Paul Arrendell – Leading Quality From Engineering to Healthcare

On the floor of a manufacturing site, the stakes can be high. Every process, every decision, and every product can affect lives. For Paul A. Arrendell, that reality shaped a career built on one conviction: quality is not an afterthought. It is the foundation.

“I learned early that compliance is not a checklist,” he says. “It’s a mindset that has to be lived every day.”

Arrendell’s journey from engineering student to Chief Quality Officer at Jabil Diversified Manufacturing Services spans more than three decades. Along the way, he has helped some of the world’s largest healthcare and manufacturing companies strengthen systems, pass tough audits, and, most importantly, protect patients.

Early education and the foundation of leadership

Arrendell studied mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington, earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees with a focus on automatic control systems. His years at UTA were not only about academics. He sang in the A Cappella Choir, marched in the band, and joined Phi Delta Theta and Tau Beta Pi.

“Being part of music and student leadership taught me discipline and teamwork,” he recalls. “You realize quickly that every role matters, no matter how small.”

That belief in collaboration would guide him through the challenges of global quality leadership.

Starting out at Abbott Diagnostics

Arrendell began his career at Abbott Diagnostics in 1998 as a Site Manufacturing Quality Manager. The role gave him a front-row view of the complexity behind regulated industries.

“There was a moment during a regulatory audit where we thought we were prepared,” he remembers. “But the process exposed gaps. It was painful, but it taught me that quality has to be built into every layer.”

This lesson became central to his approach: prevention over reaction.

Wright Medical and the shift to global systems

In 2004, Arrendell moved to Wright Medical Technology, serving as Vice President of Global Quality Systems. Here, the scale changed. He was no longer focused only on a single site, but on systems that spanned the globe.

Design controls, risk management, and international compliance all came under his watch. Building a unified approach across geographies required not only technical expertise but also strong leadership.

A decade at KCI Medical

His next chapter lasted nearly 16 years at KCI Medical, later part of Acelity. He advanced to Vice President of Global Quality and Regulatory Affairs, overseeing advanced wound therapeutics.

At KCI, Arrendell learned the value of connecting teams with purpose. “When people see how their work directly affects patient safety, it changes how they approach quality,” he says.

This people-centered mindset helped him lead organizations through inspections, product launches, and shifting regulations.

Expanding impact at Becton Dickinson

In 2017, Arrendell joined Becton Dickinson as Worldwide Vice President of Quality Management for Biosciences. His work centered on strengthening quality frameworks for a company with reach across hospitals, labs, and research centers.

The challenge was scale. Every improvement had ripple effects across an enormous network. The role confirmed his reputation as someone who could not only design systems but also bring big ideas to life on a global stage.

Chief Quality Officer at Jabil

Since 2019, Arrendell has led quality and regulatory management at Jabil, first with Jabil Healthcare and now across Diversified Manufacturing Services. Today he serves as Chief Quality Officer, responsible for regulated industries worldwide.

At Jabil, he has emphasized culture as much as process. He points to programs like the BBQ recognition initiative as proof of how celebration and accountability go hand in hand. “It’s inspiring to see dedication and teamwork define our QA culture,” he wrote in a recent post.

Recognition and industry leadership

Arrendell’s work has not gone unnoticed. He has been featured in Fortune Magazine and Marquis Millennium, named among the Top 25 Healthcare Technology Leaders of San Antonio, and honored as “Top Chief Quality Officer of the Year” by the International Association of Top Professionals.

Despite the accolades, he sees success differently. “Awards are nice,” he says, “but the real measure is knowing patients are safer and teams are stronger.”

Mentorship and looking forward

Beyond executive leadership, Arrendell remains committed to mentoring. He serves on the College of Engineering Advisory Board at the University of Texas at Arlington, giving back to the institution where his journey began.

“The next generation will face challenges we can’t yet see,” he says. “Our role is to equip them with the conviction to do what’s right.”

Legacy of quality

From a young engineer in Texas to a global leader in regulated industries, Paul Arrendell has built a career on the belief that quality is everyone’s job. Each role has sharpened his vision that systems succeed when people take ownership.

“The culture of quality is what lasts,” he says. “Processes may change, but if people believe in doing the right thing, the organization will always move forward.”

Arrendell’s career stands as a reminder that behind every safe product and every passed inspection is a leader who believed in building trust, one system at a time.