Failure analysis has long been seen as a forensic science – a way to diagnose what went wrong after a product fails.

But what if we moved this expertise upstream?

In this talk, I’ll share how traditional failure analysis techniques can be transformed from post-mortem tools into powerful methods for preventing failures in product and process development.

Biography

Suzanne Costello is a physicist and engineer who has spent her career uncovering the hidden stories inside materials.

After graduating from Heriot-Watt University with a Master’s in Physics, she earned an Engineering Doctorate in Microsystems Engineering.

Her doctoral work on hermeticity testing led to the publication of a technical book that remains a reference in the field.

Following her doctorate, Suzanne transitioned directly into a role with her industry partner where she quickly excelled and ultimately rose to a leadership position.

This experience gave her deep insights into both the technical and commercial sides of the electronics industry.

Along the way, Suzanne also became the first female Chair of IMAPS-UK, championing collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the microelectronics community.

She founded Forensic Eyes to blend proactive and reactive failure analysis, integrated product development support, and tailored technical training to help engineers build more reliable products.

When she’s not in the lab or leading a workshop, Suzanne enjoys sharing her experience of being a woman in technology, celebrating the progress made, recognising the challenges that remain, and inspiring others to see failure not as the end of a story, but as the beginning of understanding.