Resume for Brian D. Wilson

1. Brian D. Wilson PE, CMfgE, CSEP
Senior Engineering Leader - VP / Senior Director
Engineering Excellence & Optimization  Business Strategy & Vision  Matrixed Team Management




25+ years of innovative product development and engineering experience spanning the entire product life
cycle, with deep diagnostic instrumentation development capabilities.
Leadership over design, development, verification and validation of complex projects to ensure the timely
completion of products at projected costs within specified performance parameters.
o Project (technical) and program (business) management skills. Multitasking prowess to handle
multiple business priorities simultaneously and prioritize and complete work within deadlines.
Forecasted staffing requirements across functional units; developed resource strategies, allocated
budgets, staff, tools, and specialized support needed for cost-effective operations.
Experience leading complex, multifunctional, matrixed project teams and managed scientific, engineering,
technical and product development staff.
o Experience managing, coaching and developing a team and function. Demonstrated ability to lead an
organization through large scale change, making groups cohesive, and setting corporate standards.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to facilitate and engage crossfunctional project teams. Establish and approve operational objectives and assignments, delegating
assignments to staff.
Passionate about developing and launching systems and products that exceed customer expectations and thrill
the user. Enjoy providing staff challenging opportunities that are rewarding, enjoyable, and result in their
personal career growth.
Education:
Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Master of Science Mechanical Engineering, 1984
- National Science Foundation Fellow
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Bachelor of Science Mechanical Engineering, 1983
- Valedictorian College of Engineering
Professional Experience:
Beckman-Coulter, Chaska, MN
1992 - Present
Director, Systems Engineering/ Center Manager Platform Development, 2007 - Present
 Engineering Lead and functional Director for Systems Engineering to create a fully automated sample to answer
molecular diagnostic clinical laboratory instrument system.
 Managed a cross-functional team across multiple US geographies of up to 65 people (direct & indirect). Direct
program responsibility for systems, mechanical, electrical, software, reliability and value engineering groups.
 System architect for this new instrument which forms the foundation of a new corporate product and technology
line. Utilized concurrent development of reagents, hardware, software and manufacturing processes.
 Personally accountable for breadboards and prototypes, system requirements development, characterization and
verification testing, and design transfer.
 Because of the need for heavy cross geography and function communication, utilized multiple electronic
collaboration tools and DFSS methodologies.
 Assembled/Hired new staff, had new facilities constructed, and instituted new procedures. Implemented daily
management and a lean product development process.
Center Manager Platform Development, 2005 - 2007

2. 







Engineering (ME, EE) and Systems Engineering department manager. Responsible for all hardware platform
development activities for the Immunodiagnostics Development Center ($800MM/year), staff of 40+.
Achievement highlights include being the development lead for the DxI600, a mid-volume immunoassay
instrument from conception through product validation and 510K.
Responsible for immunoassay activities on a new high volume clinical chemistry/immunoassay analyzer
combination instruments, (DxC880i family), from concept through design control.
Personally designed unique hardware including liquid pipetting gantries, linear and rotational motion based
subsystems and developed systems engineering documentation.
Responsible for on-going reliability improvements for our flagship high volume analyzer reducing after sales cost
of service by 46%.
Implemented new project and labor tracking systems, electronic training records and structures within my
departments.
Continuous quality improvements also yielded successful internal and external audits (including ISO, and FDA)
with no findings.
Member of the site’s mentoring core team, served as a formal and informal mentor.
Manager / Group Manager Hardware Engineering, 2000 - 2004
 Responsible for mechanical engineering, hardware reliability and model shop organizations.
 Launched a major new immunoassay platform, the DxI800 which is the fastest immunoassay system in the world.
 Milestones such as 510(k) and design transfer completed on schedule.
 Participated on the product’s early response team and helped initial calendar year placements grow 512% over
target.
 Improved manufacturing processes reducing time in the instrument’s final test process by 81%.
 Personally responsible for product consumables and led a major effort to replace resins in our reagent packs and
reaction vessels. Activities included chemical compatibility and revalidation of all assays, mechanical properties,
reliability testing, and moldability and mold qualification.
 Designed subsystems including an accessory cart and a pipettor to support laboratory automation.
 Successfully integrated many new hires into the workgroup, held milestone recognitions, established meaningful
development plans, and served as a communication conduit to my staff.
Manager / Senior Mechanical Engineer (Beckman/Sanofi Diagnostics Pasteur), 1992 - 2000
 Responsible for development of, and improvement to, automated blood testing instruments.
 Accountable for technical analysis, design, team building, scheduling, and vendor interactions.
 Lead engineering projects from conceptualization through manufacturing and field support.
 Deployed products including a suite of sample management items including a robotic automation interface, sample
trays, collection kits, a new instrument variation utilizing a new ultrasonic pipette (Access II), bulk fluids supply
and mechanical assemblies for cost and reliability improvement.
 Design tools used include Pro-Engineer, Mechanical, Pro-Interlink, MS-Project and other PC applications.
 Completed objectives include bringing manufacturability and support issues forward in the development cycle,
improving instrument part configuration control processes, capital tooling release and control procedures, and
product documentation flow.
 Efforts improved processes, increased yields, and assisted the company in achieving ISO 9001 certification and
value engineering efforts resulted in savings of 40% in unburdened part costs.
Minnesota Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center, Inc. Minneapolis, MN
1990 - 1992
Director, Technology Transfer Programs
 Assisted companies with new product development, manufacturing modernization, and the introduction of new
processes.
 Directed programs to assist area businesses in licensing federal technologies and leveraging resources. Created and
hosted technical training classes.
 Reviewed client product designs, wrote and reviewed technical proposals. Identified client needs through surveys,
interactions, and advisory committees.

3. 
Established a client base of over 300 companies and successfully assisted them in locating, obtaining, and
implementing available federal technology and technical contracts.
U.S. Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
1988 - 1990
Universal Technology Corporation, OH
Program Manager, Manufacturing Engineer, Directorate of Manufacturing Technology
 Responsible for the identification, development and execution of the Air Force's advanced machining and machine
tool programs.
 Directed the development of a new machine tool control system, sensor applications, flexible repair cell, and
manufacturing software projects.
 Identified needs, secured funding, managed requests for proposals, selected sources, drafted and supervised
various types of contracts.
 Supervised a staff of 3 and became the single focal point for all Air Force advanced machining R&D.
U.S. Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
1984 - 1988
Mechanical Engineer, Deputy for Engineering (Active Duty Captain)
 Senior engineer for munitions handling trailers used in support of the B-52 and B-1 aircraft systems.
Responsibilities included defining and conducting qualification testing (accelerated life, climatic, structural);
producing test, analysis, and manufacturing documentation to achieve nuclear certification; mechanism and fixture
design; and managing engineering change activities.
 Coordinated requirements and suggestions from using organizations into updated equipment designs. Fielded
qualified equipment in time to meet an accelerated B-1 program schedule.
 Lead support systems engineer for the Short Range Attack Missile II. Responsible for the support equipment
engineering efforts during the missiles' development phase including specifying and evaluating mechanical devices,
electrical test equipment, and human factors engineering.
 Directed a corrosion control tiger team on the Ground Launched Cruise Missile. Supervised a staff of five to
correct corrosion problems seen by users
Additional Training:






Managerial
Strategy Development
Team Leadership
Building trust
Corporate Lifecycles
Interviewing
Contract management






Project Management
Organizational Structure
Coaching
Leadership Styles
Employment Law
Squadron Officers School






Technical
Decision tools
Solidworks
DOE
Pro-Engineer
Product design for Mfg
Practical Plastics






Lean product development
DFSS Green Belt
GDP and ISO
Pro-Interlink
Die Casting, Powder Metallurgy
Non-destructive Inspection
Publications, Patents, Honors and Memberships:











Fifteen publications on machine tool control, factory automation, job shop automation, and robotics
Nine issued patents relating to diagnostic instrumentation; Ten patents pending
Licensed Engineer, Certified Manufacturing Engineer, Certified Systems Engineering Professional
Three times awarded Beckman-Coulter Excellence in Innovation Award (2005, 2008, 2013)
Beckman-Coulter Inventor Hall of Fame (2013)
Beckman-Coulter President’s Game Ball
Sanofi Diagnostics President’s Award
Manufacturing Technology Director’s Award
USC Order of the Palm
Member of the International Council on Systems Engineering and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Instructor for the Manufacturer’s Alliance.
Professional references upon request