Today on The Maintainers, we have André Bezerra, a Maintenance Technician at  Petersen Precision Engineering. André, who is a mechatronics engineer, shares his background and experiences in the field. He talks about his passion for robotics and emphasizes the importance of mechatronics in today's industry, where automation and IoT sensors are becoming more prevalent. He advises that having a combination of electronics and mechanical knowledge is crucial for understanding and improving maintenance processes.

André also discusses his unique experiences in building various projects, such as a sea turtle submarine and a pizza delivery robot. He highlights the importance of being curious and hands-on when pursuing a career in mechatronics engineering. André encourages aspiring engineers to have a solid foundation in mechanics, electronics, logic programming, and the ability to read schematics. He emphasizes the need to understand how the machine works, beyond what the operators see, to troubleshoot and fix problems effectively.

In terms of improving maintenance and manufacturing processes, André explains how  Petersen Precision Engineering, a company with over 55 years of history, focuses on trust, continuous improvement, and investing in the right tools and resources. He discusses their plans for the future, which include upgrading equipment, modernizing the factory, and improving data acquisition and monitoring systems. André talks about the bottom-up approach, where improvement ideas come from the employees who deal with day-to-day challenges. He emphasizes the importance of recording and tracking maintenance history to create better procedures and minimize downtime.

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Guest Bio

André Bezzera is a Maintenance Technician at  Petersen Precision Engineering. With a background in mechatronics engineering, André brings a unique combination of electrical and mechanical engineering expertise to his role. Born in Brazil, André has always had a passion for science and technology. His curiosity and hands-on approach led him to pursue a career where he could be involved in building and creating robotics and automation systems. André's impressive projects include building a sea turtle-inspired submarine, a pizza delivery robot, and exoskeletons. These projects have not only showcased his technical skills but also his commitment to innovation and problem-solving.

As a Maintenance Technician, André plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth functioning of  Petersen Precision Engineering’s CNC machines and other equipment. His focus on continuous improvement and his ability to troubleshoot complex issues have made him an invaluable asset to the company. 

Outside of work, André enjoys exploring the outdoors and connecting with nature. Through his work and personal interests, André continues to inspire others to pursue careers in mechatronics and contribute to the advancement of automation and robotics in various industries.

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Guest Quote

"Improving those kind of systems in the company comes from the top to bottom. But actually dealing with the day to day life here, a person comes mostly from the bottom up, because they're always open minded to receive ideas and solutions that might help us improve. Whatever we can do to make the operators work in a more comfortable way, we're always improving that kind of thing.” – André Bezerra

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Time Stamps 

*(02:11) Opening Ice Breaker

*(02:42) Andre's background as a mechatronics engineer

*(05:37) What inspired Andre to build his own submarine

*(07:13) Segment 01: The Maintainer Mashup

*(07:33) What makes Petersen Precisien unique

*(09:07) Why you need to stay up date with technological innovations

*(10:56) Segment 02: What's in Your Toolkit?

*(11:29) Comparing the manufacturing of the US to Brazil 

*(12:22) Reducing downtime at any cost

*(15:44) Advice for others in the industry

*(18:14) Segment 03: The Future of Factories

*(18:48) Why Andre is building a five year plan for Petersen Precision

*(22:36) Identifying opportunities from the bottom up

*(24:30) Segment 04: Fix It Funnies 

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Links

• Connect with André Bezerra on LinkedIn 
• Learn more about Petersen Precision Engineering
• Connect with David Lee on LinkedIn
• Connect with Jake Hall on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Tractian