Michael Ward Email & Phone Number

Leicester, Gb

Coventry, England, United Kingdom

Responsible for Convertible Roof Systems

Gaydon

Vantage Roadster Top Down

Gaydon, Warwickshire

Lead the cross functional PMST (programme module sub-team) to deliver body mechanism commodities including convertible roof, active aero, variable load and wind deflector systems in order to meet programme timing, cost, quality and attribute targets. Co-ordinate a team to ensure full engagement across all business areas acting as key supplier contact to ensure robust delivery according to programme plan.Responsible for control of cost management system and change request process for the commodities.Support Programme, Purchasing and Finance teams with quotation analysis and VFM activities.Monitor and control commodity timing and action plans, resolving incompatibilites to ensure high quality of event. Lead concept study projects with external engineering partners and Tier 1 suppliers

Coventry, United Kingdom

Customer facing New Product Introduction role: McLaren Spider retractable hard top roof & Jaguar F-Type soft top projects.Lead the plant action plan, change management and quality history reviews to ensure transfer to production of new products was in accordance with group process management system and customer specific requirements and standards.Introduced alerts and prevention related activities in response to internal and customer concerns: utilised soft skills to develop technical product knowledge and practical problem solving skills in members of the team.Support pre-production builds at customer locations: analysis root cause and investigate interim / permanent corrective actions, report out to team and to senior management at customer.Assist the project manager in preparation for project gateway meetings with senior management and handover process to production facility in Coventry.

Coventry, United Kingdom

Project leader on a JLR body engineering programme: encompassing BIW/closure, interior, exterior and climate content. Gaining knowledge of customer processes: product creation system, virtual series engineering, programme metrics, purchasing processes and strategy.I have managed a number of other projects at Penso including new product introduction of niche volume interior trim and a concept vehicle for presentation at a technology fair.My role is customer and commercially facing, including new business acquisition, quotation preparation and cost calculation.I have used my experience to assist Penso in gaining TS16949 accreditation; introducing processes for planning of product realisation and training the team in the application of QS9000 core tools.

Lead a team of 35 in the achievement of department KPI’s, reporting directly into the Managing Director.Introduced OEE measure to the shop floor to focus on availability, productivity and qualityImplemented problem solving & lean manufacturing tools to the assembly cells including 5S, TPM, 7 wastes & line balancing techniques: promoting ownership to the shop floor staff.Managed capacity and cycle times in line with customer schedules, cost saving of £350,000 implemented over 12 months through reductions.

Lead the introduction of convertible roof systems to the UK manufacturing plant, traveling extensively to Germany to work within the design & development team.Technical support to the production & quality team: integrating processes and running production during ramp-up phase.Customer focused with proven leadership skills, managed APQP and launch readiness to ensure high quality of event.Lead value stream mapping and TVM activities to justify supplier, manufacturing and logistics decisions.Co-ordinated new suppliers and the preparation of UK facility.