In a dynamic environment where product designs become tangible reality, Uyen Tran occupies the crucial space between engineering and manufacturing. Her work bridges the conceptual world of design with the practical realities of production, ensuring that innovative ideas can be efficiently and effectively manufactured.

“I work with different teams in business and outside the business as well, like flight providers or different companies or groups to make the products that you basically use every day,” explains Uyen Tran, who has spent two decades in engineering and manufacturing.

The experienced engineer brings a strong technical foundation to her manufacturing work, allowing her to translate complex designs into producible reality.

“My background is engineering. I’ve been working for about 20 years now—first in engineering, and then 15 years in manufacturing,” said Uyen, highlighting the progression of her career from technical design to implementation.

That comprehensive experience has given her a unique perspective on the purpose and value of manufacturing in society—one that emphasises both technical precision and human-centred design.

“For kids, I explain it by saying, how do you play Nintendo Switch? Where does that come from? Why do they make different colours for this remote? It’s about defining what you want, your demand, your preference, and then manufacturing makes it happen.”

Uyen’s role involves translating the abstract visions of engineers into practical production processes—a critical function that requires both technical knowledge and communications skills.

“In the manufacturing environment, what we were trying to do is we try to turn the engineering design into something that easy to assemble, easy to make. And then also it create it’s also take into account the user interface, the user experience and feedback to an engineer,” said Uyen, highlighting her role in making designs manufacturable.

Her international perspective has helped her navigate both the technical and cultural challenges that emerge in increasingly global manufacturing environments.

“You can’t really walk into the job and know I have to do this,” she observes about manufacturing’s constant learning curve. “Every product is unique. You can’t walk into a new job and know everything—you have to keep learning.”

One of Uyen’s key contributions is her ability to simplify complex manufacturing challenges into manageable processes—a skill particularly valuable in modern production, where products combine multiple technologies and materials in increasingly sophisticated ways.

Uyen is particularly interested in how artificial intelligence will transform manufacturing processes, while emphasising that technology should enhance rather than replace human capabilities.

Drawing from her extensive experience, she encourages those interested in manufacturing to embrace its diversity and continuous learning opportunities.

“Every product is unique. You can’t walk into a new job and know everything—you have to keep learning. Manufacturing also relies on many teams working together,” said Uyen, highlighting the collaborative nature of modern production.

For women specifically, she notes that confidence often develops with experience: “When it comes to woman, some women do have confidence, but I don’t know whether their confidence always or they confidence after they gain some experience.”

Through her work bridging engineering and manufacturing, Uyen demonstrates how technical expertise, practical problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration come together to create the products that enhance our everyday lives—transforming abstract designs into tangible realities that meet human needs and preferences.