David Withers
Telford Shropshire
Summary
A dedicated Professional with 40 years of experience in all disciplines of Manufacturing. A proven track record, accountable for effectively leading cross functional teams, with reports of up to 400 personnel with business turnover exceeding 120 million. Delivering complex projects incorporating lean methodology. Totally committed to delivering customer satisfaction through utilising engineering expertise, Learning and problem solving with technological innovation, engaging and harnessing the considerable skills and experience of everyone, through continuous improvement to prosper as a business to the benefit of its shareholders, customers, suppliers, and employees alike.
Overview
39
39
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
Site Operations & Technical Manager
Moveero Ltd and Auto Structures Ltd
Telford , Shropshire
2020.01 - 2026.01
- Accountable for effectively leading operations in all aspects of daily manufacturing.
- Data driven result orientated metrics, KPI, SQDC, Supply and Demand Analysis, Strategic & Contingency planning.
- Deploying Lean Enterprise activities, coaching mentoring, training, striving for Continuous Improvement A3 thinking and Operational Excellence.
- Technical support in all disciplines of current processes and new product introduction.
Site Quality & Engineering Manager
Gkn Wheels & Structures
Telford , Shropshire
2019.01 - 2020.01
- Customer facing effectively leading Quality, Engineering, Prototype and Maintenance Teams.
- Advanced Product Quality Planning. Introducing new products into serial production.
- Engineering changes and manufacturing engineering improvements.
- Productive maintenance including Planned Preventative Maintenance Schedules and action plans.
Operations Manager Project Swan & Wheel Plant
GKN Wheels & Structures (Telford)
Telford
2018.01 - 2019.01
- Accountable for effectively leading manufacturing team for Existing Gkn Wheels Plant to include Wheel manufacturing for Case New Holland, John Deere, Jcb, Agco Valtra, Agco Fendt, Argo, Caterpillar Claas, Kubota, Iseki and Mecalac.
- Managing quality, engineering, maintenance. Developing, measuring and monitoring business creating and delivering Site key performance indicators.
- Deploying continuous improvement with Lean Enterprise.
Operations Manager Project Swan
GKN Wheels & Structures (Telford)
Telford
2017.01 - 2018.01
- Accountable for leading Engineering and manufacturing team, for all customer communication, documentation, testing, validating, engineering APQP during commissioning and installation of 25 million-pound investment into new wheel’s manufacturing facility on Telford Site.
Site Quality Operations Manager
GKN Wheels & Structures (Telford)
Telford
2015.01 - 2016.01
- Leading cross functional team of personnel for all quality aspects within Telford site effectively leading operations quality department to include QCP business process, engineering changes, in line inspection, customer concerns, business process audits to include ISO & TS to IATF Transition.
- Nominated as participant in Global Operational Excellence Awards.
Value Stream Manager
GKN Land Systems (Telford)
Telford
2010.01 - 2015.01
- Accountable for leading manufacturing team, effectively managing Diversified Value Stream to include production lines for Toyota, Aston Martin, Bentley, Leyland, JCB, Jaguar Land Rover and Ford.
- Managing Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, Maintenance. Developing, monitoring, measuring and improving business using KPI business measures, deploying continuous improvement.
Continuous Improvement Leader
GKN Land Systems (Telford)
Telford
2008.01 - 2010.01
- Leading Manufacturing Team deploying principles of Lean eliminating waste. Coaching, mentoring, training developing, and implementing, employee involvement with self-empowered natural work teams. Facilitating Kaizen events in 5s, visual management and A3 Practical problem solving.
- Monitoring and measuring improvements.
Process Improvement Co-ordinator
GKN Land Systems (Telford)
Telford
2007.01 - 2008.01
- Leading Manufacturing Team, implementing visual management.
- Facilitating Team events on specific problematic areas in line with Site Continuous improvement plans.
- JCB product launch, Land Rover Defender production.
Value Stream Supervisor
GKN Land Systems (Telford)
Telford
2004.01 - 2007.01
- Leading cross functional team of personnel in all aspects of day to day running of following production lines. Toyota Auris, Avensis, Corolla, Ford Mondeo, Aston Martin, Leyland Daf Truck Weingarten press shop and Land Rover Defender production line.
- Delivering Site key performance indicators for financial year.
Operations Area Manager
GKN Land Systems (Wolverhampton)
Wolverhampton
2002.01 - 2004.01
- Leading cross functional team of personnel for all aspects of day to day running of following production Land Rover Discovery Series two, London Taxi International, Rolls Royce and introduction of new General Motors project including Press shop Production.
- Delivering Departmental KPI Targets including Capital Expenditure for financial year.
Operations Area Manager
UPF Thompson Chassis (Wolverhampton)
Wolverhampton
1996.01 - 2002.01
- Leading cross functional team of personnel for all aspects of day to day running of business, strategic planning, to include following production lines Land Rover Discovery series one, Land Rover Series two Project Launch, London Taxi International, Metro Cab, Rolls Royce. Heavy goods Electrophoretic paint plant. Chassis & sub frame Electrophoretic paint plant.
- Delivering Departmental key performance indicators for financial year.
Project Leader
UPF Thompson Chassis (Wolverhampton)
Wolverhampton
1992.01 - 1996.01
- Work entailed introduction of new business, Strategy and budget control, customer liaisons, installation, layouts, and production handover of new product lines from project to serial production. Re-location, and re-layout of existing Heavy goods production lines in preparation for new multi-million-pound investment of Robotic Land Rover Discovery Series 2 Chassis production line.
Engineering Apprentice
UPF Thompson Chassis (Wolverhampton)
Wolverhampton
1987.01 - 1992.01
- Work entailed, pressing, assembling, machining, welding, setting, validating, and painting of vehicle chassis to include Ford Iveco Leyland, Daf, Volvo and Metro Scammel.
- Reading drawings, marking out, design and manufacture of templates, jigs, fixtures, and Tooling.
- Press setting 20 to 4000 tonne power presses.
Skills
- Adaptability & Flexibility: Thriving in fast-changing environments and learning new processes quickly
- Organization & Time Management: Prioritizing tasks and consistently meeting deadlines
- Problem-Solving & Decision Making: Analysing issues, attention to detail, developing effective solutions
- Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills: Collaborating well with colleagues and clients effectively to achieve shared objectives
- Communication: Clear, professional verbal, written with active listening abilities
- Time Management: Meeting deadlines and prioritizing workloads efficiently
- Data & Analytics: data entry, financial modelling, Statistical process control
- Specialist Roles: Lean Graduate, Project management, Operational excellence, Coatings, Electrophoretic& powder paint Mod Official sensitive products Squeeze forming casting
Accomplishments
- 2026 MOD Warrior Tank wheel, Installation, commissioning, customer communication, documentation, testing, validating and manufacture. 2.4 million Order.
- 2025 Capex- Design, install and commission a new bespoke state of the art Ecoat facility 6.2million.
- 2024 MOD MBDA Storm Shadow cruise missile Installation, commissioning, customer communication, documentation, testing, validating and manufacture.1.7 million Sales
- 2022 Capex to Re-design expensive Ecoat paint bath, invest 500k return 280k first year 200k each year there after generating a reduction of £1.75 to £1.29 per part. 26.28%
- 2022 Zone 1 A3 Training Facilitating, Coaching, Mentoring pph improvement 3 Shifts reduced to two shifts. Nightshift shift removed / production operators / maintenance / supervision (5 operators 175k per annum)82 hours of NVA changed to VA production.50% on all tool changes reducing 20 bolts to 2 to with quick release change over tooling. Clean down times reduced 53% with revised standard op. A3 Has generated 47,000 additional discs per annum. Circa 5 million sales
- 2021 Zone 2 A3Training Facilitating, Coaching, Mentoring Pph improvement 65-78 wheels per hour, Generated additional 43,106 wheels per annum circa 8.2 million sales. Change over times have been reduced from 30 to 22 mins ( 27%) Output has removed Saturday overtime working on premium time. + 25.3% (£18.72 phr)
- 2018 Re - commission an obsolete Ecoat plant and process a completely different product, success achieved at 75 parts per hour with 100hr staff spay guaranteed.
- 2016 Project Swan powder coat facility installation, commissioning, customer communication, documentation, testing, validating and customer approval to supply 235,000 wheels per annum.
- 2016 Opco Divisional winner 29 Global Teams COPO -183k cost reduction.
- 2016 Project Swan customer presentation Launch Global Wheel Customers. 14 customers 23 global locations
- 2016 Leyland Six sigma black belt, Distortion (cpk ppk Spc) improvement +/-1mm
- 2016 Jaguar Land Rover Discovery QSF 275.000 Vehicles.
- 2015 Health & Safety Initiative (Juice )52% reduction in accidents
- 2014 Kaizen Training Facilitating, Coaching, Mentoring NWT -£1400.00 in consumables
- 2014 Kaizen Training Facilitating, Coaching, Mentoring NWT - £2572 in welding wire
- 2013 Jaguar Land Rover Defender 20% reduction in NRFT
- 2012 Jcb A3 Lean event 32% overtime removed, 30k reduced on transport. DSA 72% to 100% Productivity increase 35% BSA 71% to 100% 105 nva production hours removed. 80% bop bought in house. Inventory lead time 18 to 15 days. BPI 6 day reduction with 12.5% VA
- 2012 Leyland Euro 5 bpi event, 50ppm or below Award Winner 2012 2013 2014 2015
- 2012 Lean Secondment Gkn Ribemont France.
- 2012 Lean Secondment Gkn Stromag Germany
- 2012 Lean Secondment Gkn Aerospace Isle of Wight
- 2011 Bentley NVA/VA 50% labour reduction from Pre Despatch Audit
- 2010 Aston Martin Kaizen event People productivity increase of 14%
- 2010 Nab Visual management creation, Natural work teams 10 feet 10 second rule
- 2009 WGII Smed activity 6000 to 11000 pressings + 2 tool changes 83% productivity increase
- 2008 Toyota Team TPS NRFT 0 ppm achieved 4 years
- 2007Toyota Avensis Kaizen Event PPH increase 25-30 pph 1 operator reduction. Business contribution of 560k per annum
- 2006 Toyota Team Excellence awards 1stplace . Toyota Corolla Pph increase 27-38 pph
- 1996 Capex -Installation of Land Rover Discovery series 2 robotic production line 30 million
- 1992 Capex -Installation & commission Dennis Eagle specialist vehicles 900k
Certification
- 2025 Danger Zone, Moveero UK
- 2025 Anti Bribery& Corruption, Moveero UK
- 2025 When you report it we get stronger PAB, Moveero UK
- 2025 Emergency Rescue & Recovery of Casualties from Confined Spaces & Working at Height UK Training4you
- 2025 Security Snapshot Passwords, Moveero UK
- 2025 Security Snapshots safe web surfing, Moveero UK
- 2025 Using phishing alert -Reporting suspicious Emails Moveero UK
- 2025 Know Be 4 Security awareness Moveero UK.
- 2024 Principles of working in confined spaces. Working in confined space including self-rescue, UK Training4you.
- 2024 Emergency Rescue & Recovery of Casualties from Confined Spaces & Working at Height, UK Training4you.
- 2024 Alcohol Drug and Covid 19 testing, Hampton Knight.
- 2023 PPG Industrial coatings Electrocote training Europe, Marly, France.
- 2022 HSH - DSE, Skill cast.
- 2021 Cyber Security, Skill cast.
- 2021 Data Protection, Skill cast.
- 2020 Electronic Communications, Skill cast.
- 2020 Responsible Use Of Social Media, Skill cast
- 2020 Information Security, Skill cast.
- 2020 Data Protection, Skill cast.
- 2020 Cybersecurity, Skill cast.
- 2019 Social Media, Skill cast.
- 2019 Ransomware, Skill cast.
- 2019 Social Engineering, Skill cast.
- 2019 Security Behaviours, Skill cast.
- 2019 Layer 8 Toolkit, Skill cast.
- 2019 GDPR General Data Protection Regulation, Skill cast.
- 2019 Anti-Bribery Training, Skill cast.
- 2018 The Heart of Performance Management Module 4 Giving powerful feedback. GKN Academy.
- 2018 The Heart of Performance Management Module 3Growing our people. GKN Academy.
- 2018 The Heart of Performance Management Module 2 Coaching. GKN Academy.
- 2018 The Heart of Performance Management Module 1 GKN Academy.
- 2017 Automotive E-coat, Pk Wet & Powder coat Systems, Valspar Liverpool
- 2016 COP Cost of Poor Quality, Operational Excellence Divisional Winner 2016 GKN Land Systems.
- 2016 IATF16949 Transition, IF Industry Forum, Birmingham.
- 2016 Business Process Audits, BSI
- 2016 Automotive Core Tools. Advanced Product Quality Planning. IF Industry Forum, Birmingham.
- 2014 The Equality at Work Act 2010 EEF The Manufactures Organisation.
- 2013 SII Continuous Improvement Leader. Graduate Lean Enterprise, GKN Plc
- 2013 “Think Secure” Information Technology, GKN Plc
- 2012 RADAR Risk Awareness Action Detection Review, GKN Plc
- 2012 Anti Bribery & Corruption, GKN Plc.
- 2012 Power Press Safety Course, EEF The Manufactures Organisation.
- 2010 Public Access Defibrillation, West Midlands Ambulance Service.
- 2010 The Equality at Work Act 2010 Harassment and Bullying EEF Workshop
- 2009 First Aid at Work, Cognect LTD
- 2008 Certificate of Competence Drug & Alcohol Testing, Hampton Knight.
- 2008 Public Access Defibrillation, West Midlands Ambulance Service.
- 2007 Lean Fundamentals Workshop, Lean Enterprise.
- 2006 Group Excellence Awards. Toyota Team Burnaston
- 2006 LTA Lost Time Analysis, Toyota Burnaston
- 2006 First Aid at Work, Staffordshire Ambulance Service.
- 2003 IOSH Institute of Safety and Health
- 2003 Site Health &Safety inductions GKN Thompson Chassis.
- 2003 Confined Space Awareness, VTI Training Group.
- 2002 PUWER The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, GKN Auto structures Training Centre.
- 2002 Risk Assessment Under Management of H&S Regulations, EEF West Midlands.
- 2001 JDRF Participation Certificate Land Rover Solihull.
- 2001 Six Sigma, Land Rover Solihull.
- 2001 Single Minute Exchange of Dies, XR Associates LTD
- 1999 NVQ Technical Services, EMTA Awards Wolverhampton College.
- 1998 Risk Awareness in the Workshop, EEF West Midlands.
- 1998 MIG Welding Certificate, UPF Thompson Chassis.
- 1998 Statistical Process Control, Wulfrun College Wolverhampton.
- 1998 NEBS Management Certificate Wulfrun College Wolverhampton.
- 1997 ABB S4 Programming, Operation Architect Welding, ABB Flexible Automation LTD Milton Keynes.
- 1996 ISO Awareness. UPF Thompson Chassis
- 1995 ISM Supervisory Management, Wulfrun College Wolverhampton.
- 1994 BEng Bachelor of Engineering, Wolverhampton University.
- 1994 Total Quality Training, Centre of Engineering Excellence, Wolverhampton.
- 1993 BS5750 Awareness, UPF Thompson Chassis.
- 1986 Youth Training Scheme Certificate, Dudley Education and Training Centre
- 1985 English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Woodwork, Metal work and Art O-Level Dormston school Sedgley
Timeline
Site Operations & Technical Manager
Moveero Ltd and Auto Structures Ltd
2020.01 - 2026.01
Site Quality & Engineering Manager
Gkn Wheels & Structures
2019.01 - 2020.01
Operations Manager Project Swan & Wheel Plant
GKN Wheels & Structures (Telford)
2018.01 - 2019.01
Operations Manager Project Swan
GKN Wheels & Structures (Telford)
2017.01 - 2018.01
Site Quality Operations Manager
GKN Wheels & Structures (Telford)
2015.01 - 2016.01
Value Stream Manager
GKN Land Systems (Telford)
2010.01 - 2015.01
Continuous Improvement Leader
GKN Land Systems (Telford)
2008.01 - 2010.01
Process Improvement Co-ordinator
GKN Land Systems (Telford)
2007.01 - 2008.01
Value Stream Supervisor
GKN Land Systems (Telford)
2004.01 - 2007.01
Operations Area Manager
GKN Land Systems (Wolverhampton)
2002.01 - 2004.01
Operations Area Manager
UPF Thompson Chassis (Wolverhampton)
1996.01 - 2002.01
Project Leader
UPF Thompson Chassis (Wolverhampton)
1992.01 - 1996.01
Engineering Apprentice
UPF Thompson Chassis (Wolverhampton)
1987.01 - 1992.01