“

If you truly want to excel in this field then a good solid base of the correct fundamentals is the best way to start.

— Derek Brown

What is your occupation and what all do you do? I am a CNC Programmer and Machinist for a Medical Device Manufacturing Company located in Bartlett TN and it is there that I create medical devices that are will be implanted into people’s bodies to correct or improve medical deformities.

How long have you been a machinist?
13 years

What is favorite part of your job?
Creating medical devices that help improve a person’s quality of life

What is the most difficult aspect of your job? Taking an idea on a blueprint to a finished product that is within the specifications provided by our customers can be a difficult process. Some customers requests are just not feasible and finding a compromise that allows us to manufacture the part easily and at cost while also perfermoring the function it has been designed to do at times can be the most challenging part of my job.

What advice would you give to people looking to be a machinist? Go to trade school. If you truly want to excel in this field then a good solid base of the correct fundamentals is the best way to start. This line of work relies heavily on experience and can be very rewarding but it all starts with the basic core fundamentals that all machinist must master.

What’s your favorite quote?

The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you. -Neil deGrasse Tyson