Meet the Team: Interview with Thuy Nguyen – Associate Director of Manufacturing Operations

July 28, 2026

We recently had a conversation with Thuy Nguyen, Associate Director of Manufacturing Operations where she explains how she lives our mission every day, shares more about her management style and background, and how her dedicated teams all play a vital role in shaping our customer experience.

At FUJIFILM Biosciences, delivering on our commitments with quality products and services is how we are supporting our customers and partners in creating a healthier world for all.

What does your day-to-day role at FUJIFILM Biosciences look like?

As an Associate Director for Manufacturing Operations, a large portion of my role involves maintaining close relationships and interactions with all of our area Managers and Supervisors to ensure our production schedule is on track, and any potential issues are promptly identified and addressed. Due to the nature of our manufacturing operations, we have several pass down meetings throughout the day to ensure smooth transitions between shifts. These short meetings are a key part of my day, providing an opportunity to connect with various manufacturing team members and ensure we are all aligned.

After making sure our progress is on track, I support various other teams across the business. My support includes assessing ways to optimize production processes, providing guidance on business-related challenges or supporting tech transfer activities. I take pride in keeping my team informed on our progress and how we are making a difference across the organization.

Tell us more about your professional and academic career, and how that led you to where you are now?

After earning my Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry Cal State University, Fullerton, I began my career in the Medical Device industry. My first role was at a bone graft company that manufactured Class II implantables. The mission was to improve the patient’s quality of life by promoting bone regeneration in a variety of different applications while honoring the donor’s wishes to help others. I initially worked on the production floor before quickly advancing into a leadership role. My role involved frequent interactions with various support groups, including Quality, Engineering, R&D and Finance, helping me to develop my management skills and learn how to coordinate complex projects across diverse, multidisciplinary teams.

Looking for new challenges, I made the decision to venture into the biopharmaceutical business in 2021, where I took on a new role with FUJIFILM Biosciences. It has been a unique and rewarding experience, and I’m proud to say I’ve pushed myself to apply my skills to a new area, helping to broaden my perspective on how companies operate under GMP regulations.

What are your passions outside of work?

When my husband, Patrick and I had our first daughter, we were told ‘cherish every moment because they grow up fast’. We now have teens and it still seems like just yesterday we were first starting our family. We enjoy watching our kids play sports (baseball, basketball and cheer competition, to name a few) and the camaraderie of the parents, all there to support their children.

Aside from that, I enjoy cooking, hosting parties, crafting and supporting various charities. My children have been learning the family recipes my mother passed down to me, although sometimes they go straight to the source and ask my mom directly for their favorite recipes! If you’ve been around the Daimler California campus, hosting appreciation events is just an extension of the type of parties I like to put together. When my kids were younger, I would show off my crafting skills by creating paintings or cut outs that were typically a mural related to a party theme. Lastly, charities have a big place in my heart, and it is something where our whole family gets involved. We have done many different things over the years, such as handing out sleeping bags, hot meals and raising money for the less fortunate. Giving back to the community is important to me.

What are some of your proudest moments in your career so far?

Being in a leadership role, I know building and maintaining relationships within both my team and the supporting departments are vital to our success. I enjoy hearing about what led people to choose the path they are on, and discussing their plans for the future.

Several years ago, I spoke with a recently hired Packaging Tech regarding a task he was assigned. He was understandably nervous, but despite this, he was able to provide a detailed breakdown of critical parts of the process, beyond what we would expect from someone so new to the role. We continued our conversation and he indicated that he moved to the US with a Bachelor degree in Economics but was unable to find work related to his studies, ultimately leading him to the land the Packaging Tech role on our team so that he could support his growing family. After our conversation, I met with the Senior Finance Manager and shared his story; he transferred and succeeded in an Accounting role. Although we lost him in Manufacturing, it was such a proud moment; not being selfish by keeping him to help with our backlog but taking the time to connect the right person to the right role. The business is one “family” with many departments – when we have people where they can support us best, it is a win for all of us!

As well as off the shelf media, FUJIFILM Biosciences offers bespoke media production services. Can you tell us a bit more about this process and how you work with customers?

All new products go through the Tech Transfer Process, a process involving several different teams within the Company to ensure we provide the best possible value to the customer. During this process, I work closely with Product Managers to understand the customer needs, with our Manufacturing Support & Services (MSS) and Engineering team to assess the process, and with our Quality team to ensure we transfer the product into our GMP environment. Bespoke media production can sometimes be easy to transfer into GMP, especially if has a derivative of an existing process. Depending on the customer’s timeline, it can also be an opportunity for our team to look at improving existing processes, ensuring we stay at the forefront of the market. One recent optimization example, in collaboration with Engineering, updated a legacy bottle to incorporate a tamper proof cap, reducing the work associated with applying shrink-wrap on the cap. There were challenges to overcome, but it was a strong step forward in helping to reduce plastic waste.

Are there any products that are more challenging to manufacture? How does FUJIFILM Biosciences overcome these challenges?

We have several product lines that can be cumbersome to process. We are fortunate to have talented colleagues available to support us. Our Engineering group supports and collaborates with our Manufacturing team to find ways to optimize productivity and increase efficiencies to overcome challenges on the production floor. Over the last few years, I have seen consistent improvements brought about by this collaboration as we develop new tools and continue to standardize processes. Some have been minor, but all of these small steps help us to make a big impact.

How has automation changed the manufacturing process, and how do you think this will evolve in the years to come?

The volumes that we manufacture here in California vary from only a few units up to tens of thousands. We are always excited to increase our customer offerings, but this increased business requires process optimization. To ensure we remain competitive, we need to ensure we continue to incorporate automation as we evolve, and we are working closely with various teams to develop automated processes where it is most cost-effective and feasible. By automating crucial areas such as fill and packing lines, we can not only streamline the processes but also deliver enhanced product consistency to our customers.

What qualities do you think are important for being an effective manager?

A good manager has several key qualities. Effective communication is crucial. Managers should be willing to have difficult conversations and provide feedback that helps individuals to make meaningful progress in their role and career. It is also important not only to offer constructive feedback but to be open to receiving feedback yourself as well. Great managers are authentic and genuinely care about their team’s success - celebrating these successes whether large or small is important to show individuals that they are valued. Everyone loves praise, even those that don’t like being in the limelight. It is a great feeling to be appreciated. If you do these things as a manager and earn the respect of your team, they will support you.

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