Engineering Spotlight – Alan Bachman

We are proud to be celebrating Al Bachman’s 21st anniversary at Synectic Engineering (A subsidiary of Mack Molding). Al graduated with a degree in Industrial Design and worked for an Industrial Design Consultant for six years. Al went back to school to obtain a Mechanical engineering degree while holding a part time job as an Industrial Designer. Al Bachman joined Synectic Engineering the day after he graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree and has been here ever since. Al’s responsibilities include concept design, engineering, prototyping and testing. During that time Al has been named in over 40 patents. I had a chance to sit down with Al and discuss his passion for design and engineering services, and here is what he had to say:

Al you hold a dual degree in industrial designing and mechanical engineering.. Why did you decide to expand your career into mechanical engineering?

I enjoyed working as an Industrial Designer, but I really wanted to get into the nuts and bolts of how things work. It was a dream to be involved in projects from start to finish and to merge the product ergonomics, styling and function. To do that I really needed to expand my education into engineering. The product design background gave me a great base to grow on. Skills such as creative thinking, thinking in 3D space, sketching and presentation have been really helpful. During my career engineering CAD has transitioned from 2D to 3D, this was a very easy transition for me.

Al you have been with Synectic Engineering for over 20 years and contributed to over 40 patents. Are you still excited about working in this field? What keeps you going?

The medical device field is still very exciting. There are always new technologies being introduced as well as the ever present need to reduce size and overall costs. It becomes more enjoyable when you gain the needed skills and experience over the years. I’ve learned to rely on my colleagues for help. It’s a balance, sometimes you just want to go off and be alone with your thoughts, but sometimes brain storming with my peers can really expand your boundaries. I’ve also learned to trust my gut. If there is some nagging feeling that something is not right, it should be pulled forward and checked out. There is usually a good reason and it will pay off in the long run.

What have you enjoyed about working for Synectic Engineering all these years?

I love the fast pace and exciting projects. It’s almost impossible to be bored at Synectic. It’s been wonderful to be surrounded by enthusiastic and talented people who are friends and colleagues. The relaxed atmosphere is another huge plus. Our clients come to us with a project that is their “baby”. They really appreciate it when the project engineer takes ownership. They see that we are not just in this for the money, we are along for the ride and really want the project to succeed. This is what has raised us above the pack and what has led to many long term client relationships.

Al it has been a pleasure working with you over the past few years! Outside of work what do you like to do in your free time?

Tennis, volley ball, cycling and I’m starting to get into vegetable gardening. Spending time with my family, my two teenaged boys keep my wife and I busy. try to use my away from work time to get myself happy and healthy. When I come into work I want to be able to concentrate and be away from distractions.We are proud to be celebrating Al Bachman’s 21st anniversary at Synectic Engineering (A subsidiary of Mack Molding).