Dean Taylor - CV

 

April 08 to date    INTERIM Factory GM / Operations Director   Productivity Partners Ltd

 

 

July 2003 to Mar 2008    FACTORY GENERAL MANAGER    PREMIER FOODS PLC, Long Sutton factory

(to end 05), Wisbech factory (from Jan 06)

 

Premier Foods is the UK’s largest food producer supplying across all grocery multiples. The business originated in the canned foods sector but has developed, through acquisition and organic growth, across the full spectrum of food categories. Premier was successfully floated in 2004 and now has an annual turnover of around £2.7bn.

 

Reporting to the Group Operations Director and responsible for managing a large c.£120m, 220k tonnes/pa, food processing and high speed manufacturing operation encompassing Supply Chain, Procurement, Production, Engineering, Technical and HR disciplines. The Long Sutton and Wisbech operations are the largest manufacturing facilities within the Premier Foods group – producing a wide range of branded and own label products and supplying all major UK retailers.

Long Sutton - 15 canning, sterilising and high speed packing lines. c.600 FTE, 750 SKU’s, encompassing fresh vegetables, meats, bean meals and fruits. Producing c.1,300 pallets / day, 550m cans and 235,000 tonnes pa. Capex c.£5m pa.

Wisbech – 10 canning, 3 pouch/catering jar lines. 550 staff, 600 SKU’s encompassing soups, sauces, beans and pulses, fresh vegetables, pouch meals. Producing 500m cans, 220k tonnes pa. 2007 Capex over £10m – including Campbell’s integration.

 

Successive annual turnaround in factory operating performance amounting to a £5m improvement (variance & o/heads).

15% improvement in overall factory efficiency with further benefits from increased labour output/line re-engineering.

Achieved a £1.6m improvement in raw and packaging material yields over 2 years – supported by ‘real time’ reporting.

Step change move towards right first time quality culture – reduction in consumer complaints from 18.6 to 11.5 cpmu.

Established strong cross functional teams to deliver wide range of successful ‘quick to market’ NPD initiatives including Branston beans, Loyd Grossman sauces, Batchelors Soupfulls, Loyd & Homepride Foodservice, Compotes, etc.

Negotiated and delivered strategic investment of c. £5m pa in canning, packing and quality improvement technology.

Launched major operational strategic review – resulting in the negotiation and implementation of annualised hours work patterns encompassing supply chain, manufacturing and engineering functions.

Restructured management teams to facilitate ongoing improvements, to improve accountabilities, and develop staff.

Delivered successful continuous improvement programmes through effective cross functional teamworking.

 

 

 

1999 to 2003    OPERATIONS DIRECTOR   Fox’s Confectionery (Northern Foods), Leic/Croydon

 

An operating company within Northern Foods, Fox’s Confectionery was created following the successful acquisition and merger of the former Nestle business in Leicester with the Northern Foods owned Paynes operation in Croydon.  Core portfolio brands include Fox’s Glacier Mints & Fruit, XXX Mints, Paynes Poppets and Just Brazils.

 

Reporting to the Managing Director, accountable for all aspects of the manufacturing Supply Chain encompassing Purchasing, Planning, Production, Engineering, Technical & NPD – through to finished product Storage & Distribution.

Devised and implemented a new loss to profit making Operations strategy at Croydon encompassing – restructuring of team roles / responsibilities, Technical and Engineering team integration, highly successful efficiency improvement programmes, overhead cost reduction activities, procurement cost saving strategy, specific value engineering activities, and, the development of a new strategy for 3^rd party storage & distribution.

Managed the closure of the Croydon factory – leading consultation forums, achieving manufacturing stockbuild strategy, maintaining morale & motivation amongst the longstanding workforce, overseeing an improvement in factory output during closure months, and, coordinating and planning other key aspects relating to the site closure, equipment and site disposal.

Transferred to Leicester in 2002 - supported the £3.5million capital investment programme providing new manufacturing process equipment and technologies, the installation of equipment from Croydon, and, the successful commissioning of the new manufacturing lines. Led performance improvement and significant cost reduction activities.

Left the business when Northern Foods divested its Confectionery business.

 

 

 

1997 to 1999    PERFORMANCE  IMPROVEMENT  MANAGER   Britvic Soft Drinks

 

Part of Six Continents (formerly Bass) with an annual turnover in excess of £650m – Britvic is the second largest UK producer of Soft Drinks and manufactures a portfolio of leading fruit juice and carbonated brands.

 

Reporting to the Director Of Production and working with the team of Factory Managers, my brief included supporting the integration of new factories; developing performance improvement strategies for efficiency, wastage and quality; gaining support for performance improvement activities across the Company Supply Chain; developing processes to ensure the identification and sharing of ‘best practice’ across all seven Britvic factories.

Improved provision and accuracy of key performance data, establishment of key process measures and benchmarking criteria, coordination of supply chain and support personnel - delivering significant reliability improvements, wastage and cost reductions across seven Britvic factory units.

Developed and drove continuous improvement methodologies across the group.

Developed and introduced system of Supplier Performance Management across all Britvic factories.

Introduced a series of factory wide 'Performance Improvement Workshops' focusing on developing and sharing best practice in line with key objectives including Product Quality, Plant Reliability, Prime Material and Process Wastage.

 

 

 

1995 to 1997     FACTORY OPERATIONS MANAGER    Britvic Soft Drinks, Widford

 

Responsible for the management of a soft drinks manufacturing operation (c.300 personnel) involving bottling, engineering and logistics operations across five high speed production lines. A key objective was to ensure the integration of new products, process and packaging equipment in conjunction with Company NPD programme.

 

Directly led major site restructuring resulting in significant headcount reductions (>25%), major upskilling, structural reorganisation and delayering - delivering a return on outlay in less than one year.

Designed and introduced new organisational team structures and roles. Developed teamworking and involvement practices facilitating major cultural change within a traditional, Unionised operation.

Led successful commissioning of new high-speed processing and packing equipment/production lines valued in excess of £10 million. Liaised with new and existing customers to meet product launch dates and deliver customer service and quality objectives.

Developed and introduced highly effective site engineering strategies – medium and long term based.

 

 

 

1993 to 1995    ENGINEERING PROJECTS CO-ORDINATOR   Britvic Soft Drinks, Rugby

 

Responsible for the leading and coordinating the Company 'Reliability Centred Maintenance' implementation programme – successfully piloted at the Rugby plant and subsequently rolled out across all Britvic manufacturing locations. RCM provided significant reductions in operational downtime, improvements in machine and line efficiencies, cost savings from reductions in fixed interval overhauls and progress in the move towards multi-skilling and greater Operator / Engineer involvement.

 

 

1991 to 1993   FACTORY QUALITY MANAGER   Britvic Soft Drinks, Tamworth

 

Responsible for managing all aspects of product / material quality at Tamworth factory (c.350 staff). Introduced ISO 9000 in under 9-months (Company ‘pilot’). Launched SPC and HACCP programmes. Worked closely with private label and franchise customer base.

 

 

1988 to 1991    PRODUCTION MANAGER    Wells Soft Drinks, Tenbury Wells

 

Responsible for the day to day operation of the carbonates division comprising three highly modernised production lines producing principally Private Label products and operating on 3 shifts. Successfully commissioned new high speed bottling lines and process kit, improved efficiency and wastage levels, significant uplift in customer service, reduced manpower, improved team skills and teamworking.

 

 

1986 to 1988    PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR    Britvic Soft Drinks, Widford

 

Shift management responsibility for high speed carbonated and 5 bulk packaging lines with respective manufacturing teams. 

 

 

1984 to 1986    QUALITY CONTROL COORDINATOR    Betts Plastics, Colchester

 

Responsible on shift for the quality output from a wide range of plastic injection moulding, blow moulding and printing presses including a high care plastics operation  – working alongside highly skilled manufacturing and engineering personnel. 

 

Education and Development

1976 – 1981	Countesthorpe College, Leic's	3 ‘A’ Levels
1981 – 1984	University of Essex	BA Honours Degree (2:1)

 

Diploma in Management Studies	TRT – Media Handling Skills
Common Purpose Leadership Programme (Leic 03/04)	Effective Negotiation Skills
Bass-Cranfield Senior Management Development Programme	Criteria Led Selection / Interviewing
MTP – Strategy & Finance Programme	Reliability Centred Maintenance (FMEA)
Leadership and Change Management Modules	Project Management (incl. Prince2)
People Development;  Coaching & Mentoring	British Safety Council - Health & Safety at Work
Quality/Process Improvement Tools (SPC, HACCP)	Microsoft Office Software - Advanced; SAP

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