Michelle Kane, mechanical engineer at PMI, was born and raised in northeast Ohio. She stayed in the region to attend Cleveland State University, which offered a 4+1 program. That program enabled Michelle to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering in five academic years instead of six.
After college, Michelle worked at a temperature sensor company in Mansfield. Midway through the global pandemic, however, Michelle decided that she preferred employment closer to her family. Michelle’s job search led her to PMI, which she joined in April, 2022.
“I enjoy the variety in my day-to-day work,” she said. “I work in the engineering department and am involved with many different projects and all our departments. The environment is fast-paced and I’m always learning something new.”
We asked Michelle to share more about herself and the work she does at PMI.
What machines and materials have you worked with?
I often work on projects that involve 3D printing and the use of an autoclave. We use the autoclave to replicate ocean depth and for pressure testing.
What is a specialty of yours that you are particularly proud of?
Being organized. I manage multiple projects, as well as PMI’s ISO and safety programs. I use weekly to-do lists to keep track of what needs to be done.
PMI Industries’ Michelle Kane and Terrence Mathis meet Sasquatch, also known as Bigfoot, at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC). For the PMI team, attending trade shows are one way it fosters and builds customer relationships.
How would you describe a “typical” work week?
A typical work week for me involves working with a variety of departments and people inside and outside of the company. For instance, I provide project information and updates on customer interaction to our sales team. With the production team, the focus is on work orders, procedures, testing, and training. In our quality control, supply chain, and shipping and receiving areas, my involvement ranges from parts to be ordered or evaluated to products shipped to customers or vendors. In my ISO role, I work with all our departments to collect data for key performance indicators, which are used to update and improve procedures and processes and/or create new guidance documents as needed.
What have you learned about the industry? Are there any trends or changes you are following?
I didn’t know just how specialized PMI’s business was when I joined 19 months ago. I have learned so much about vessels, surveys, remote-operated vehicles, fiber optics, etc. and the solutions that PMI designs, manufactures, and tests. At PMI, I’m assisting or leading projects and get to be directly involved with our products, such as our new fiber optic splice kit, Dyna II family, EVERFLEX™ BSR Bending Strain Relief, DAM/BLOK™ Electrical Cable Splice Kit, and other marine cable connectors and subsea cable terminations.
One group I follow on social media is called, “Interesting Engineering.” It has been posting about fiber optics and fiber optic cables and the alternate ways they are being used. One example mentioned using fiber optic cables to track whales using seismographs. Interestingly, PMI’s solutions are assisting in this offshore work and data collection of whale songs!
When you’re not working, what do you enjoy doing?
Northeast Ohio has a huge volleyball community. I am part of this and play volleyball about five days a week. I also enjoy reading novels and manga, watching anime and TV shows, going to concerts, and spending time with friends, family, and my three cats.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be “when you grow up”?
I wanted to do special FX makeup, either for movies or plays. I began studying chemical engineering to “make” makeup. That’s when I discovered how much I despise chemistry! I switched to mechanical engineering after two semesters of general chemistry in my freshman year of college.
