Neil McDowall
Wirral,ENG
Summary
Experienced professional demonstrating strengths in team motivation and manufacturing improvement strategies. Adapts to evolving challenges through a continuous improvement focus and strong leadership capabilities. Committed to fostering a safe and productive work environment.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Production Manager
Ardagh Metal Packaging
Wrexham
08.2022 - Current
- Managed 165 employees in production and widget teams, including Assistant Production Manager, Shift Managers, Supervisors, Technicians, and Operators.
- Led production team for 2 record output years for site during tenure.
- Led cultural change initiatives to optimise team performance.
- Plant Spoilage Leader, reducing spoilage by 35million cans per year.
- Spoilage 3 Leader formerly with AMP-uk team and now with AMP-e team.
- AMPS Kaizen Leader. Led implementation and supported Kaizen events.
- AMPS 6s leader. Developed and implemented 6s programme.
- AMPS ambassador training. RDO and BSW.
- Development of Personnel, teams and processes.
- Cost reduction leader - Labour costs.
- Widget project leader for BPANI changeover.
- Oversaw implementation of people management strategies to improve workforce effectiveness.
Production Manager
Tenmat Advanced Materials
Manchester
01.2020 - 07.2022
- Responsible for a team of 94 employees on 24/7 operation including Managers, CI Engineers, Supervisors and Shift Leaders.
- Implemented modern manufacturing policies and procedures for continuous improvement across all manufacturing departments, establishing business best practices.
- Increased annual turnover from £50m to £85m.
- Led and implemented process improvement activity with PDCA approach.
- Implemented Kaizen techniques and A3 problem solving.
- Implemented structured 5s framework.
- Production CAPEX leader.
- Improved production efficiency by 5% using Lean Manufacturing techniques.
- Improved OTD by 8% in 6 months (98.8%) using Lean Manufacturing techniques.
- Scrap reduction by 80% using Lean Manufacturing techniques.
- Led design phase with contractors for new technology, implementing within production cell to reduce staffing by 85% and achieve annual savings of £330k.
- Implementing new shift patterns.
- Prepared all production and quality reports for directors.
- Developed bills of materials for new products to ensure efficient workflow.
Shift Manager
Vauxhall Motors
Ellesmere Port , Cheshire
08.2016 - 12.2019
- Managed 70 employees, including team leaders, maintenance technicians, production staff, quality assurance, and supply chain.
- Streamlined processes using Kaizen techniques, achieving year-on-year headcount reduction for cost reduction plan.
- Leading SMED events to reduce Die Change time from 14 mins to 8 mins.
- Led new product launches, ensuring successful integration into production processes.
- Part of European CI team identified to troubleshoot common issues and share best practice.
- Manage department KPIs.
- Department CI Champion, responsible for KPIs and audit preparation.
- Strategic future planning.
- Conducted data analysis to identify root causes of downtime and quality issues, facilitating targeted improvements.
Production and Maintenance Supervisor
Vauxhall Motors
Ellesmere Port , Cheshire
07.2011 - 08.2016
- Managed workplace safety for a team of 70 personnel and contractors.
- Managed KPIs, developed action plans to meet targets and drive continuous improvement.
- Managing payroll and purchasing using SAP.
- Department Built in Quality champion.
- Leading Quality follow reporting and actions.
- Managing appraisals, discipline and other personnel related issues.
- Improve equipment reliability.
- Utilising broad team skills to improve optimal performance.
- Development of operational efficiency measures with increase of 10% output in 4 months.
- Responsible for H&S reporting.
- Reporting on PM,CM and EM to senior team.
- Ensure SOPs reliable for ISO 9001, 14001, 45001.
- Performed risk assessments to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
Lean Training Co-ordinator
Vauxhall Motors
Ellesmere Port , Cheshire
02.2009 - 09.2009
- Facilitated lean training for 399 employees from Ellesmere Port in Gliwice, Poland, enhancing plant-wide efficiency.
- Delivered training throughout the week.
- Coordinated and designed comprehensive training programs for employees.
- Organising travel, hospitality, transfers, meals translators for 22 people per week.
- Collaborated with departments to develop action plans that achieved cost savings of £1.5m.
Education
Lvl 300 - AMPS Ambassador
AMP
Wrexham01-2026
NVQ Level 2 - IOSH
Manchester College
Manchester01-2021
NVQ Level 2 - Mental health awareness
West cheshire college
Cheshire01-2019
Higher National Diploma - Business Management
West Cheshire College
Cheshire01-2016
NVQ Level 3 - Front line supervisory studies
West Cheshire College
Cheshire01-2013
Skills
- Manufacturing leadership
- Continuous Improvement focus
- Safety Compliance
- Manufacturing Improvement Strategies
- Production scheduling
- Workforce motivation
- Lean manufacturing
- Process optimization
- Data analysis
- Team building
- 6s principles
Timeline
Production Manager
Ardagh Metal Packaging
08.2022 - Current
Production Manager
Tenmat Advanced Materials
01.2020 - 07.2022
Shift Manager
Vauxhall Motors
08.2016 - 12.2019
Production and Maintenance Supervisor
Vauxhall Motors
07.2011 - 08.2016
Lean Training Co-ordinator
Vauxhall Motors
02.2009 - 09.2009
Lvl 300 - AMPS Ambassador
AMP
NVQ Level 2 - IOSH
Manchester College
NVQ Level 2 - Mental health awareness
West cheshire college
Higher National Diploma - Business Management
West Cheshire College
NVQ Level 3 - Front line supervisory studies
West Cheshire College