James H Parshall

Jim Parshall is the Director of Software Device Solutions at Eli Lilly and Company. He leads the team responsible for creating mobile medical apps.

Jim joined Lilly in 1999 as a software engineer at Lilly’s dry products manufacturing site in Indianapolis and the next year was promoted to be the site’s first automation manager. In that role, Jim recruited and developed a high-performing team that pioneered many new technologies, including what would now be considered Big Data for manufacturing. He then held various technical and leadership positions in manufacturing, IT, and product development. Jim assumed his current role in 2013 and has built a talented and energized team passionate about using technology to improve patient outcomes.

Jim’s career has been focused on software and technology innovation, where he has also worked in the automotive, electronics, and food industries. His book, Applying S88: Batch Control from a User’s Perspective, a tutorial on modular software for batch manufacturing, has influenced projects, operations, and thinking worldwide. Jim has also enjoyed serving on industry and association advisory boards and the board of directors for two small businesses.

Jim earned a B.S. in electrical engineering from Kettering University and an M.S. in electrical engineering from Purdue University. Prior to joining Lilly, Jim worked as a lead process and automation engineer at Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, helping the company build and startup its largest and most automated plant. Among the many adventures and benefits of that role, Jim learned that eating one’s own mistakes could actually taste good.