With more than two decades of experience in electronics and circuit manufacturing, a passion for problem-solving, and a drive to continuously improve processes, Joshua Watt was a natural fit for the new role of Customer Furnished Material Production Supervisor at MJS Designs. We are thrilled to introduce Joshua as he takes on this role. His enthusiasm for collaborating with and learning from individuals makes him an exciting addition to the team.
“There are a lot of unique challenges that come up that require creative thinking and problem-solving, which is always great for me,” says Joshua. “I like problem-solving and trying to create new ideas. Part of that is building relationships, which is fun since my degree is in communications. The ability to work with various groups and utilize those skills to ensure that communication is effectively relayed by breaking it down to its simplest form is great.”
Joshua credits his interest in electronics to growing up in a family of tradesmen, where mechanical work was simply part of everyday life. With a father who worked as an electronic technician in medical device manufacturing, he was surrounded by hands-on problem-solving. In his younger years, he enjoyed taking things apart, putting them back together, and figuring out how to fix them himself, a curiosity that quietly laid the foundation for his future career. Although he didn’t originally plan to pursue electronics, having studied communication in college, he now recognizes it was likely always in his wheelhouse. With encouragement from his father, he began his career in electronic manufacturing twenty years ago. Since then, he has gained comprehensive experience across the full spectrum of the industry, including commercial production, defense contracting, and medical device manufacturing. Serving in roles such as Process Technician and Production Supervisor, Joshua has developed a well-rounded expertise spanning production oversight, process improvement, inventory management, and surface mount assembly, experience that adds measurable value to the MJS Designs team.
“I work directly with two auditors, one of whom has been with MJS for over a decade, and one who is a new hire,” shares Joshua. “I appreciate that I am working with someone who has a wealth of experience and someone who is open to learning new things. Beyond that I work closely with the leadership in the direct manufacturing lines that we provide material to.”
In his role as Customer Furnished Material Production Supervisor, Joshua is responsible for coordinating, tracking, and ensuring the seamless integration of customer-supplied materials into production. On a daily basis, he receives incoming materials, verifies quantities, and carefully documents and records to ensure full accountability. A key part of his role involves generating detailed documentation, properly identifying materials, and preparing accurate records for the two auditors on his direct team, ensuring that they have all of the information they need to receive physical counts of materials. He also serves as a central point of communication, filtering and consolidating information from sales, purchasing, and the manufacturing floor to ensure each department has the materials and data needed to keep production moving smoothly. In addition, Joshua manages special customer requests, taking extra care to ensure materials are handled, stored, and returned safely and securely. Every step is thoroughly documented, allowing for the proper return of materials, including any excess, back to the customer.
“I was really excited for the opportunity to make the necessary changes for process improvements. The department grew quickly and there was a need for greater communication and efficiency. The opportunity to come and bring new ideas and some new methodology to the process was exciting,” expresses Joshua.
Since joining the team four months ago, Joshua has focused on simplifying and streamlining processes for both auditors and the internal staff he works alongside, an opportunity he was especially eager to take on. From the start, he saw opportunities to strengthen communication, improve efficiency, and refine existing methodologies within his department. The positive impact of those efforts is already evident, a result he takes great pride in. Joshua
has been particularly impressed by the openness and trust MJS Designs has shown in embracing new ideas and implementing these processes, just one example of the collaborative mindset of the company that has allowed meaningful progress to happen quickly.
“One thing I noticed very early on when starting with MJS is the positive energy on the manufacturing floor,” shares Joshua. “When I was on the production floor, there was smiling and laughter, as well as great energy amongst the employees and the staff, which comes directly from the leadership. There is extreme professionalism, but there’s a great outlook as well.”
Joshua has especially enjoyed the diversity of manufacturing at MJS Designs, where no two projects are the same. Having worked at both large global corporations and small businesses, he appreciates the unique balance MJS offers, combining the close-knit, relationship-driven culture of a small company with the scale and excitement of complex, high-level projects. It’s a dynamic environment where he feels both comfortable and challenged in all the right ways. In addition, Joshua values the positive energy on the manufacturing floor, a reflection of a team that takes pride in its work and approaches each day with optimism.
“On behalf of the entire team, we are excited Josh chose MJS Designs to manage our customer-supplied materials,” shares Dawn Northrop, President of MJS Designs. “His ideas for improving efficiency and organization in this area are intriguing. Josh is a valuable addition to our company, and we are looking forward to the future with him leading our customer supplied inventory team.”
Outside of work, Joshua enjoys building custom computers, playing video games, and connecting with friends through tabletop games online. Drawing on the hands-on skills he developed in his younger years, he also takes on home improvement and remodeling projects. With winter coming to an end, Joshua’s especially looking forward to getting back outside, camping and spending time at the lake.
For over 45 years, MJS Designs has been a trusted leader in PCB engineering, CAD Layout, assembly and test driven by a commitment to delivering exceptional quality and precision. We partner with industry leaders in the semiconductor, agriculture, medical, commercial, aerospace, and military sectors, providing reliable PCB assembly solutions that bring their projects to life. Learn more about our capabilities and how MJS Designs can support your next project by visiting our homepage here.
