Editor's Note: Throughout October in celebration of Manufacturing Day/Month, IndustryWeek's Faces of Manufacturing will share the stories of people with a passion for manufacturing. 

Gustavo Suarez

City/State of Residence: California

Job Title: Process Engineer

Company: Elcon Precision, LLC, a TPC Company

Years with Company: 1 year, 4 months

Industry of Your Company: Photochemical Manufacturing

Training / Education: Bachelor's of Science in Nanoengineering from University of California, San Diego

What made you decide to pursue a career in manufacturing?

I decided to pursue a career in manufacturing because there’s something really satisfying about being part of a team that creates physical products. I like working with people and collaborating closely to build things that end up being used in everyday life, whether that’s components for medical devices that help doctors save lives or parts for satellites that support global communication. Manufacturing only works when people from different areas come together: engineering, operations, quality, supply chain, HR and so on. When a product ships to a customer, it feels good knowing I played an integral part in making that possible.

What does your job entail?

In my role, I’m responsible for reviewing customer requirements to make sure we can meet them, defining the processes we use, writing work instructions, monitoring the process, responding to escalations, and recommending corrective actions whenever needed. I also qualify equipment, write SOPs, train operators on new processes or tools, disposition nonconforming materials, identify root causes for defects, and conduct analysis. At the end of the day, I’m working with our internal teams and our customers to deliver quality components consistently.

What is the most interesting part of your job? Your proudest moment?

The part of my job I find most interesting is the science behind it. I’ve been a process owner for our electroplating and etch departments since 2025, and even though these fields are mature and well understood, I’m still learning every day. I like staying curious, breaking problems down with first principles thinking, and understanding why processes behave the way they do.

I’m proud of the consistency. I feel good when I can help operators by explaining the logic behind what they’re seeing, and it holds up in practice. I’m also proud of the small wins: improving a procedure, stabilizing a process or solving a tough problem with the team. It’s not one big moment for me, but it’s the steady progress and the impact you make over time.

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What do you love about manufacturing?

I love that manufacturing mixes technical work with teamwork. You get to use science and engineering every day, but you also rely on collaboration and problem solving to turn ideas into tangible products. I enjoy taking something that’s theoretical and building a process around it that’s stable, repeatable and produces high-quality parts. And I appreciate that what we make has real impact in fields like healthcare and aerospace. There’s always more to learn, and I think that’s a big part of what keeps me motivated.

What advice would you give to kids considering a job in manufacturing?

I would advise kids to stay curious and pay attention in school, at the risk of sounding cliché. It opens doors in life. The more technical foundation you have, the more options you get in this field. With higher education, you can take on roles where you design processes, improve them, and define how they run.

At the same time, manufacturing has many different paths, and all of them matter. Operators, technicians, engineers, and managers all play essential roles, and the industry depends on that mix. Education just gives you flexibility. It lets you choose the path that fits you best and gives you room to grow in the direction you want. If you stay curious, keep learning and look for opportunities to understand how things work, manufacturing can take you far.

What advice would you give to manufacturers to help increase kids' interest in manufacturing as a career choice?

The most important thing is simply giving kids exposure to what manufacturing actually is. A lot of students grow up never seeing a shop or understanding what goes into making the products they use every day. Even basic hands-on activities, short tours, or demonstrations can make a big difference because they help kids connect what they learn in school with real-world applications. I was not exposed to this environment at a young age, but my own curiosity pushed me to seek videos and demonstrations. I still remember watching automated production lines making the sugary drinks I loved and being genuinely impressed. Experiences like that, even small ones, can spark interest and help kids realize there is an entire world behind the things they use every day.