This weblog is a part of our give attention to Cisco staff who’re “Striving for Sustainability” by discovering alternatives to combine sustainability of their day-to-day work.
Once I introduced the corporate’s subsequent era environmental sustainability technique, The Plan for Potential, final July, it led Cisco staff to surprise the way to additional combine sustainability into their work. And this may be achieved in some ways, it doesn’t matter what space you’re employed in.
Meet Pelin Salem. She is a Radio Regulatory Technical Chief at Cisco who spearheaded an initiative on take a look at optimization at Cisco to cut back testing time, enhance power effectivity, and assist scale back greenhouse gasoline (GHG) emissions. She shares extra about her curiosity in sustainability, her skilled background, and the way collaboration is significant when growing new local weather options.
When did your curiosity in sustainability start?
Pelin: I’ve at all times been linked to nature and animals, volunteering for environmental and animal welfare causes. As a seventh grader, I served on the youth management crew for a Turkish non-governmental group (NGO) often called the TEMA Basis (The Turkish Basis for Combating Soil Erosion). I organized a youth march to protest the air pollution generated by an iron and metal works manufacturing unit, which was very effectively obtained and helped the group acknowledge that the subsequent era is attempting to do one thing good and assist.
Later in my life, whereas dwelling in Sonoma, California, through the fall of 2017 with my then 6-month-old daughter, we skilled the worry of a pure catastrophe when a fireplace burned down half of the encircling neighborhoods, and ash rained from the sky for weeks. It was very heartbreaking, and a number of other of our buddies and colleagues awoke in the course of the night time to their homes burning, and so they needed to run away barefoot from their houses and misplaced the whole lot they owned. It was a troublesome time to see everybody endure, and there have been aftereffects, just like the air high quality not bettering for a number of months in that area. Since local weather change can exacerbate pure disasters like wildfires, I knew we couldn’t proceed what we have been doing. It made me notice that I ought to do my best possible to help sustainability initiatives.
Inform us extra about your skilled journey and what introduced you to Cisco.
Pelin: My journey started with a bachelor’s diploma in electrical engineering (EE), then I immersed myself within the protection trade whereas pursuing my grasp’s diploma in EE. Nonetheless, academia beckoned, and I seized the chance to embark on a Ph.D. journey. When my husband was provided a place at a newly established worldwide analysis establishment, King Abdullah College of Science and Expertise (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia, I paused my research to hitch him. At KAUST, I delved into bioscience pursuing a second grasp’s diploma, pushed by a want to merge my radio frequency (RF) experience with biomedical analysis that would make a constructive influence on humankind. After a rewarding break to give attention to elevating my daughter and finishing my Ph.D., I discovered my skilled dwelling at Cisco in January 2019. The corporate’s supportive tradition and management resonate deeply with me, and I envision it as the place I’ll construct my future profession and retire sometime.
Are you able to clarify the way you began your work supporting sustainability at Cisco?
Pelin: I presently work as a Radio Regulatory Technical Chief inside the Company Compliance crew below the Product and Element Operations Staff. Previous to my present function, I served as a New Product Introduction Check Improvement Engineer inside the Industrial Web of Issues enterprise unit (IOTBU). Throughout my time within the IOTBU, I targeted on designing manufacturing take a look at traces within the factories for brand new merchandise. This concerned shut collaboration with our manufacturing companions to design environment friendly take a look at traces.
Cisco’s dedication to high quality meant rigorous testing of merchandise, which contributed to GHG emissions, particularly in energy-intensive testing areas just like the 2-Nook and 4-Nook take a look at sections the place the manufactured Cisco merchandise are examined on the high-low temperature and voltage specification limits to help prime efficiency on the edges of the outlined operational situations. 2-Nook testing is finished at Excessive Temperature – Excessive Voltage and Low Temperature – Low Voltage corners, whereas 4-Nook testing has further corners as follows: Excessive Temperature – Low Voltage and Low Temperature – Excessive Voltage. Restricted capability in these areas might result in delays in manufacturing schedules.
To sort out these challenges, I initiated the “Test Optimization Dashboard” challenge in March 2021. This challenge aimed to automate and visualize the influence of take a look at optimization efforts, decreasing the time wanted for optimization and growing crew enthusiasm. Working intently with sustainability subject material specialists (SMEs), we developed strategies to measure GHG emissions reductions ensuing from optimization.
After profitable pilots, I introduced our findings to executives, gaining help for wider implementation throughout enterprise items. Transitioning to automated workflows streamlined the optimization course of, considerably decreasing handbook entry. Collaborating with specialists, we developed plans for additional enhancements, together with a man-made intelligence (AI)-based mannequin to estimate power consumption.
Our ongoing efforts embrace gathering knowledge to coach AI fashions for GHG emissions monitoring. By highlighting the environmental influence of testing processes and advocating for optimization, we intention to advance sustainability, product high quality and innovation.
This feels like a fancy challenge. What sort of help did you obtain for it?
I’m grateful for all of the SMEs collaborating with me on this Cisco-wide effort. Cisco has prime expertise in such numerous areas, and I really feel privileged to know them and get to work with them. My present group was additionally supportive and supplied me with the house to proceed contributing to Cisco’s sustainability objectives past my “regular job” duties.
I’m eternally grateful that our Govt Vice President and Basic Supervisor of Cisco Networking Jonathan Davidson opened such essential doorways for me and this challenge, and his help was invaluable for the Check Optimization Dashboard to achieve a 75% enablement charge throughout Cisco. Receiving invaluable help and steerage from my govt mentors and sponsors immensely helped ideate, find assets, and develop options that may assist advance sustainability in manufacturing processes.
We all know it takes a multifaceted method with regards to sustainability. What can Cisco staff do of their day-to-day jobs to assist scale back our firm’s environmental influence?
Pelin: All people can achieve this a lot. For instance, Cisco has a purpose that 100% of latest Cisco merchandise and packaging incorporate Round Design Rules by Cisco´s fiscal 12 months 2025. And, in one other instance, packaging engineers are serving to to get rid of plastic luggage, papers, and take away accent objects that aren’t required for the standard configuration in our packaging wherever attainable.
Some engineers at Cisco work on IoT know-how utilized in sensible constructing know-how that senses when lights must be turned off or blinds must be lowered. And our operations crew moved away from paper cups and different single-use objects in our break rooms and cafeterias.
Is there something you do in your private life to be extra sustainable, and if that’s the case, what recommendation do you could have for others?
Pelin: At dwelling, I prioritize sustainability by decreasing waste, conserving power, selecting environmentally pleasant merchandise, supporting native and natural choices, minimizing water utilization, using lower-emissions transportation (driving an electrical automobile or utilizing public transit, holding flight GHG emission scores into account when selecting flights, and so forth.). I additionally educate my daughter (who simply turned 7) on making higher decisions for the planet.
Let’s begin small with actions like recycling correctly, conserving power, and supporting native companies. Each effort, regardless of how small, helps to contribute to a extra sustainable future.
Thanks for giving me this chance to share my story and I hope will probably be inspiring for others to begin making change for a extra sustainable future inside their domains.
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