to see the location and status of each job, then starting compiling the QA documentation that is so vital to FIBA and to its customers.
“We build a QA document package that lives with each product, whether that is a trailer or a storage pack. We’re also involved in making the data plate applied to each product before it is signed off.”
Details at Home Too
Patrick admits that his homelife is somewhat focussed on precision and getting things right.
“My husband is ex-military, so that really means he is also schooled in the art of precision and detail.”
As with most roles at FIBA, there is encouragement to make progress and to keep learning more, adding to existing skillsets. For Patrick, this will soon see him take the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) course.
“LSS is an ideal tool for the QA environment,” he says. “It is a management methodology combining the elimination of waste, improving process flow and reducing defects. This can be adopted company-wide to improve productivity and – our ultimate aim – enhance customer satisfaction.
“Which brings us back to Sweden where I am translating my experience with processes and manuals into methods that will help FIBA achieve the all-important certification.
“Then it’s back to the US and working with my QA colleagues. There’s always a lot to do!”