Biography and Experience

Areas of Specialization:

• Root Cause Failure Analysis
• Metallurgical Failure Analysis
• Rotor Life Assessment
• Root Cause Failure Analysis and Materials Characterization for Gas Turbines and Rotating Equipment
• Steam Turbine Risk Assessment (STRAP)
• Corrosion Analysis
• Fire Investigations and Component Assessment
• Forensic Investigations
• Rotorcraft Accident Investigation
• Fractography
• Materials Characterization, Material Selection, Material and Code Specifications Interpretation (ASTM, ASME, API), Competitive Analysis, Reverse Engineering, Failure Mode Replication in Aerospace, Automotive Applications
• Experience in Elastomers, Plastics, Composites, Biomaterials
• Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Fractography, Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Field Metallographic/Replication and Hardness, Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI), Dye/Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection (FPI)

While at M&M Engineering, Mr. Quintero has performed metallurgical failure analyses in parts and components from several industries, including power generation, aerospace, pharmaceutical, automotive, pulp and paper, and insurers involving equipment loss, warranties, or claims.  Mr. Quintero has also participated in root cause analyses involving gas turbines, turbomachinery and rotating equipment, mainly in the power generation industry, but has also participated in other RCAs related to the oil and gas and automotive industries.

Mr. Quintero’s experience in gas turbines includes the GE LM6000, Siemens WD501D and WD501F, Alstom GT 11NM and GT 11N2 models.  He has also been involved in performing rotor life assessment and material characterization for gas turbines, including the management of non-destructive testing, field metallography/replication and in situ hardness testing  He has performed fire investigations and component assessments using replication and in situ hardness testing to assess the material condition after thermal exposure, and determine whether the component is serviceable.

Mr. Quintero has performed risk assessment evaluations in several steam turbine models and manufacturers (General Electric, Mitsubishi, Alstom, and Ansaldo Energia) across several power plants in Latin America using M&M Engineering’s proprietary Steam Turbine Risk Assessment (STRAP) software.  He has also assisted in the design and documentation review, interpretation of international codes and standards, and quality control through in situ metallography of valves in the construction of a natural gas compression station in Mexico.

While at M&M Engineering, Mr. Quintero also teaches the “Introduction to Failure Analysis” and “Introduction to Non-Destructive Testing and Inspection Contracting” as part of M&M Engineering’s “Preventing Failures in Steam Generating Equipment” semi-annual workshop.

Prior to joining M&M Engineering, Mr. Quintero worked in the aerospace industry for Bell Helicopter in Fort Worth, Texas conducting failure analyses and accident investigations.  His main task was to determine the root cause of failure for helicopter components (warranty parts, production parts, prototypes, fatigue testing, and accident/mishaps).  Such investigations led to product and manufacturing process improvements, as well as engineering design changes to prevent future failures, or to extend the service life of components. Mr. Quintero also conducted accident investigations (supporting the Flight Safety Department), mainly through failure analysis by examination of rotorcraft components involved in accidents.  He provided technical support to Structural Testing, Fatigue and Fracture groups, FAA, NTSB, and suppliers to discuss issues on failure analysis results.  His experience includes components and assemblies made of alloy steels, stainless steels, titanium alloys, magnesium alloys, aluminum alloys, composites, and elastomers.

Prior to his tenure at Bell Helicopter, Mr. Quintero worked for the automotive industry, at Delphi Automotive Systems.  His primary role was determining the root cause of failure for automotive components (production parts, customer returns, and prototypes) to improve product processes and prevent future failures.  He performed competitive analysis and material characterization to help the implementation of new product design and development.  His experience in the automotive industry includes components primarily made of alloy steels, stainless steels, and powder metals.  Mr. Quintero also conducted Design of Experiments for Failure Mode Reproduction at his time with Delphi.

Mr. Quintero received both his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, as well as his Masters degree in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).

Mr. Quintero is fluent in Spanish (verbally, written and technical).