Peter James Challis
Llanelli
Summary
Results-driven manufacturing operations leader with extensive experience managing high-volume production environments. Proven track record of delivering operational improvements across safety, quality, throughput, cost and customer delivery through effective leadership, continuous improvement and data-driven decision making. Skilled in driving KPI performance, optimising manufacturing processes and leading teams to enhance productivity, efficiency and operational compliance.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Area Manager
Amazon
Swansea
2025.08 - Current
- Lead large operational teams within a high-volume, fast-paced environment, delivering against safety, quality, productivity and delivery targets while supporting colleague welfare, engagement and development.
- Monitor and analyse operational KPIs to implement data-driven improvements that enhance efficiency, consistency and customer delivery performance.
- Drive workflow optimisation and standardisation initiatives to improve operational performance and service reliability.
- Collaborate with senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to support continuous improvement and operational delivery.
- Coach and mentor managers and frontline teams, promoting accountability, engagement and high performance.
Process Engineer & Production Manager
Innovia Medical
Swansea
2022.08 - 2025.08
- Led production and continuous improvement activities within a regulated medical manufacturing environment, managing throughput, capacity planning and production performance to meet customer demand and delivery targets.
- Implemented manufacturing process improvements and safe, compliant operational changes aligned with operational and quality objectives.
- Collaborated with planning, supply chain, engineering and production teams to optimise operational performance and ensure new products met KPI and quality standards prior to launch.
- Reduced manufacturing time by 50% and operational costs by 40% through redesign of the highest-volume product line.
- Reduced production backorders from £350k+ to under £25k through operational planning and process improvements while achieving on-time delivery performance above 95%.
Operations Manager
Sony UK Technology Centre
Pencoed
2021.05 - 2022.08
- Managed the site’s largest operational department within a high-volume manufacturing environment, leading 120+ staff across production, engineering and shift leadership teams.
- Held responsibility for safety, quality, throughput, delivery and cost performance across 24/5 production operations, balancing customer demand, labour planning and supply chain constraints.
- Developed operational strategies and monitored KPIs to improve productivity, delivery performance and manufacturing efficiency through root cause analysis and cross-functional collaboration.
- Managed labour allocation, workforce planning and operational priorities to maximise efficiency and minimise disruption.
- Ensured compliance with operational procedures and management system standards including ISO9001, OHSAS18001 and ISO14001, supporting associated audits.
- Supported new product introductions through operational readiness planning, scheduling and resource coordination.
- Led staff investigations and employee relations activities in unionised environments.
SMT Production Manager
Sony UK Technology Centre
Pencoed
2021.02 - 2021.05
- Managed day-to-day production operations to achieve throughput, quality and delivery targets within a high-volume manufacturing environment.
- Led cross-functional operational planning with supply chain, warehouse, planning and engineering teams to maintain operational continuity during supply chain challenges.
- Coordinated labour allocation, production priorities and workload planning to optimise operational performance.
- Facilitated daily operational reviews, leading root cause analysis and corrective actions to improve quality, delivery and manufacturing performance.
- Managed recruitment, investigations, disciplinary and grievance processes while supporting team capability through training and coaching.
Industrial Engineer & Project Engineer
Sony UK Technology Centre
Pencoed
2020.01 - 2021.02
- Led implementation of new production lines, manufacturing processes and operational improvement projects to improve throughput, productivity and operational performance.
- Managed new product introduction projects from concept to operational launch, coordinating cross-functional teams to deliver projects safely, on schedule and within budget.
- Analysed throughput, labour productivity and manufacturing capacity to drive operational efficiency improvements.
- Delivered automated assembly project reducing build time by 30% through robotics and process innovation.
- Led warehouse automation project reducing picking time by over 50% while improving traceability and operational efficiency.
- Improved labour productivity through line balancing, layout optimisation and manufacturing process improvements.
- Implemented improved soldering process reducing cost, improving quality and enhancing environmental and safety performance.
Manufacturing Engineer
CRANE ChemPharma
Cwmbran
2014.10 - 2016.10
- Supported new product introduction, manufacturing improvement and process validation activities.
- Investigated production and material performance issues to identify root causes and corrective actions.
- Worked with suppliers and internal quality teams to improve manufacturing reliability and operational performance.
- Managed customer complaints and production quality issues within a regulated manufacturing environment.
Education
MEng - Chemical Engineering (First Class Honours)
Swansea University
2015-01
Level 5 Diploma - Leadership & Management
Level 3 BTEC - Teaching & Education
A Levels - Physics, Chemistry, ICT & Geography
Gower College Swansea
Skills
- Manufacturing operations management
- Production and business leadership
- Safety, quality, and continuous improvement
- Throughput and labor planning
- KPI and performance management
- Lean manufacturing methodologies
- Root cause analysis and corrective actions
- Process optimization and waste reduction
- Cost reduction and productivity improvement
- Team leadership and performance management
- Production planning and resource allocation
- Operational strategy and change management
- Cross-functional stakeholder management
- HSE and operational compliance
Accomplishments
- Led manufacturing process improvement and new product introduction projects to improve throughput, productivity, quality and operational performance.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams to deliver operational projects safely, on schedule and within budget.
- Delivered automation and process improvement initiatives reducing build time by 30%, picking time by over 50%, and improving traceability and operational efficiency.
- Improved labour productivity and manufacturing performance through line balancing, layout optimisation and process redesign.
- Implemented manufacturing improvements reducing cost while enhancing quality, environmental and safety performance.
Additional information
- Extensive experience working within high-volume manufacturing and operational environments.
- Strong background in Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experienced in managing large operational teams and cross-functional stakeholder relationships.
- Full UK driving licence.
- References available on request.
Timeline
Area Manager
Amazon
2025.08 - Current
Process Engineer & Production Manager
Innovia Medical
2022.08 - 2025.08
Operations Manager
Sony UK Technology Centre
2021.05 - 2022.08
SMT Production Manager
Sony UK Technology Centre
2021.02 - 2021.05
Industrial Engineer & Project Engineer
Sony UK Technology Centre
2020.01 - 2021.02
Manufacturing Engineer
CRANE ChemPharma
2014.10 - 2016.10
MEng - Chemical Engineering (First Class Honours)
Swansea University
Level 5 Diploma - Leadership & Management
Level 3 BTEC - Teaching & Education
A Levels - Physics, Chemistry, ICT & Geography
Gower College Swansea