Adding Value to Customers Date:   Monday , August 31, 2009 Sandhya Arun Employer: Applied Materials Designation: Sr Technical Manager Experience: 18 yrs ST: What is your job there? SA: My role involves leading a team of engineers to develop new concepts to improve semiconductor tool performance, thereby being close to the customer. ST: What do you like about your job? SA: The highly technical nature of the job interests me the most. I am able to use my mechanical engineering background to the fullest advantage in developing the concepts. ST: What do you find challenging about your job? SA: Simultaneously handling varied internal requirements as well as those of external customers and properly benchmarking the success criteria, thereby adding most value to the customer. ST: What have you found that makes your job easier? SA: I have always been involved with the core technical aspects of engineering, especially mechanical engineering. The exposure that I gained while working with engineering companies related to power and petro-chemical industries equipped me with an insight and knowledge about materials, system engineering, and product engineering. This makes my job easier to handle and interesting too. ST: What are your hobbies? SA: I enjoy music, particularly Carnatic music. I also love cooking.