Lane Howard

Lane Howard is a seasoned Senior Principal Reliability Engineer at Medtronic, where he leverages over 20 years of extensive experience in reliability engineering to drive innovation and excellence in high-tech product development. With a formal education in reliability engineering from the University of Maryland and certification from the American Society for Quality (ASQ), Lane has established himself as a key figure in the implementation of robust reliability processes that span from technology development to product sustaining phases.

In his current role, Lane is responsible for overseeing all aspects of reliability engineering, ensuring that products not only meet but exceed industry standards for performance and safety. He has successfully implemented a formal Design for Reliability (DfR) process, which has become integral to Medtronic's product development lifecycle. This initiative has significantly enhanced the reliability of products by identifying potential failure modes early in the design phase through rigorous techniques such as Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) and Worst Case Circuit Analysis (WCCA).

Lane's expertise extends to advanced reliability testing methodologies, including Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT), Accelerated Life Testing (ALT), Reliability Demonstration Testing (RDT), and Reliability Growth Testing (RGT). His analytical skills, combined with proficiency in tools like Minitab, enable him to perform detailed reliability predictions and analyses that inform critical decision-making processes.

As a mentor to a team of engineers, Lane is dedicated to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and knowledge sharing within the reliability engineering discipline. His commitment to Lean Manufacturing principles and adherence to ISO 13485 standards further underscores his role in enhancing operational efficiency and product quality at Medtronic. Through his leadership and technical acumen, Lane Howard continues to make significant contributions to the field of reliability engineering, ensuring that Medtronic remains at the forefront of medical technology innovation.