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Brian Lu

November 2020

Operations Manager
Chandler, AZ
Brian Lu is the Operations Manager based in the Chandler office where he manages the Valin quality processes. Over the past twelve months, Brian’s primary focus has been on rewriting, creating, and updating 162 of Valin’s ISO procedures to regain ISO Certification. The emphasis of ISO Certification is documentation, corrective action follow-up, controls in planning, purchasing, warehouse, communication, and support. Being ISO certified confirms that Valin is operating at the highest standards and offering quality products and services.

Valin decided to move the Valin Engineering Services (VES) production from San Jose, CA to the Chandler, AZ location. The move proved challenging and the team worked long hours, but the transition was successful because of their dedication. Due to the relocation, two well-known semiconductor customers required that VES operations be recertified. Valin achieved the 2nd highest quality rating and obtained a successful certification audit from both companies. Each customer audit was scheduled to take two days, but because Brian was prepared and organized one of the audits was completed in just a day. The other customer audit was done in 5 hours.

VES failed an initial audit from a large international medical devices company and received a no confidence rating. Even though Brian was not involved with the first audit, he stepped up reviewed the comments from the failed audit, and with little guidance created and updated the processes for the follow-up audit. Valin received certification approval from the customer after the second audit which allows us to continue offering products and solutions.

The following are examples of quality programs Brian is involved with or has introduced.
  • Brian recently started a quality inspection program within the VES production operations. The program includes working with engineering to detail and update mechanical drawings, updating REV numbers, and providing employee training. Employee training is conducted each week to discuss any production issues, receive feedback from quality inspections, and cover training for ISO related items.
  • Brian implemented and standardized inspections on products built by VES. The new standardization process allows Valin to identify flawed items before they are shipped to a customer. The rejected items are reviewed right away, and technicians are consulted if necessary. From there tooling and drawings are updated with Valin engineering. This provides real-time corrective actions, reduces material returns, and raises customer satisfaction.
  • Brian recently created a Valin RMA (Return Material Authorization) tracking system that monitors slow responding suppliers, customers, timelines, reasons for a return, and financial information. The goals of the system are to improve customer satisfaction, reduce shipping costs, reduce waste in processing RMAs, as well as decreasing an employee’s time investigating an RMA. Data is being gathered so it can be reviewed and utilized in 2021 to improve upon a supplier’s product with corrective action.

Brian follows up with a positive attitude to confirm that quality issues are satisfactorily resolved both within the company and with Valin customers. Brian is always willing to help and he continues in his pursuit of implementing and following strong quality processes.