Jemila Adetunji is a valuable member of Fermilab’s quality assurance team. Photo: Rashmi Shivni
How long have you been at Fermilab?
It will be two years in March. Time flies when you’re having fun!
What brought you to Fermilab?
Actually a colleague of mine in ESH&Q and I used to spread “quality love” together in a different world. She came here, and then she recommended that I come here when they had an opening. Now we’re spreading quality love here at Fermilab!
What do you do here at Fermilab?
Within our group, we make sure the laboratory meets all of the DOE requirements with respect to quality. We assist, consult and help with process improvement, as well as manage issues in the tracking process.
What is your typical day like?
Every day is different. With quality we touch every organization from top to bottom, side to side. Depending on what comes up, I could be working on a task, helping a project with quality-related topics or assigned to an initiative. We also conduct audits and assessments.
Are there any projects that you’re currently working on that force you to think critically about quality and safety?
I’m working on an effort to understand what our site access and badging policies are. It spans across the lab campus, so the scope is huge. It’s not just about a process improvement but a change in cultural mindset. People follow something when they believe in it. It’s trying to sell all of that in one package. It’s a good challenge to have because it tests our abilities and helps us to grow to the next challenge.
How has this kind of environment changed your mindset on quality?
My background is in quality, but in a different capacity. I’ve worked in food industries, software, and paint and coatings. I’ve done different types of quality, and then I came here to a science-based and research facility where there is a different mindset and approach. At the end of the day, it’s still quality. It’s just a different application of it and working with different people, who are used to different things. It was interesting to have the opportunity to come here and try to shift the quality mentality a little bit. The good thing is that I’ve been exposed to a variety of different people prior to coming to the lab, and that has been beneficial to me.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I like a lot of art – visual arts, performance arts, music. I love going to ballets, and I love watching orchestras at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
What advice or information do you think is important to share with the Fermilab community?
People have an idea that quality is like this nebulous, additional activity, but it’s in everything that we do. It’s not just about putting forth additional effort. Whether it’s work-related or outside of work, it’s about executing a process efficiently and keeping the customer in mind to meet or exceed their expectations.