215 - Why Aren’t Technical People Leading Drug-Device Audits?

In this episode of Let’s Combinate, Subhi Saadeh breaks down why more engineers in pharma, medical devices, and combination products should seriously consider becoming auditors. Sparked by a question at a PDA conference: “Why don’t more technical people lead audits?”

This episode explores the gap between technical expertise and true audit competency.

Subhi explains how engineers who combine their technical background with audit training often become the most effective auditors. They gain a system-level perspective, understand how design decisions ripple through the QMS, and can identify systemic root causes that others overlook. He also clears up common misconceptions about auditing, including the idea that it’s just paperwork or checklist work, and reframes it as one of the fastest ways to build regulatory fluency, strengthen quality systems understanding, and expand career versatility across industries.

The episode closes with practical steps for how engineers can get started: shadowing internal audits, learning audit frameworks and methodologies, taking formal training, and seeking mentorship from experienced auditors.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Why Engineers Should Consider Auditing

01:10 – How Auditing Expands Technical Perspective

05:26 – Misconceptions & Why Engineers Avoid Auditing

11:25 – How to Start Your Audit Journey

13:27 – Final Thoughts: Seeing the System, Not Just the Spec

Subhi Saadeh is the Founder and Principal of Let’s Combinate BioWorks and the host of Let’s Combinate: Drugs + Devices. With a background spanning Quality, Manufacturing Operations, and R&D, he has supported the development and launch of hardware devices, disposable systems, and drug–device combination products across vaccines, generics, and biologics at some of the industry’s largest medical device and pharma organizations.

Subhi currently serves as the Working Group Chair for the Rx-360 Combination Products Working Group and previously served as the International Working Group Chair for the Combination Products Coalition (CPC). He has also contributed to ASTM Committee E55 and AAMI’s Combination Products Committee.

For questions, inquiries or suggestions please reach out at letscombinate.com or on the show's LinkedIn Page.