Rob Lathrop

Background

About Rob Lathrop

I have a passion for product development. The entire process of understanding user needs through developing and executing a strategy for realizing those needs into a competitive product is what drives me. For 25+ years, I had the benefit of working at Lathrop Engineering, developing products including surgical tools, process equipment, consumer products, helmet mounted display systems, and ultimately life science and diagnostic instruments. The focus on instrumentation for the last 10-15 years stemmed from the fact that these are highly complex, integrated hardware and software systems. Learning how to work with each of the disciplines to converge on design solutions when so many variables are in play became fun to me and a constructive challenge. After working as a technical contributor for years and then ultimately moving to VP and President roles gave me a perspective on the overall process and needs for these kinds of projects. Now, for the last two years, I have led Lathrop Product Development, a new contract product design services company, to continue to provide the same services to a wide variety of customers and industries.