You can make it! Bridging Creativity and Technical Precision in Manufacturing

Nicole Brunner

In the livestock transport industry, Nicole Brunner combines engineering precision with creative problem-solving as a mechanical design engineer. Her work translates complex technical requirements into tangible products that serve practical needs in the agricultural sector.

“I guess for me as a mechanical design engineer, we’re designing new solutions or solving problems for existing ones or making something easier, quicker, more efficient to make,” Nicole explains. “It’s a lot of problem solving, and ultimately, for the end user, we’re delivering them a product that’s beneficial—whether it saves time, cost, or is exactly what they need.”

From Design to Reality

Nicole’s role bridges the conceptual world of engineering design with the practical realities of manufacturing—a connection she finds particularly rewarding.

“For me, as the engineer, we create the designs on the computer and then the next step is we need that manufactured to turn it into a full-scale final product—bringing it to life, essentially, from what I’m looking at on the screen,” she says. “The manufacturing is what turns it into a real, tangible product. It’s getting all the components, cutting the components, welding them—putting it all together and assembling it to become the product that we want.”

This process of transformation—from digital design to physical product—provides continuous satisfaction. “That’s the part that I really enjoyed about engineering, too, is seeing your ideas become a reality. In my role, I’m there for the whole process—I get to see it being welded together, assembled, which is really cool.”

A Journey Through Engineering and Manufacturing

Nicole’s path to manufacturing wasn’t predetermined but evolved through exploration and opportunity. With nine years in the field, she began while still completing her education.

“I started as a cadet while I was studying at the same time. That allowed me to study and work simultaneously. That was back in 2016, and then I graduated in 2020 and just rolled into my role,” she recalls.

Her interest in engineering had deeper roots in childhood curiosity. “I was always interested in knowing how things worked. I loved to read books. My dad was a mechanic, so he always had cars up the back in the shed, and I was always up there asking questions and making little things with Dad and my sister.”

Though initially pursuing aviation, engineering remained in the background. “Initially, in high school, I was pursuing being a pilot. But then things changed a bit with that, and I decided, oh, I like engineering as well. So it kind of changed a little bit after high school. What I ended up doing fit in with what I was good at and what I liked.”

Creativity Meets Technical Precision

What keeps Nicole engaged is the blend of creative and analytical thinking that manufacturing engineering requires—a combination not always associated with technical fields.

“I love that we get to solve problems and create new designs. There’s a bit of a creative side to it as well as the technical and science-y, maths side, which makes it a great mix,” she enthuses.

This creative-technical blend was evident in one of her most rewarding projects. “During my final year thesis in engineering, I worked on a thesis project where I developed a new steering system for a machine. After graduation, a customer wanted to buy this particular design, so I was part of the team that completed the final detailed design, manufactured it, tested it, and delivered it. I later got to see videos of it being used in South America, which was really cool.”

The project highlighted both the satisfaction and challenges of manufacturing. “In uni, I made a little 3D model of the machine and then getting to see that—I got to drive it in real life at RMA. I was very lucky to have the opportunity to have an industry-based project at work and then have a customer that wanted to buy it and actually get to see the project completed.”

Being a Woman in Engineering

While gender remains a numerical minority in her field, Nicole’s experience has been positive and focused on her technical contributions rather than her gender.

“Personally, I haven’t had any experiences where I felt different. It’s been like in the past 10 years through uni—again, I’ve been the minority, but I haven’t really felt any different. I’ve always felt like I’m just an engineer, not a ‘female engineer,’” she reflects.

She does recognise the importance of representation and outreach. “I put my hand up to go to events or uni presentations to talk about being a female engineer. I do like being able to do that sort of thing and hopefully inspire other girls to pursue a career in engineering.”

Encouraging the Next Generation

Drawing from her own experiences, Nicole encourages young people to remain open to different pathways while pursuing their interests.

“There are so many different opportunities out there. When I was in high school, I was set on being a pilot, but things change, and you find new paths,” she advises.

For those interested in manufacturing specifically, she suggests hands-on exposure: “I think it’s about showing them the cool and impressive things we do manufacture. A lot of people don’t think about how things are made, but when they see the process, it can spark interest.”

Through her work bridging engineering design and physical manufacturing, Nicole exemplifies how technical expertise can be combined with creativity to solve problems and create products that make a tangible difference.