David Evans Ceng Email & Phone Number

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

I own and manage a programme of large projects across Europe to specify and design automated bulk solids handling equipment. Supported by two direct reports, we apply creative and entrepreneurial thinking to develop integrated systems from conception to installation which meet the end-user requirements. Our larger projects are typically accompanied by a myriad of complex and often contradictory requirements and consequently excellent technical judgment is required to design turnkey solutions in a fast-paced environment under intense commercial constraints. I am also lucky enough to be able to coach others to do the same. My team are also responsible for the selection, specification and performance of third-party equipment as this is always crucial to system and therefore project success.

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Provided technical and commercial responsibility for existing projects totalling £2M+ to manufacture and install pneumatic conveying systems for bulk solids handling at the Polish and Chinese plants of the company’s largest and most technically demanding client, Johnson Matthey Catalysts. Brought to the role the ability to learn new products and processes extremely quickly and applied a broad range of engineering first principles and experiences in order to solve difficulties arising from specification, schedule and manufacturing issues. Having delivered successful Factory Acceptance Tests, I have demonstrated my key attributes of problem-solving, managing those around me in all directions and, most importantly, maintaining a sense of humour in difficult and uncertain environments.

Barcelona Area, Spain

Promoted to team leader and spending the majority of the time in this employment motivating and leading up to 5 reports through an uncertain landscape. Immediate responsibilities included advising the Science Manager on all aspects of mechanical engineering and managing a complex workload across 30 active EU Horizon 2020 projects. Applied significant previous experience to developing departmental capabilities including the introduction of a part numbering system, a common parts library, implementation of project bin, labelling systems and 5S principles in the production spaces. Demonstrated leadership skills right across the spectrum of the team by both coaching other leaders and developing the critical thinking and technical competence of less experienced team members.

Barcelona Area, Spain

Appointed to provide mechanical design expertise and technical project leadership to an at-risk EU Horizon 2020 project concerning the integration of Near Infra-Red and simple sensors in a variety of production environments across Europe. By working closely with the Project Manager, the project was brought under control through a combination of clear technical communication and an appreciation of the value of robust process documentation.

Coalville, United Kingdom

Following a successful secondment to the US distributor, returned to the Vertical, Form, Fill and Seal (VFFS) packaging equipment manufacturer in a more senior role with a remit to lead improvement projects throughout the full product development lifecycle. Key tasks and highlights include:Technical Responsibilities:• Supervise the Development Plan, integrating multiple existing projects and ideas with improved project controls to enable more effective monitoring and decision-making. • Mentor colleagues and provide leadership through product and process improvement projects to achieve business objectives, while simultaneously developing the engineering skills of the team.• Introduced new manufacturing cells in line with LEAN principles for both new and existing product lines, effectively reducing reject rates to zero.Sales Responsibilities:• Provide technical and commercial leadership by managing accounts that contribute over 30% of total sales. Personally account manage the most demanding of US technical clients, maintaining final responsibility for $2M of North American exports.

Bayville, Nj, United States

Approached by a key distributor to work on a joint product development project and hold overall responsibility for the distribution growth and technical performance of highly accurate Vertical, Form, Fill and Seal (VFFS) forming sets within North America. This role involved supporting the US distributor’s sales team by engaging with corporate and plant maintenance staff to clearly explain product benefits, determine specifications and generate custom product designs. Key tasks and highlights included:Technical Responsibilities: • Held full technical responsibility for all installations of Kenray Forming equipment in North America, attended packaging sites to make root cause diagnoses of VFFS packaging problems, recommended solutions, produced conceptual and detailed drawings to enable the communication of solutions to both customers and suppliers, and managed the technical relationship with Greener’s forming set supplier. • Developed a substantially different forming set design which improved accuracy by 10x. • Communicated custom specifications and designs to the UK manufacturer.Sales Responsibilities:• Grew and maintained relationships with end-user food manufacturing clients in pre-sales and installation phases. • Supported the sales staff by providing technical expertise related to VFFS forming set equipment.• Successfully represented the VFFS forming set manufacturer in both a technical and commercial capacity in their tender for development and production of proprietary-design forming sets on behalf of Frito-Lay. This contract would deliver a highly innovative product and enable both an increase in packaging speed and a decrease in package height, subsequently representing a large contribution to the manufacturer’s total sales.• Acted as Project Engineer with management of the entire value chain for the Frito-Lay account, working directly with the client and effectively relaying technical specifications to Kenray.

Coalville, United Kingdom

Appointed to the role with a remit to build an expanded engineering department which progressively took ownership of the company’s design and manufacturing knowledge bases, and found more innovative and efficient ways to convert client briefs into manufactured products. Key tasks and highlights included:Responsibilities:• Supported the sales team by identifying the root cause of packaging issues with VFFS machines for food products, and established a track record of proposing and providing high quality solutions.• Successfully led the company’s technical relationships with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) clients, and developed an innovative automated design system which allowed OEM clients to quickly and easily configure bespoke forming set solutions to the highest standards.• Led a team of four with a focus on the continual improvement of departmental procedures & practices.• Increased capability of the department, significantly reducing internal component warranty issues.• Championed the introduction of SolidWorks CAD processes, reducing labour time by up to 50%+.• Effectively coordinated £500,000 of investment under the Selective Finance for Investment programme. • Project managed the conception and implementation of the company’s move into larger premises.Effectively worked with suppliers to establish an improved IT infrastructure for the business.

Awarded a six year technical scholarship to develop the leadership and personal development qualities for a Commission into the Engineering Corps of the British Army.

Meng, Mechanical Engineering

Msc, International Management With Business History