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Implementing Business Improvement Techniques
Our Team
Chris McKellen
Chris McKellen started his career in the machine tool
industry and was then involved in setting up a new factory to
manufacture air compressors, before taking up a group role in
manufacturing engineering.
At a specialist diesel engine manufacturer he gained an insight
in to the benefits and pitfalls of the early flexible manufacturing
systems and the need to increase productivity
on such systems.
After joining the automotive division of a major US
based group, he learned that some of the traditional planning tools and
measures used throughout manufacturing industries could sometimes create
major problems within the business.
This realisation, coupled with the need to improve productivity
in a highly unionised environment, led to his keen interest in Lean
Manufacturing, the empowerment of employees and the constant drive to
become World Class.
He moved to the People's Republic of
He completed a long term assignment with another
major US based automotive component manufacturing company where he
trained employees in modern manufacturing techniques, managed major
projects and introduced the Lean Manufacturing concepts and philosophies
to traditional purchasing and materials departments and the supply
chain.
Since 2001, Chris has developed long term
relationships with many companies, in the UK, Europe and Asia, both large and small to help them
implement business improvement techniques.
Whilst improvements have to be applied to the whole business,
typical examples of some of the individual projects undertaken include
reducing the changeover time of large power presses by 75% and injection
moulding machines by 60%; increasing the productivity for rolling mill
shafts by 150%; facilitating the consolidation and re-organisation of a
major sheet metal manufacturer with estimated savings approaching £ 1
million per annum and providing training to employees at all levels within
organisations.
Bob Davis
Bob is a business advisor and helps organisations in developing business and implementing change programmes. He has considerable experience in developing overseas markets through distribution networks and also has experience in identifying engineering suppliers around the world.
Bob for many years was Managing Director of
Deltron Emcon - a UK manufacturing company
in the Electro/Mechanical Component sector, where he introduced Lean
programmes in to the business and was the champion for the change
programmes.
The company whilst
under Bob’s stewardship was owned by PLC’s
and as a result he has been involved in the acquiring, integration and
relocation of a number of businesses.
In 2000 Bob
introduced to the UK the Association of Manufacturing Excellence (AME) a
USA based association dedicated to knowledge sharing and the creation of
Lean enterprises. For the past 4 years he has held the office of
President. In this role Bob has strived to create awareness of the need
to change and to introduce Lean in to organisations.
In his spare time
Bob acts as a Business Mentor for The Prince’s Trust and pursues his
interest in most sports, music and cooking.
Ralph Woodhead
Ralph Woodhead graduated as a mechanical engineer at a time when computers were all mainframes and when Material Requirements Planning (MRP) systems were just being invented!
He started his career in production control departments - firstly a gearbox manufacturer and then with a company making commercial vehicle axles. It was in this second company that he moved into computer systems - working on the design and implementation of bespoke stock control systems.
After promoting
MRP for a number of years, Ralph decided to accept the post of IT
Manager at an engineering company manufacturing textile machines.
Five years on Ralph joined Hewlett Packard as a manufacturing
consultant, undertaking pre and post-sales consultancy in a wide range
of industries.
He now provides independent business advice and
consultancy. Projects have included MRP consultancy, ERP
selection and implementation as well as education and training.
In 2001, working with MTa International, he created the activity-based
learning pack called KanDo Lean.
His current speciality is education, training and implementation of Lean
Manufacturing.
Ralph is approved by the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) as a consultant and diagnostician.
Colin Mynott
Dr
He worked in and
managed manufacturing companies that developed their own products.
His career started in the automotive industry in manufacturing
systems and engineering; he then moved on to become The Materials
Engineer for Chrysler
Colin started his own
manufacturing company and later ran a number of medium sized
manufacturing companies in the automotive industry.
Colin disseminates best practice to industry on all aspects of
product development, how it should be organised, its financial impact
and management.
He runs a number of workshops,
seminars and conferences on product development and works closely with a
number of companies on their product development and strategy.
He has extensive hands-on
experience of manufacturing systems and is one of the country's leading
experts in developing products.
Bill Morton
Bill Morton Summary CV, related knowledge & experience
Bill trained as a scientist and has worked in/with manufacturing
for over 40 years, primarily in design & development roles.
Since 1980 he has worked in the NW of England as manager and
latterly Technical Director leading and managing multidisciplinary
teams to design and develop innovative new products in
companies such as Pifco,
Friedland (MK Group) and Volex.
He was appointed Northern Region Director for The Design Council
and initiated Product Design Innovation projects in the NE, Y&H and
in the NW with MetroTec in Wigan. From 1992, he was an active member
of the BSI committee writing Design & Innovation best practice
management standards (BS7000 series) and was invited to chair the
committee in the period 1996 to 2006.
Bill operated as a design management consultant for 3 years
during and then joined Business Link in East Lancashire from 2000 to
2009. In addition to conducting over 300 business reviews on SME’s,
he helped D&D a diagnostic tool and supported the case to the DTI to
use GVA/FTE as a productivity measure
He became the team leader for the Advanced Engineering &
Materials sector where he managed a team of Advisers and contributed
significantly to devising their Mission, Objectives and Intervention
Strategy.
Tony Boylan
Tony has a background in manufacturing and in recent years been involved in project management, manufacturing improvements, quality management and latterly supporting small and medium enterprises.
He was the National Network Manager for the UK Manufacturing Advisory Service and the project manager for the NWDA Business Link Knowledge Platform where he managed the transfer of data from the various Business Link organisations in to a single entity.
He has carried out assessments of manufacturing companies in Latvia, Estonia and Malta as well as in the UK.
As Principal Consultant for Assystem UK he was responsible for the team of experts working on the Innovation Programme Technology Transfer Projects.
Yintong Betser
Yintong studied Foreign Trade
English at University in
Having worked in marketing in the
Yintong has also carried out a number of research and
feasibility studies for companies wishing to do business with
Our Team
Chris McKellen
Bob Davis
Ralph Woodhead
Bill Morton
Yintong Betser
Colin Mynott
Tony Boylan
Sue McKellen
