2015 Engineering Leader Under 40: Alfredo Flores, 31

Senior Controls Engineer, RedViking; Plymouth, Mich.; BS Mechatronic Engineering, Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Querétaro (ITESM)

By Amanda Pelliccione, Project Manager and Director of Research September 17, 2015

Alfredo Flores, 31
Senior Controls Engineer, RedViking; Plymouth, Mich.
BS Mechatronic Engineering, Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Querétaro (ITESM)

Flores is a detail-oriented leader in implementing standards that unify RedViking’s processes across diverse business units. From his origins in mechanical design, Flores has shown aptitude for quickly acquiring new skills and leads in electrical engineering, controls engineering, and project management for the manufacturing execution systems (MES) and manufacturing and assembly solutions teams. At age 25, Flores took over a factory information systems launch project with great success. At 27, he managed a staff of eight engineers to successfully implement a complete tracking and error proofing system (EPS) in a new plant, even before conveyors were installed. This is very unusual, since EPS and tracking are usually installed at the end of the project, but extremely tight timelines overrode the normal rollout. Flores’ EPS worked flawlessly upon launch without any time for the normal debugging process. He recently designed a unique controls architecture for RedViking’s battery-free inductively powered automated guided vehicle (AGV) system, Wingspan.This type of conveyance is new to North America, and at one point there was only one expert, based in Germany, for this specific application. Flores has taken this role on and is now not only the new knowledge leader, he also has designed a new approach to make the AGVs “controls-agnostic.” With his designs and standards, battery-free AGV technology becomes readily available under virtually any controls specification. In his free time, Flores is studying for his Master’s degree in engineering management and enjoys playing outdoor sports with his two young children.