Senior Aerospace Engineer
Ladybridge Learner from 2004 – 2009
Did you go on to study after Ladybridge?
Turton Sixth Form College – A-Level Maths, Physics and Business Studies (2010-12)
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy the variety, no two days are the same and I thoroughly enjoy the complexity of the challenges. I have worked on the entire Airbus commercial fleet including the A320, A330, A350 XWB and was even fortunate enough to work on the iconic A380 when it was still in production. I’m currently working on various top secret defence projects for military applications which is equally interesting and challenging.
What does a typical day in your job look like?
My role within the senior site ME team is extremely varied, below are some of the activities I champion as part of daily run business:
- Supporting existing manufacturing lines and new product introduction. Supporting the industrial validation & optimisation process through the use of FMEA’s, process proving activities and live trials
- Assume the responsibilities for safe operating implementation for changed processes, including liaising with COSHH assessors, H&S and Human factors
- Liaising with the design authority during the product prototype/development phase, to ensure optimised Design
- Facilitating Start / End of Shift meetings conducted around Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, People and Environment. Using Key Performance Indicators to track progress of open actions, allocate support where required and to prioritise / delegate new tasks
- Creating an environment to encourage the adoption of lean manufacturing principles to develop, evaluate and improve drilling and assembly operations in both aluminium and composite structures. Using methodologies such as 6S, 9D and Kaizen to Define, Measure, Analyse, Implement and Control improvement initiatives in the business both on the shopfloor as well as office environments
- Collaborating with departments such as engineering, front line management, procurement, quality assurance and senior stakeholders to provide technical expertise
- Leading Root Cause Analysis investigations to generate detailed reports of defective, damaged, or malfunctioning assemblies / processes or equipment to identify problems and recommend short & long term solutions.
- Minimising Task time through various automation and optimisation projects. In many cases increasing the resource capacity by up to 50% by use of Value Stream Mapping, process changes and introduction of new and innovative technologies
- Overseeing supplier development efforts through statements of work and procedures, proposal preparation, challenging lead times, technical costs and budgets for engineering and parts production
- Coordinating all aspects of production, including selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, and operation of product designs. Generating manufacturing instructions and translating complex technical requirements into meaningful instructions for operations
- Identifying solutions aligning with H&S including vibration (HAVS), respiratory, dermatological, noise and ergonomic; as well as environmental requirements aligning to COSHH, LOLER, HASAWA, PUWER and reducing carbon footprint
- I am an ambassador for Mental Health and well-being and support all my colleagues in any way I can, looking out for signs of distress, mental health deterioration or in general unhealthy / abnormal behaviours. To aid this I have undertaken First Aid and Mental Health First Aid training.
How did your experiences at Ladybridge help you with decisions on your future goals?
Ladybridge High was a great starting point for me, from carrying out my work experience at Barton Aerodrome to developing my interpersonal skills whilst being mentored by the teachers and staff, it was a great experience all round. Meeting so many interesting people along the way and making lifelong friendships.
What is your favourite memory of life at Ladybridge?
Prom was awesome, year 11 leavers BBQ was fun too. Physics with Mr Gallagher was always something I looked forward to. The head teacher at the time (Ms D’Arcy) was super inclusive and always had time for us. The years at Ladybridge High really did fly by.
What advice would you give a Ladybridge learner looking to study/work in the same field as you?
Practice self-study and continuous self-improvement, the resources available today are endless so use them your advantage; your drive and determination are the only limiting factors.
Work hard, play hard!
What advice would you give to learners coming up to their final 2 years at Ladybridge and making decisions about their future?
Make the most of these precious few years; establish good discipline as standard practice in all aspects of your day-to-day and have a rough idea of where you see yourself in 5-10 years time.
Describe your time at Ladybridge High School in 3 words
Fun, rewarding, diverse.