Thomas Woodend

My time at UU has come with a steep learning curve, not only was new to this industry but Barrow is a particularly fast paced area to be an FSE. I pride myself with the late nights and weekends where we have worked hard together stay as compliant as possible and chip away at the never ending job list. The main objectives of my role are to:

• Deliver Planned, preventative and corrective maintenance across both WW and bioresource assets.
• Fault find and repair Mech and Elec systems, ensuring safe and efficient plant operation.
• Supporting ops teams with critical outages and unplanned failures across all of Cumbria, minimising downtime and safeguarding compliance.
• Collaborate with Engineers, contractors and managers to co-ordinate resources and deliver maintenance with time and cost constraints while working to SOP's and safety procedures.
• Actively participating in improvement projects, feeding back on design and maintainability to enhance long term reliability.
• Recognised for flexibility and technical confidence in handling a wide range of engineering challenges across multiple sites.

Also though not strictly part of my role, I'm often found mentoring other FSE's in my area and unofficially leading larger jobs. I like to help others develop their skills and complete complex tasks. In turn that helps me develop confidence to progress further with my leadership capability. I like to think I play a critical role in maintenance meetings with planning my schedule, as well as that of the other engineers and determining asset criticality and availability.

My job at Pelta Medical Papers (previously BillerudKorsnäs) is to maintain the factory equipment and machinery to a very high standard. We produce coated medical papers so working cleanly and safely is priority. My daily responsibilities include:

• Daily checks on factory and machinery condition.
• Site rules and safety compliance.
• Lifting and slinging.
• Responding to breakdowns on call and shift.
• Routine preventative maintenance and reactive.
• Diagnosing faults.
• Fitting drives and gearboxes.
• Fabrication.
• Contractor management.
• Manual Machining of parts.
• Contributing ideas to improve safety of operations and efficiency of machines.
• Logging jobs on the maintenance schedule.

Customate is an engineering solutions firm that mainly works in the poultry industry. The majority of machines we worked with are for Butchery, transportation through factory using our vortex systems, then packing. We worked with the biggest poultry producers in Europe, the big names being 2 sisters, Salisbury poultry and Noble foods.

Working at Customate my main roles and responsibilities were:

• Troubleshooting faults with any of our products like our ACMs, Rapids, Blow-pots, Drop-pots Vacuum fans etc.
• Managing and planning projects.
• Work on PLC's and HMI.
• Conducted root cause analysis to enhance operational efficiency.
• Given the opportunity to guide apprentices.
• Contract maintenance engineer.
• Pneumatics/ hydraulics/ steam.
• Installing and commissioning said machines.
• Responding to breakdowns.
• On site measuring and fitting.
• Fabrication and welding.
• Work on steam.
• Modify/install/ manufacture conveyors and just about all machines in the poultry
• Training factory staff for the upkeep and use of machines.
• Work on food and medical grade machinery.
• Ensuring safety of all machinery and lines.
• Scoped and delivered on multi million pound projects across a diverse range of industries.

I worked here with a group of skilled engineers where we tackle a wide range of projects. Be this installs or breakdowns and anything in between. I have a keen eye for detail which was critical for commissioning, as well as the confidence to take on responsibility which was also essential I could be on a project 8 hours away from any of my team members.

Collaborated regularly with clients, architects, and building control representatives.
Developed understanding of varied personality types through daily interactions.
Obtained foundational knowledge of project management and deadline compliance.

Worked as joiner at Lakeland Timber Frame for two years, specialising in manufacturing processes.
Delivered projects on time by adhering to technical specifications and drawings.
Participated in team efforts to improve operational efficiencies.

Working on a farm from my early teens was possibly the best that could happen to me for my self development. I had more responsibilities than most of my peers at that age. I had to be proficient with time management, assist on increasing farm productivity, make decisions based on data analysis and plan deliveries.

This entailed all the generic farm duties you'd imagine, and on my weekends in I was managing the farm and the 2 part time lads.