Name:Richard Bates Organisation :Qualitrain Ltd |  |
Qualifications
- Certified PAC analyst
- Chartered Engineer
- Member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers
- Honours Degree in Manufacturing Engineering
Experience
Richard began his career in the process industry, with particular experience at Operations Director level in the Medical and Pharmaceutical fields. Increasingly fascinated by, and heavily involved in, the application of Lean principles within process industry, Richard first helped to develop and later taught on the Foundation Degree in Business Improvement Techniques and Six Sigma Processes for West Nottinghamshire College with the prestigious Derby University as the awarding body.
In 2005 he launched his own BIT and Lean training business and has since combined his hands-on background and academic expertise to great effect, delivering many successful business improvement projects to manufacturers throughout the Midlands.
Case Studies
In 2009, Richard carried out an extensive body of work with Kessler Ltd - Europe's leading manufacturers of bespoke and off-the-shelf retail merchandising displays and dispensers. Based in London, the business operates from a 290,000 square foot manufacturing plant and employs 250 personnel.
The initial PAC analysis considered all areas which affected the overall efficiency of the business: inputs of Manpower, Materials and Machinery and outputs of Quality, Cost and Delivery, and provided the means to quantify and measure performance in a way that enabled management to see clearly the key areas where improvement was desirable.
PAC analysis revealed that in some key areas such as stock levels, value added per person within the organisation (measured against cost), and utilisation of factory space, the business was performing relatively well. However, there were equipment efficiency (OEE), quality (Right First Time) and delivery issues which, despite high levels of customer satisfaction, still generated cost within the business, damaging margins. The analysis quickly revealed where potential savings of around £400,000 per annum could be achieved, in addition to identifying potential for significantly higher output without any increase in manpower.
“Having identified the areas of potential improvement,” said Richard, “the next stage was to develop specific Business Improvement projects which would enable remedial action to be taken - not across the whole business, wherever improvement was possible, but in those areas identified as creating the greatest unnecessary cost and the greatest opportunity for a quick ‘win’. This would allow the business to concentrate its efforts where the greatest and swiftest rewards could be achieved, with the intention of moving on to the lesser issues at a later date.
SMED based training programmes were recommended as a first course of action to deal quickly with the OEE issues, where the fastest results could be obtained, following on to tackle Delivery issues in a second wave of improvements.”
Richard continues to work with businesses in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and throughout the Midlands, using PAC Analysis techniques to measure current performance and accurately identify the areas where improvement can bring really significant results.
If you would like to contact this Specialist, please contact us on providers@process.nsacademy.co.uk or call 01325 740900.
