1. I take a full role in supporting TS16949 the paperwork systems that I have in place to
demonstrate the engineering function is second to none and at the last inspection it was stated
that ‘the paperwork in the engineering section was the best they had ever come across during
a surveillance visit’. All files and records could be cross referenced to other parts of the
system which shows a clear path between what has been carried out and the end paperwork
kept on file.
All of the insurance inspection files for the whole group are kept in my office this is to
demonstrate to anyone looking from the outside that full control is always under one person
and that each area can be audited from a central point.
The environmental audit ISO14001 again partly falls under my remit, I have to demonstrate
that all hazardous fluids are kept in the correct places and that the COSHH data sheets are
available for each chemical. I keep records of the groups waste disposal details and relevant
registration numbers; I am the central contact point for nearly all of the non-production
waste. The business is also accredited to ISO9001 and Investors in People we are also
working towards Ford Q1 status.
I have had some pressing experience mainly with electrical and mechanical repairs on press
lines but more recently I have had some involvement with tooling i.e. setting up sensor
positions for accurately measuring the length of a steel blank and positioning the blanks in a
multi feed system. I am currently working on a tooling project for 17 new tools for parts for a
major customer these tools must fit into a number of press lines throughout the group and so
it is important to ensure that the details for the press beds, shut heights and loading are all
correct.
Over the years there have been many improvement projects carried out across the group, I
can give some details of improvements but will not be able to mention which lines or the type
of equipment that the work has been carried out on due to confidentiality concerns.
The first project was to improve the speed at which the steel was being processed through a
machine; some time and motion study work was carried out in conjunction with the line
operators it was initially found that the supply of steel to the machine was losing 10 minutes
of running time because the operators were unwrapping their own coils. This was overcome
by getting the coil crane drivers to remove the wrapping from the coils and put them into a
holding area next to the machine ready to be processed this typically saved 8 minutes but
more importantly allows the line to produce an extra 533 kilos per hour.
On another project after carrying out a SMED exercise a number of areas were highlighted
that could be improved, a new triple arbor, modifications to guarding and a change of layout
in the bay all added to the machine efficiency, tonnes processed per hour increased from 6
tonnes to 10 tonnes and removed the requirement for some over time working.
I am currently working on a tooling project for a major customer this entails making sure that
the details for the presses are correct i.e. bed layout, how the product is discharged, stroke
rates and what are the capacity limits for weight on and off and width of coil. This will be on
going for several months before any tools are designed because the press tools will need to fit
in a number of presses not only in the UK but abroad.
During my time at Steel and Alloy I have carried out many projects across both slitting and
blanking lines, this has entailed updating some parts of the machines and the installation of
new ones. I have also implemented a complete preventative maintenance scheme across the

2. whole company which is backed up by a number of predictive measures such as thermal
imaging, vibration analysis and oil sampling.