LIFE AT MATERIALISE

A Day in the Life of a Materialise Quality Engineer

3 min read|Published February 14, 2019
Quality Engineer Eddy Couvreur reaching for a tool in a lab

Quality is the guiding star for everything we do at Materialise, from 3D printing panels for Airbus A320s to enabling hospitals to print their own 3D models. To us, quality is a commitment to deliver high-value and regulatory-compliant products and services to our customers.

But how do you turn a quality policy from an abstract notion into a living, breathing reality? That’s where our quality management team comes in. Meet Eddy Couvreur, learn about his work as a Quality Engineer, and hear the inspiring story of how he started working at Materialise.

Quality Engineer Eddy Couvreur calibrating a machine

Excellence in all we do

As a Quality Engineer, Eddy is responsible for the implementation of the ISO standards in our 3D printing production and software development. Eddy focuses specifically on the 9001 and the ISO 13485 for medical applications, including designing and manufacturing patient-specific medical devices and medical device software.

Regulatory requirements and certified processes are paramount in this domain, making Eddy’s role a particularly crucial one. Eddy is also the person in charge of validating the calibration of medical measurement devices in accordance with ISO standards.

Quality Engineer Eddy Couvreur smiling in a busy office

Another aspect of quality management that Eddy is responsible for is the creation of corrective and preventative actions (CAPA), a system used to improve processes and pre-emptively avoid non-conformities. With all that, a day at work typically means several changes of scene for Eddy.

My job is very dynamic. I’m often switching between desk work and lab work. I am in touch with a lot of people in the company and also with our external suppliers. My work impacts other Materialise offices as well, so I’m frequently in touch with Materialise colleagues around the world too. I don’t spend the days just sitting at my desk!

A fresh start at 58

With a background in electronic engineering and 37 years of industrial experience as a maintenance and quality engineer, Eddy decided last year that it was time to look for a new job. It was a move that he knew could be challenging at his age: he was 58 years old.

Quality Engineer Eddy Couvreur looking into a glass case

From the beginning, Materialise was at the top of his list, says Eddy: “I’ve known Materialise for 20 years already. Actually, I even applied for a different position 10 years ago but I didn’t get the job because I didn’t have a medical background at the time.”

Having made the decision to look for a new job, Eddy worked with a vocational coach to find his strengths, discover his motivations and preferences, and find potential employers. Materialise was his first choice again.

“I applied for the Quality Engineer position and one week later, I had the job. I couldn’t believe it. I can say that I’ve found my dream job at 58! During the recruitment process, Materialise made it clear they had no reservations about my age, which is great because I want to work ten more years,” explains Eddy.

Building a better world with a high-class team

So what does Eddy like the most about working at Materialise? The people and their dedication, he says: “In all my career I’ve never seen such a well-prepared and hardworking team!”

There are also some challenges that go with the job, of course. What’s most important for Eddy is to make sure we don’t just maintain our standards, but that we try to continuously raise the company’s quality processes to an even higher level and bring people together to achieve this.

Quality Engineer Eddy Couvreur talking to a colleague while drinking coffee

Eddy’s motivation is high, too: “As the mission of the company states and Fried (Vancraen) always reminds us, making the world a better place is my main motivation in coming to work. Giving back is my primary goal, and especially when I’m working for our Medical division, that goal feels right within my grasp.”


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