Madison Maxey

Madison Maxey is an African American engineer, entrepreneur, and designer known for her innovations with e-textiles and advanced materials. Quotes I started my career in design and found hardware and materials engineering by digging deep into design problems. I just kept digging and digging, and this led me to eventually have ideas for developing my own materials. However, a material that can only be made in a small swatch isn't very useful, so the need to scale led me to advanced manufacturing. I see myself very much as a physical product person. If someone wants to make innovative things in the real world, they will eventually need to touch advanced manufacturing in some way! How did you find your way to working in advanced manufacturing? Getting a new process into production is an exercise in resilience. We are constantly trying to troubleshoot unexpected issues, and the unknown can be difficult. However, this is also what makes the work mentally stimulating and fun! What is the most challenging part of your job? The invention for sure! I work more on the business and strategy side these days, but I love it when I get the chance to see parts from the factory, or see prototypes. It's really satisfying to see ideas become real through engineering, design, prototyping, and production. What is the best part of your job? We make electronic textiles, and the word "textile" always makes people think of shirts and socks. In reality, we manufacture electronic components for cars, robots, and more. They would be surprised to know that we don't spend much time weaving and sewing and spend most of our time testing the electrical performance of components and laminating things. What would people be surprised to learn about manufacturing or your role in it? More than anything, I think it's important to be a critical problem solver when working with new technologies. If something you're doing isn't working, don't worry, wine, or wander around. Just change one variable, try again, and measure the result. Eventually, you'll get there! What advice do you have for someone new to the industry? We do work for engineers and designers making next-generation products. I'm super motivated by how we can help them do their work with our materials. I also love research, so I'm always excited to hear what the team has been up to and what breakthroughs we've made on a Monday morning. What makes you excited to go to work? I think I would spend one hour walking around somewhere nice, one hour at a nice symphony or jazz show, one hour cooking and eating something nice, and the rest of the day I would spend in a lab with exciting tools and materials to use for developing new things. If you didn’t have to work, how would you spend your day? Graphic with a photo of Madison Maxey leaning over a work table with a quote superimposed of what she would tell her 14 year old self about manufacturing: "Pair engineering with design from the start. With these two skills, you can make just about anything you want. What activity gives you the most energy? I used to spend a lot of time making things when I was younger, and I think this has helped. From 3D printing to sewing, the hands-on work helps me imagine how physical items come together. What hobbies make you better at your career? To be honest, the work we do has a very small impact on the world right now. We make components, so we help products be a little easier to make or work a little better. It's a small impact, but it's exciting for us and for our customers. How does the work you do impact the world? External link Category: living people Category:Women from the United States Category: Entrepreneurs