Mark Bloomberg

Leadership in Team Building and Process Establishment

Building a high-performing engineering team and implementing crucial processes are cornerstones of my approach to leadership. Here are some key initiatives I’ve led:

Engineering Team Building and Development

At LSP Technologies, I took the helm in recruiting and building an engineering team that would become the backbone of our success. Through careful selection, mentorship, and empowerment, we not only met the demands of rapid growth but also fostered a culture of innovation and collaboration.

Robust Configuration Control Process

Recognizing the critical importance of precision in engineering design, I implemented a robust configuration control framework. This process ensured that every aspect of our designs met stringent quality standards, instilling a culture of precision and attention to detail.

Design and Development Process Implementation

To streamline our development efforts, I spearheaded the establishment of a comprehensive design and development process. From requirements management to verification and validation, this approach ensured quality, reliability, and safety while encouraging intensive collaboration at every stage of our projects.

Implementing Agile Product Development Workflow

Recognizing the need for adaptability and efficiency in product development, I championed the implementation of an Agile workflow at LSP Technologies. This transformative approach revolutionized our development process, resulting in heightened productivity and improved outcomes. Here’s how we did it:

• We wholeheartedly adopted Agile principles, emphasizing iterative progress, customer collaboration, and the ability to respond to change. This shift in mindset empowered our teams to work more collaboratively, delivering higher quality products in shorter timeframes.
• We broke down silos and encouraged cross-functional collaboration. By fostering a culture of open communication and shared accountability, we were able to streamline workflows and eliminate bottlenecks.
• Agile methodologies encourage continuous feedback loops. By regularly reviewing progress, we were able to identify and address issues early in the development cycle, ensuring that our products met the highest standards of quality and performance.

The implementation of Agile practices not only revolutionized our product development process but also instilled a sense of autonomy and collaboration among our teams.

Laser and Functional Safety Team

Safety was always a paramount concern in our work. To address this, I established a dedicated Laser and Functional Safety team. This multidisciplinary group was tasked with setting and maintaining the highest safety standards in our operations, ensuring the well-being of our team members, customers, and the success of our projects.

Cultivating a Culture of Excellence

A culture of excellence is the bedrock of any successful organization. At LSP Technologies, we fostered a culture characterized by three key attributes:

• Hungry: Our team members are driven, ambitious, and always eager to tackle new challenges head-on.
• Humble: Despite our achievements, we remain humble, recognizing that continuous learning and improvement are at the heart of our success.
• Smart: We value intelligence and the ability to navigate complex problems, but equally, we prize emotional intelligence and the capacity to work collaboratively.

By emphasizing these qualities, we created an environment where innovation flourished, and where every team member was empowered to contribute their best.

Instilling a culture of continuous improvement

At LSP Technologies, I spearheaded the development and implementation of a robust Continuous Improvement Program designed to drive efficiency and excellence across all business functions. Drawing on proven methodologies and a commitment to empowering individuals, our program became a cornerstone of our organizational culture.

Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Methodology and A3 Improvement Techniques

Our approach was rooted in the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, a time-tested framework for problem-solving and process improvement. This provided a structured pathway for individuals to define problems, analyze root causes, propose effective countermeasures, and adjust strategies as they observed the impact of their improvements.

In addition to PDCA, we integrated A3 improvement techniques, which encouraged clear, concise problem-solving documentation. This method enabled our teams to articulate their thought processes and proposed solutions in a systematic and visually intuitive manner.

Empowering Individuals for Impactful Change

One of the key strengths of our program was its focus on empowerment. Team members felt trusted, valued, and equipped with the tools and knowledge to take ownership of problems and empowered to take action to make improvements. This environment of trust fostered a culture of creativity, accountability, and continuous learning.

Kaizen-Style Workshops for Complex Challenges

For more intricate or cross-functional challenges, we implemented Kaizen-style workshops. These collaborative sessions engaged all stakeholders, ensuring that a wide spectrum of perspectives and expertise contributed to the improvement process. Together, we identified and implemented immediate enhancements, driving transformative change in real-time.

This program was instrumental in elevating project execution efficiency and creating a work culture characterized by precision, ingenuity, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Innovating Solutions to Solve Complex Problems

Throughout my career, I’ve been dedicated to pushing the boundaries of engineering to develop cutting-edge solutions for some of the most challenging applications. Here are some key projects that showcase this commitment:

Robust Laser Peening Systems at LSP Technologies

At LSP Technologies, I led a dynamic engineering team through the development of robust laser peening systems, demonstrating our ability to tackle even the most demanding applications.

Patents:

• System and Method for In Process Corrosion Inhibition in Laser Peening – WO2022093752A1
• Laser shock peening apparatus – US20230330772A1
• Method and apparatus for in-situ detection of damage occurring to an optical fiber or an optical mirror – WO2022203971A3

Global Expansion: Laser Peening Job Shop Cells

I led the engineering team through the development and delivery of flexible laser peening Job Shop Cells in China and Japan enabling users to easily laser peen a wide variety of parts. To streamline the design process and reduce the engineering labor required on each project I spearheaded the development of a configurable baseline product design reducing engineering effort by over 60% and drastically reducing the installation and commissioning time. This expansion showcased our ability to deliver advanced solutions on a global scale, meeting the needs of diverse industries and markets.

Portable Laser Peening System for Aircraft Fatigue Prevention

Recognizing the critical importance of aircraft safety, I led a team of engineers to develop a portable laser peening system designed to prevent fatigue failures. The system was designed to operate safely in the harshest environments that included operation in potentially explosive environments (ATEX Zone 1) while upholding the most rigorous industry safety standards (Functional Safety: IEC61508, IEC62061) (Laser Safety: ANSI Z136.1, IEC 60825).

Addressing the specific nature of the clients needs, we developed customized tooling and a fiber optic beam delivery system that enabled technicians at MRO facilities to apply laser peening treatment to the critical features. We further developed flexible tooling that enabled robotic delivery of the laser peening treatment across a broad range of features (US Patent US 20230330772). This innovation represented a significant advancement in aviation technology, enhancing the longevity and reliability of aircraft structures.

[Portable Laser Peening System for Aircraft Fatigue Prevention]

Stress Corrosion Cracking Solution for Nuclear Reactor Vessel Heads

Addressing the challenges of stress corrosion cracking in upper reactor vessel head nozzles, I led the development of a laser peening system solution. The project began by industrially hardening the Procudo 200 10J laser system to withstand the harsh environment inside containment of a nuclear power plant. This involved a custom design of the laser cooling system, redesign of the P200 enclosure, development of a lifting skid, and redesign of the beam delivery adding diagnostics and other features to enable launching the beam into an articulated arm. The beam was sent delivered via the articulated arm under the reactor vessel head to an end effector mounted on the clients robot 15 m away delivering the laser peening treatment to within 300 micron accuracy. This groundbreaking technology played a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and integrity of nuclear power plants.

Maritime Innovation: Laser Peening on a US Navy Warship

In collaboration with the U.S. Navy, our team developed a portable laser peening system tailored for maritime applications. The laser system was designed to be plug-and-play enabling the system to be shipped to the shipyard, unpacked, and loaded onto the deck of a US Navy warship. The system was equipped with a fiber optic beam delivery, robot, and sensors that automatically detected variations in the processing surface and adjusted robot position to maintain the required laser intensity on target. With utilities in place, the system could begin treatment of the target areas within in minutes. This innovation was instrumental in combating aluminum sensitization cracking, showcasing our commitment to advancing technology for critical defense applications.

These projects represent a testament to our team’s ingenuity, technical expertise, and unwavering dedication to solving complex engineering challenges. By pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, we not only met industry demands but also set new standards for excellence in the field.