Please join ASQ Pittsburgh for a Webinar on Thursday, February 19th.
The Art and Science of Developing Engineers: Lessons from an Accidental Reliability Engineer
Ananthakrishnan Narayanan, PhD
Abstract
Developing strong engineers requires more than technical training, tools, and certifications. It requires a balance between rigor and judgment, structure and empathy, and the science and art of leadership. This talk draws on a career that began accidentally in reliability engineering but became successful only after intentional choices around growth, influence, and mentorship. Focused specifically on quality and reliability professionals, the session explores three foundational principles for developing engineers: intentionality, curiosity, and authenticity. It examines how engineers always have a personal brand whether they actively shape it or not, and why trust and predictability under uncertainty define effective branding in quality and reliability roles. Through mentoring experiences and familiar reliability scenarios, the talk offers a practical framework for developing technical talent, strengthening personal brand, and supporting others as they take ownership of their own professional journeys.
About the Speaker
Ananthakrishnan Narayanan holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and is a senior leader in quality and reliability engineering for complex hardware and semiconductor systems. He has filed nine patents in reliability and quality and has authored over fifteen publications in leading journals and conferences. Ananth serves as a reviewer and Associate Editor for several highly reputed quality and reliability journals and is an invited speaker and educator in the reliability engineering community. His research interests include reliability methods and management, as well as the application of artificial intelligence in reliability engineering. His career began accidentally in reliability and evolved through intentional focus on systems thinking, mentoring, and leadership. Ananth lives in North Carolina with his wife and two boys.