SARATOGA SPRINGS, UT, August 11, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Manufacturing professional, educator, and former NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory leader Timothy Bradbury Monzello is raising awareness about the growing need to strengthen practical engineering skills and promote design practices that reflect how products are actually built.

Drawing on decades of experience in machining, manufacturing leadership, production planning, and engineering, Monzello believes one of the biggest opportunities in today's workforce is helping designers and engineers better understand the realities of manufacturing before products ever reach the shop floor.

"I've always believed that good ideas deserve good execution," says Monzello. "The best design in the world doesn't mean much if people can't build it efficiently."

Industry trends reinforce his message.

According to manufacturing research, up to 70% of a product's manufacturing cost is determined during the design phase.
Design-related decisions account for as much as 80% of production quality and manufacturing costs.
Studies also show that companies adopting Design for Manufacturability (DFM) practices early can reduce production costs by 15% to 30% while shortening development timelines.

For Monzello, those numbers represent more than efficiency. They represent opportunities to reduce waste, improve teamwork, and prepare future professionals for long-term success.

"I wanted to understand every part of the process," he says. "Every machine taught me something different."

That philosophy has guided his career from auto mechanic and machinist to manufacturing leadership positions, business ownership, nearly two decades at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and more than a decade teaching manufacturing and machine tool technology.

Rather than separating engineering from production, Monzello believes both sides benefit when they work together from the beginning.

"At JPL, planning wasn't optional," he explains. "You learned very quickly that one overlooked detail could affect an entire project."

He recalls lessons from production environments where simple design adjustments created significant improvements.

"We had a part with deep pockets and sharp internal corners," he says. "After we modified the design with a simple radius, machining became possible. That one change would save hours every time we built the part."

Monzello also believes continuous learning remains one of the most valuable investments professionals can make.

"I never looked at education as something you finish," he says. "Every new skill gave me another way to solve problems."

What Individuals Can Do Today

Monzello encourages engineers, students, technicians, and anyone interested in manufacturing to take practical steps on their own:

Learn how products are actually manufactured, not just how they are designed.
Visit local manufacturing facilities during public events or educational tours.
Ask experienced machinists and production workers how they would improve a design.
Study basic Design for Manufacturability and GD&T principles.
Review one everyday product each week and think about how it was made.
Continue learning through books, classes, and industry resources.
Share practical manufacturing knowledge with students, coworkers, and mentors.

"Every department depends on another," Monzello says. "When communication improves, everything improves."

He believes stronger collaboration can improve product quality while creating better learning opportunities for future engineers and manufacturing professionals.

"Technology keeps changing," he says. "Understanding the process never goes out of style."

Monzello hopes more people will take time to learn about manufacturing, ask better questions during design, and recognize the value of practical experience alongside formal education.

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