Jake Fisk

My time with Dematic has seen me learn a variety of new skills, from PLC interrogation to rescuing height to shift management and everything in-between.

Starting with Dematic as an Engineer and working my way to Deputy Shift manager I have been responsible for learning all of the equipment Dematic has to offer and being able to repair, maintain and operate it; moving into management and gaining new abilities in team leading, shift organisiation, and direct customer relations. This has been an extremely rewarding experience while I am learning and improving more every day.

Moving into a management role has also seen me take on new site wide projects, such as leading the development and implementation of COSHH management and controls. Other projects have included creation, verification and implementation of Method Statements in support of the creation of our departmental RAMS; additionally other smaller projects such as various SSPs, Tool Box Talks, Workshop Procedures, and others.

Part of my role as Deputy Manager has been to support my manager when he is off site. This has involved me organising the shift, planning maintenance activities, liaising with the customer, addressing employee issues and concerns, and completing shift records and reports without need for external support.

Finally, moving into this role has given me the opportunity and drive to better myself off my own back by starting the Leadership and Management Level 5 Diploma.

Furthering into the food industry, JDE produce instant and ground coffee. Working on their packing lines I maintained various sections of conveyor, packing and sorting machines, heat tunnels, pallet wrappers and pallet stackers/de-stackers.

Producer of soft drinks, Britvic gave me an introduction into the food industry as well as exposure to working around high pressure steam systems and hazardous chemicals

Working for Steris has been the most rewarding experience of my career. During my time so far I have been challenged and pushed to make myself a better engineer in every respect. This has ranged from introducing me to brand new high tech systems, to being involved with projects where I report directly to department directors, to rewriting entire maintenance procedures to conform to audit standards.

My main responsibility has been to be the lead maintenance engineer for the sites linear electron accelerator, which is used to sterilise products through directed gamma radiation. This has introduced me to new ways of thinking on how to approach, diagnose and resolve machine issues, as well as an extra respect for correct process and employee safety.

Machine maintenance has been but a small part of my skills utilised here. In my first year I was sent on a month long collaboration to one of our other sites in Italy, helping the local maintenance team with their accelerator, as well reporting to the Director of Operations for Europe on what could be done to increase the efficiency of their machine.

Other aspects of my role have also included ensuring our teams Planned Preventative Maintenance Procedures are accurate and up to audit standard. As Steris are a medical business they are highly regulated and have strict standards to stay to, both from government bodies and customer expectations.

Other responsibilities have also included planning, organising and completing projects on machine improvements to increase up time as well as streamline maintenance tasks. I have also been responsible for co-ordinating with external contractors and suppliers for various site needs.

Most recently I have been directly involved in a company wide rollout of an augmented reality system, testing and utilising one package of software for 3 months while a counterpart in Slovenia tested another, then changing over and comparing results. This was then reviewed and judged by directors before moving forward with the company wide implementation.

During my time so far at Leadec I have maintained and serviced all 3 main production lines. This has included the PPMs on daily, weekly and monthly basis but also the repair and replacement of drive chains, belts, pnuematics, motors and rollers. I have been resposible for maintaining two lines running at full production during shifts as the only maintenance engineer on site on multiple occasions and have also been counted on as a reliable member of the team to come in on short notice should it be required. As part of the line operation I have become well versed in the use of HMIs and how to start up operate, and shut down all of the machines both individually and in concert with each other. Because of my welding qualification I have also been responsible for most fabrication work within the factory.

My work at RDM was on their autonomous 'pod zero' vehicle. I as responsible for the full assembly of the vehicle, from when we receive the chassis to its final completion when it is handed off for testing. Assembling the vehichle involves everything from installing and testing brake systems, installing electrical harnesses and boards, fitting final interior trim, as well recording and signing off completed work. During assembly it was also my job to liaise with engineer's for possible modifications and improvements that can improve production times or overall efficiency, once reviewed and approved I implement the change following engineering drawings. As the Senior I was also responsible for training any new employee's that come onto the section.

While I was training as a mechanic I was taught the basics of light vehicle repairs as well how to do the day to day jobs of a garage. These include performing services on vehicles, changing and repairing tyres, gearbox removal and clutch replacements, changing brake disks and pads, repairing or replacing exhaust units, car valeting; I also dealt with customers directly and over the phone as well as handling money.

I was trained to work as part of a team as well as how to be disciplined and efficient. I was tested both physically and mentally to ensure i was up to the high standards the armed forces require. Training would require working for long hours, often waking up at 5.30 am and not returning until past 9 pm.

I was responsible for maintaining the grounds around the factory, this included the roads, drains, and bases for machinery. During this time I helped with the installation of a variety of machines as well as repairing, digging and laying new sections of road and also removing old structures. Most jobs would require the mixing and laying of concrete or grout and also the construction of wooden frames.

As an apprentice I was trained in a variety of skills as I was required to work on all parts of the production line. I was taught how to use a variety of power tools for use for mechanical assembly as well as fitting hydraulic components, this also included the use of calibrated measuring equipment to ensure parts were to specification. During my training I was part of electrical assembly, this would involve assembling and fitting wiring looms and would require me to read wiring diagrams and also do some soldering. In the last year of my apprenticeship I was responsible for my own footprint on the production line, installing software into the operating systems of the product. Additionally during my apprenticeship I also became a coded MIG welder