The Power of Persistence with Vitória Régia Oliveira, Reliability Engineer with Abbott

Join hosts David Lee and Jake Hall on this episode of The Maintainers as they have an insightful and inspiring conversation with Vitória Régia Oliveira, Reliability Engineer with Abbott Laboratories and former Maintenance Lead at Magna International.

This episode unravels the compelling story of Vitória's ascent from a favela in Salvador, Brazil, to a leadership role at a Fortune 500 company in Ireland. Discover her relentless pursuit of engineering excellence, driven by curiosity and a refusal to accept 'no' for an answer. Vitória passionately discusses her transition to Ireland, overcoming language barriers, and the cultural advantages of working in a diverse environment. 

You will also hear about Magna International's innovative maintenance strategies, where Vitória's small but specialized team leverages Industry 4.0 and AI to maximize efficiency and output. Listeners will gain valuable insights into managing a multifunctional maintenance team, the importance of continual learning, and the future of factories brimming with digitalization and sustainability initiatives. 

Vitória also highlights the challenges of finding qualified tech professionals and the critical role of partnerships with educational institutions. Her personal touch shines through as she shares the importance of balancing personal and professional life, while not shying away from taking risks to propel one's career. Tune in to be inspired by Vitória's mantra of turning a no into a yes, and learn how you too can harness creativity and resilience to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of maintenance and manufacturing.

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Guest Bio

Born and raised in the neighborhood of Engomadeira in Salvador, the capital of Bahia, Brazil, Vitória Régia Oliveira graduated in Mechatronic Engineering. Despite the challenges of being a black female from a favela, she persevered and secured a position at a tire manufacturing company. Her desire for growth led her to move from Brazil to Ireland, where she not only learned English but also improved her people skills.

In Ireland, she continued to advance her technical knowledge by completing a Higher Diploma in Science in Computing while working in the healthcare sector. After securing a work visa, she pursued further studies, completing CPDs in Energy Sustainability, Project Management, and Sustainability & ESG. This enabled her to work effectively with Industry 4.0, automation, and sustainability.

With eight years of experience in the automotive industry, she is now challenging herself in the medical device and life sciences industry, focusing on Industry 4.0, digital transformation, and machinery reliability.

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Guest Quote

"My mantra is: 'Everybody can say no, but we always go for a yes. Why not still ask? Why not still try?' So everything that I did in my life was always using this mantra. I came to Ireland without any English, and I learned English from nearly [ground] zero. Sometimes the risks are going to change your life forever for the better." – Vitória Régia Oliveira

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Time Stamps 

00:00 Episode Start

01:45 Opening Icebreaker

02:20 Vitória's Background

04:15 Segment 01: The Maintainer Mashup

05:00 What is Magna International?

07:35 Doing more with less

12:15 The software powering Magna International

14:00 Segment 02: What's in Your Toolkit?

16:25 Don't be afraid of the word "no"

23:15 Advice for others looking for change

26:05 Segment 03: The Future of Factories

28:50 The workforce challenge

30:55 The most exciting parts of the future

33:00 Segment 04: Fix It Funnies 

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Links

• Connect with Vitória Régia Oliveira on LinkedIn
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