In this MIDAS series, we speak to professionals from Greater Manchester’s key sectors to get a glimpse into a day in their working life. We speak to Elizabeth Smithies, Senior Quality Laboratory Manager at Nexperia, who has recently been announced as a finalist in the Women Leaders in Electronics Award in the Unsung Hero category.

When I first wake up, I prepare for the day by...

It all depends on whether I’m working from home or in the office. 

My office starts are very early. I enjoy listening to the news on Radio 4, or a podcast (DOAC, The Life Scientific), or just music – my journey to Nexperia’s site in Greater Manchester is long, as I live on the edge of the Peak District. The commute gives me plenty of time to become absorbed!

 When I’m working from home, I like to start the day with a session at the gym, or a walk; it helps me to prepare for the day and gain perspective on any challenges that may arise.

I work at….

Perhaps the most unique thing about Nexperia is that our products are found in virtually every electronic device in the world. They have no memory, data or software but they enable the basic functionality of electric designs.

Nexperia is a global semiconductor business, headquartered in Nijmegen, Netherlands and we have a legacy on our site in Greater Manchester of over 50 years. We have locations across Europe, US and Asia- #TeamNexperia has 12500 colleagues globally and 1000 colleagues who work on the Manchester site in a range of highly skilled roles in manufacturing, R&D and professional services.

Our highly specialised manufacturing process takes place in a clean room environment which is 1000 times cleaner than an operating theatre and each step is at an atomic level.

I’m responsible for... 

As the Senior Quality Laboratory Manager, my role involves overseeing the strategic direction and daily operations of our laboratories on our Greater Manchester site. I lead a large multi-discipline team who deliver critical product characterisation data supporting the successful release of new product portfolios, globally.  
It is essential that the laboratory is continuously innovating in the way it operates, increasing the use of automation to make us more efficient and increase our productivity. We also pioneer the expansion of new laboratory techniques and equipment to cover new technologies, essential for the future of products such as electric vehicles, aligning with our mission. 
This is supported by a diverse, highly knowledgeable team with continuous personal development at the heart of what we do.

A typical day looks like...

A typical day for me is a mix of in-person and virtual internal stakeholder meetings, team meetings and collaborative sessions with my laboratory managers. However my day can change rapidly, and the topics of meetings can vary from simple alignment to problem solving, and coaching.  I enjoy the face to face contact with my team the most.
I collaborate with my senior leadership colleagues on inter-departmental initiatives and provide the link between their vision and the execution of initiatives by the teams in the laboratory.
At the moment we’re reorganising the laboratory to create a better team structure, so we can be even more responsive to stakeholder needs, and my role is very much to support people through these changes to achieve the best outcomes for my team and the business.

The best part of my day is...

I thrive on solving issues and overcoming challenges. I enjoy a new perspective or being part of a forum that provides a different view point.

My days are varied. I really enjoy the ability to sponsor and be involved in our Women in Engineering initiatives, that are frequently held and showcased on site. I have worked hard to create an environment that supports the development of Women in Engineering into senior technical and leadership positions.

It is very rewarding to support my team sufficiently that they all grow in confidence and they realise they can often find the answers to challenges themselves.

What inspired you to pursue a career in STEM, and what keeps you motivated?

I have always been fascinated by science; the natural world, chemistry, physics.  I used to watch the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures on TV as a child. I wanted to be an astronaut or a pathologist, but I don’t have the stomach for neither.  I studied chemistry and started my career in semiconductors as a Failure Analysis Engineer, so not too far from the pathologist role!

I believe there’s always room for improvement in whatever we do, so problem solving keeps me motivated, and collaborating as a team is fascinating, and seeing my team develop is very rewarding.

Do you face any challenges as a woman in STEM, and how do you overcome them?

After working at the Manchester site for 25 years people do seek my advice and listen to me, but that wasn’t always the case. So now, I make sure that everyone has a voice, in particular women, and I coach them to use their voice and be heard.

 Some would expect me to know all the technical aspects of managing a quality laboratory, but the fact that I don’t (except failure analysis where I spent 20 years) I use to my advantage by asking lots of questions.  This often unearths aspects of the job that others haven't considered. To do this you must embrace vulnerability.

To attract the younger generation – framing the industry as a driver of innovation with cutting edge technology, particularly with an emphasis on sustainability.  School partnerships with workshops and university collaboration. Showcasing women in leadership in the classroom. Mentorship programs in the workplace for young women are also invaluable.

What would someone who wants to break into your industry need to know?

Skills can be taught, curiosity can’t. You don’t have to have an electronics or physics degree to work in the industry; my background is chemistry.  It’s your mindset that is your most important asset – good intuition, curious, being adaptable, and a desire and ability to “get things done”.

How does Nexperia plan to address sustainability and energy efficiency in semiconductor manufacturing?

At Nexperia, we understand that the world needs significantly more power. Electricity consumption has doubled in the past 30 years and will double again by 2050. Nexperia as a business has an ambition to be carbon neutral for our Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 2035.

We employ strategies in our manufacturing processes to optimize energy efficiency and material use, manage the water use and the wastewater we produce, lower greenhouse gas and other significant air emissions.

Our products also assist with energy efficiency. They are carbon neutral enablers as our products are designed to provide higher power with higher efficiency, a crucial requirement in the development of electrified technologies.

For more on Nexperia click here.