I am one of the nominees for the Assembly and Manufacturing Leadership Development Scheme (AMLDS) which aims to give a very extensive experience to enhance and develop skills needed for a role in operations management. This is achieved through completing four 6 month long placements and one 12 month placement across sites in UK and abroad. During each placement, I will have a different role, those consist of working as a Manufacturing Engineer, Material Resource Planner, Production Leader and a role in Business Improvement.I am also enrolled on a Business Management MSc course with Warwick University throughout the duration of this scheme.

Through the duration of this position, I acquired experience in setting up and operating high precision machines to produce quality components for gas turbines. This allowed me to learn about laser drilling, EDM, grinding, drilling and milling processes using machines ranging from DMG SAUER Lasertec, Sodick and Mägerle.This was a skilled job which required the flexibility to operate on 2 or more different machines and normally different processes.Main lessons learned:- good understanding of component manufacturing unique to Aerospace industry including legislation and approval process- good understanding of working with aerospace grade alloys and quality management thereof- planning and management of components through the process, meeting delivery lead times, quality and HS&E standards- coordinating a multifunctional and skilled team of shop floor staff

This was a fantastic opportunity to look at a cost saving project and work with a team of extremely competent engineers with decades of experience in manufacturing and business management. During this project I’ve learned about:- Lean Six Sigma principles - Engineering solutions to processes producing non conforming components- Data collection & analysis using Minitab - Financial impacts of non conformance - Consumable inventory management 8 months of research, training and trials resulted in a new tooling solution and an annual consumable cost saving of £120k per volume of the specific part number.

The apprenticeship allowed me to be work in the aerospace industry, both civil and defence. I was specifically trained to operate machinery which produced complex engine components to tight tolerances. Due to the nature of this apprenticeship, periodically, I was placed in areas of the company which helped me to develop skills in my specified job role on the shop floor as well as develop my business, project and people management skills. During this time I was involved in plenty of STEM activities around UK which developed my public speaking and events management skills. The most exciting opportunity I had was working with a team of experts on the Bloodhound Project.

Responsibilities in my role at B&Q included promoting and selling hardware equipment, stock replenishment and general customer assistance on the shop floor. This role helped me to how to quickly learn what a customer needs and provide the appropriate product to meet that need. I also developed excellent customer service skills, as mentioned in my personal development reviews on a regular basis.