Josabeth Sahlenius

“To be able to share my knowledge and be an important part of the supply chain for IVF treatments, blood tests, allergy tests and other medical technology products – it’s such a luxury!”

Quality Manager Maria Sköld’s journey in science and technology started at Elos Medtech Skara, Sweden, in 1999. Until then she had little knowledge about the manufacturing of medical polymer solutions or how they can help people.

Quality Focus 

As Quality Manager, Maria does everything from article preparation, deviation investigations, producing instructions and answering questions from production while planning and maintaining the QMS.

She began as an operator in the post-processing department and progresssed to different roles within the company over the years. After the Skara entity became part of Elos Medtech AB in 2011, Maria was promoted to quality coordinator and that’s where her career within quality really began in earnest.

Maria spent six intense months establishing all routines, procedures and templates to certify the factory against ISO 13485. In 2012, Skara – together with the other companies in Elos Medtech AB – was included in the common ISO 13485:2003 certificate. A victory for Maria and the whole quality department.

In 2018, Maria was promoted to Quality Manager, a highlight so far in her career. Since then, the company has undergone several major audits by both FDA, BSI and DNV, with successful results. But she is careful not to take all the credit.

“Here in Skara, we have a ‘watchword’ that has followed us all these years and that is quality. Who is responsible for the quality? We all are!”

Customer and Togetherness

Quality is obviously always top of mind for Maria’s team – but she’s also keen on applying the company’s values in her daily work. Living up to the Togetherness value she tries to be a present manager and to have regular contact with her colleagues every day.

At Elos, the customer is at the heart of everything we do. Creating trust between customer and supplier should always be prioritized and maintained. This is in Maria’s back bone as she has several ongoing customer projects at all times.

“Credibility is the most important part of any relationship. Meeting new and old customers who request new products with different technical solutions – that’s what makes my work interesting and different every day.”

Personal Achievements

When she’s not working, Maria indulges in sports preferably outdoors as she loves the nature. She and her family share several interests such as traveling, skiing, playing padel and golf.

“I do have a few secrets that I am very proud of! One is that I have actually done three HIO (Hole In One) during my ‘golf career’. And in 2024 I completed the 90 km long skiing competition ‘Vasaloppet’, together with my son.”

Future

Going forward, Maria hopes that the company continues to challenge themselves by manufacturing more products, creating new production methods and developing new technical solutions. She also sees herself as a part of the continued success at Elos Skara.

Being able to participate in the manufacture of products that can help another person to a better life is what gives her the inspiration and energy to continue looking forward to what awaits in the future.

“One of our former board chairmen once said to us at an inauguration of new premises, ‘All you who work here in Skara should be so proud. You help create lives and you save lives with the products you manufacture!”

Working at Elos Medtech 

Maria has never regretted embarking on a career in science. So what would her advice to young girls, wishing the same, be?

“Be curious, dare to ask and believe in yourself! To have the chance to develop and share knowledge with others is honorable. Take the chance – the industry of technology and science is incredibly exciting!”

Elos Medtech actively works towards attracting students to pursue careers in technology and engineering through close cooperation with other members and engagement initiatives, for example partnering with the University of Skövde. The company is also adamant about breaking down gender barriers in the tech world for young women aspiring to careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Want to join the Elos Medtech team? Learn more about our opportunities here: https://elosmedtech.com/careers/

“The reason I’m so passionate about the quality of medical devices is that I’ve personally seen how they have eased or eliminated the pain of several of my close relatives, greatly improving their lives. The importance of quality in this industry cannot be underestimated! ~ Quality Engineer Linda Holmes, Elos Medtech, Memphis, USA.

Breaking Norms in Science and Technology

Linda’s passion for science is hard to miss. She has been with Elos Medtech for seven years now – but the road was anything but straightforward.

Her interest in the industry was sparked in 7th grade, when one of Linda’s teachers fought for her to be able to take metal and wood shop. In the 1970’s this was unheard of – girls took cooking and sewing classes and were forbidden from taking shop. Linda and her friends became the first girls in the school’s history to take shop classes.

Linda was also fascinated by her older brother’s drawings from his high school drafting class. To her, drafting seemed like the perfect combination of art and precision. Once she was old enough to take the class herself, she discovered that she loved it just as much as she thought she would.

Perseverence

Drafting planted the seed of her future career in the medical device industry. Linda’s drafting instructor selected her to receive a scholarship to further her education at the local community college. Linda hadn’t intended to continue her education, as she needed to work full-time to pay her bills. But rather than relinquish the scholarship, she went on to work full-time and go to school in the evenings.

After receiving her Associate Degree, Linda continued to take occasional night classes, constantly working towards her Bachelor’s Degree while trying to manage full-time work and raising kids.

“My co-workers encouraged me to enroll in a weekend engineering program, which I did. I received my Bachelor’s Degree during the year that I turned 50! It took a while at my snail’s pace, but I eventually achieved my goal.”

While attending college, a classmate recognized Linda’s analytical thinking and her appreciation for precision and accuracy, and encouraged her to pursue a career in Medical Devices and Quality, which she did. This also fulfilled her desire to help others.

“I was surprised to learn how fascinated I was with the anatomy and physiology class that I took to help me better understand medical devices”, says Linda. “I was equally intrigued by cadaver labs. My machining classes taught me to appreciate some of the challenges faced by machinists. What I learned there confirmed that the medical device industry was a good match for me.”

Trusting the Process

As Quality Engineer, Linda uses the Engineering Review process to determine the root cause of non-conforming product to prevent reoccurrences and to reduce scrap (non-conforming Medical Devices that cannot be repaired through rework). She determines the optimum rework method while keeping various considerations in mind.

In her daily work, she teaches her co-workers the Engineering Review process, provides Print Reading training to new employees during orientation classes, creates and modifies SOP’s, etc. There’s a lot of variety in the role – and that’s what she likes about it.

Says Linda, “Priorities shift frequently. For example, I may need to shift my attention to resolve a hold on a work order, allowing shipment of the product. I enjoy learning and I enjoy understanding the connection between departments.”

Linda’s Path to Success 

Linda has spent the past 34 years contributing to the design and quality of medical devices. She never really had a vision of her career – it sort of just evolved by her making decisions based on her interests and preferences along the way, which altered her path forward.

A ‘Career highlight’ is not a singular event for me. It’s the sense of satisfaction I get knowing that I have an impact on improving the lives of others by providing quality medical devices for patients and surgeons.”

A true analyst, Linda thoroughly enjoys the psychological aspects of understanding root causes. She always tries to understand and evaluate if errors are made due to unclear wording on the work order, training deficiencies or perhaps workspace and morale. She believes that processes are typically the root cause of issues – not people – which is why she’s constantly working to determine which processes can be modified to help improve product quality.

It’s a never-ending endeavor since there are constantly new employees, new systems, new products and new assets to investigate. But even minor improvements can help improve the process, allowing patients to get the quality products they need in a timely manner so that their lives can be improved sooner than later.

Linda has had various roles as Drafter, Designer, Engineering Technician, Design Control Specialist, Supervisor, Supplier Quality Engineering, Process Engineer, and Quality Engineering. She plans to continue to utilize her decades of skills and knowledge.

“I’ll continue to find ways to provide patients with quality medical devices in a timely manner,” Linda confirms.

Male Dominance in the Industry

Linda was usually the only female in her industry-related classes. There were not many women in the industry at that time. Most of the people who inspired her path were men. Reflecting on decades of working in a typically male-dominated industry, Linda does acknowledge that the situation has improved over the years:

“Reinhold Niebuhr, author of “The Serenity Prayer,” which was later quoted by Winnifred Wygal, American YWCA official, states it best: “…accept the things I cannot change, change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Women need to speak up, find their voice. If you notice something that doesn’t seem equitable, ask for the policy to be modified. Policies have historically been made by men without input from women. For example, women who work outside of the home are often also caregivers and therefore have unique challenges affecting their work-life balance. Speak up to expand policies that will help you maintain a career and a family simultaneously. You are your own best advocate.”

This is also the advice she wants to instill in young women and girls dreaming of pursuing a career in science and technology:

“Go for it! Don’t worry about being outnumbered by men. Most men are supportive. Navigate around roadblocks. (It’s like Groundhog Day…Learn from yesterday: If plan A didn’t work, move to plan B. Don’t run out of plans). Women often seem to excel at collaboration and empathy, both of which the industry needs. Persevere!”

Want to join the Elos Medtech team? Learn more about our opportunities here: https://elosmedtech.com/careers/

In our series recognizing the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we are shining a light on some of the exceptional women working in technical roles at Elos Medtech. Next up is Amy Schoenfelder, Director of Engineering at our Memphis site!

Amy’s Expertise: Variety, Passion and Collaboration

As Director of Engineering, Amy is the lead of Manufacturing Engineering, Quality Engineering, Maintenance, and Project Management at the Memphis site. She’s been with Elos Medtech for less than a year, but so far she thinks it has been a very rewarding experience. Her highlight so far has been building a unified engineering department at the Memphis facility. This has fostered a more cohesive team, ensuring alignment on goals and objectives, and strengthening collaboration across engineering disciplines.

What she loves most about her role is the variety—no two days are the same, which keeps her engaged in Operations Engineering.

“My passion is working with my team, focusing on strategic planning, problem-solving, and process improvements,” she says. “While much of my time is spent on project planning and team development, I always strive to be hands-on and engage with operators and engineers on the production floor—something I truly enjoy.”

Discovering a Passion for Medical Devices

Amy’s interest in science and technology began in 6th grade when her class learned about the Human Genome Project* as it was nearing completion. Amy became fascinated by the idea of contributing to something groundbreaking and knew from then on that she wanted to make a meaningful impact.

In college, she discovered her passion for medical devices, drawn by her love for math—especially statics and deformable bodies—and how they apply to the human body. The blend of engineering, problem-solving, and real-world healthcare impact made medical devices the perfect fit, shaping her career ever since.

“I’ve always loved learning,” says Amy with a laugh, “- and school was something I genuinely enjoyed. In fact, I was the child who was upset on the first day of school because they didn’t immediately teach me how to read!”

As she progressed in school, she naturally gravitated toward math and science. There was something comforting about data and logic—the way numbers and formulas could explain the world around. That enjoyment of problem-solving eventually led her to engineering, where she found a perfect balance between technical challenges and real-world impact.

Earning and Paying Respect

Despite the industry’s male-dominated reputation, Amy shares that she’s had a very positive experience in engineering and operations. Early in her career she did feel the need to prove herself, as she was often the minority on teams. However, over time, she realized that the best way to earn respect was through competence, collaboration, and consistently delivering results.

She also credits her success to learning the importance of patience and staying committed to the responsibilities she was given. Being faithful in the tasks and executing them well helped build trust and credibility.

Another major factor in Amy’s journey was the mentorship she received early in her career. She was fortunate to have mentors who made sure she was in the right place at the right time, providing guidance and opportunities that helped shape her path. Their support taught her the power of mentorship, which she now strives to pay forward by supporting and encouraging others in the field.

Amy’s Progression in Her Role

At the beginning of her career, Amy would have never predicted that she’d be where she is today. What is very clear to her, is that she enjoys medical devices and operations—the fast-paced problem-solving, process improvements, and the ability to make a real impact on healthcare.

“I see myself continuing to grow as a leader in this space, taking on new challenges, driving innovation, and developing high-performing teams. Whether by expanding my current role or exploring new opportunities, my goal remains the same: make a difference, support my team, and advance medical technology.”

Three Pointers to a New Starter at Elos:

“1. Embrace curiosity, stay persistent, and believe in yourself and your abilities.

2. Pursue your passion even if you don’t see many people like you in the field. Find mentors, ask questions, and embrace challenges.

3. If something pushes you outside your comfort zone, it’s probably worth pursuing—those are the experiences that lead to the most growth, even if you don’t realize it yet.”

* The Human Genome Project was an international scientific research project with the goal of determining the base pairs that make up human DNA, and of identifying, mapping and sequencing all of the genes of the human genome. It started in 1990 and was completed in 2003.

Want to Join the Elos Medtech Team? 

Learn more about our opportunities here: https://elosmedtech.com/careers/