Spotlight on Nigel Jones, MAS specialist for Dorset

13th Aug 2008

1. What excites you about your day-to-day work?
The job is very varied, from meeting with clients and identifying improvement programmes that fit their needs, to working directly with companies on the shop floor, liaising with partners such as Business Link and Train to Gain, to organising and running best practice workshops. There is no ‘standard’ day.

2. In a typical day, what is guaranteed to put a smile on your face?
Returning to companies that I have worked with and seeing that they have not only sustained the initial improvements made, but used the programme and techniques suggested as a spring board to make continuous improvement part of their culture.

3. What has been your greatest achievement in the last year?
Getting stuck into the role of manufacturing specialist for Dorset having joined the MAS team in January. The role has a high degree of autonomy and it takes time to get established. Oh, and I won the Karting event recently!

4. On a day-to-day basis, what do you find frustrating about your work?
Sitting in traffic. Talk about non-value adding time! I use my motorcycle when I can but it’s not always possible with the amount of equipment I have to carry. Watch out for a blue and orange KTM.

5. What inspired you to work in manufacturing?
I was naturally interested in maths, physics and anything to do with engineering at school so my chosen qualifications were engineering based. I ended up taking an Electrical Engineering degree at Brighton specialising in electronics. My degree course included three company placements and I was sponsored by Schlumberger Technologies in my final year. I moved to Bournemouth in 1987 to work for them. That seems a long time ago now.

6. What hopes / concerns do you have about the future of manufacturing in the UK?
I hope that we can remain competitive to maintain and grow manufacturing in the UK. Nothing ever stands still and we have to keep improving just to maintain what we have got. ‘Price down’ initiatives and higher expectations from customers mean that we have to integrate continuous improvement into our business culture and not see it as an add-on activity.

7. What piece of advice would you give to any manufacturing newcomers?
Establish sound processes and systems that will allow the company to grow rather than constrain it. Engage the help of organisations like Business Link and make sure that your vision and values align with those of your customer(s).

8. Who is your hero?
Hero is a very strong word. Lately I have been thinking a lot about my father, as his health has been failing quite dramatically over the last year. A great engineer and incredibly well respected by the people who know him (and there are many).

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