ALASTAIR ROBERT NICHOLSON
1B Willicombe Road
Paignton
South Devon
TQ33RU

HOME: 01803-540-241 MOBILE: 07770-638-303
E-MAIL: 

PROFILE

A 'Time served' Engineer, postgraduate and Chartered Physicist with a wide
variety of skills and experience gained from project managing and managing in
high technology companies and from developing / implementing instrumentation and
processes within large volume production facilities.

CAREER HISTORY

MAY 05 - PRESENT ARN Industrial Engineering Services Limited, Launceston,
Cornwall

INDUSTRIAL / MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING CONSULTANT
Set up my own company, providing contract-Engineering services to the
manufacturing industry. CI, Manufacturing / Process Engineering, Lean / Agile
Manufacturing, Project Management, Man Management, Time in Motion, FMEA / FMECA,
6 Sigma, SPC, Data Analysis and Quality Control / Inspection.

CONTRACTS INCLUDE:
Airbus Military / Airbus - Bristol / Europe.
Rolls Royce - Derby / Glasgow.
Guidepoint Global - New York, USA.
ASR International Corporation - New York, USA.
Pall Aeropower - Redruth, Cornwall.
Inject Plastics - Totnes, Devon.
Hotline Renco - Newton Abbot, Devon.

FEB 04 - APR 05 ASR International Corporation, New York, USA

 MANUFACTURING CONSULTANT (INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS)
 GT Martin and Sons, Lanark Industrial Estate, Lanark, Scotland
Hired on behalf of Rolls-Royce Aerospace to work in the above mechanical
component supplier. Tasked by R-R to carry out documentation audits and component
inspection, process flow analysis, cycle time reductions and layout improvements.
Introduce trend and data analysis techniques to the company to improve quality
and roll out basic housekeeping philosophy prior to the introduction of 5S. Work
alongside the quality personnel to assist in eliminating defects and reducing the
COPQ. Applying poor quality countermeasures and improving the scheduling and
tracking of WIP. Fully trained in Rolls-Royce Aerospace FAIR documentation.

SEP 03 - JAN 04 Watt Brothers Ltd., Helen St., Govan, Glasgow

 CONSULTANT (CONTRACT)
Hired by retail outlet to make aggressive improvements at the central warehouse
in a short period of time on the ramp up to the busy Christmas period. Carried
out inventory reductions, improved stock rotation and redesigned layouts. Applied
time and motion studies, material flow analysis, data logging and statistical
monitoring. Introduced housekeeping, 5S and improved space utilisation within the
warehouse.

DEC 02 - 26 AUG 03 Coherent Scotland Ltd., West of Scotland Science Park, G20
0UA

 PROCESS ENGINEER - LASER SYSYEMS (CONTRACT)
Work within the Azure laser system group. Responsible for ensuring production
targets are met on time. First point of contact for all production related issues
within the mechanical, electrical and optical assembly areas. This included class
10K and 1K cleanrooms. Collated and analysed defect reports to provide permanent
corrective actions. Applied various techniques including QFD, Time and motion
studies, DOE, Process Flow Analysis, SPC, etc. Managed all assembly and test
instructions / documentation using Agile and Q-Pulse. Worked on a process
qualification program to bring all process aspects up to the correct industry
standards. Managed various projects within the company.

MAY 00 - DEC 02 Nortel Networks Ltd., Nortel House, Long Road, Paignton TQ4 7BE

 MANUFACTURING SUPPORT ENGINEER / TEAM LEADER
Manage 5 process technicians / engineers to ensure full line support for EDFA /
Raman optical amplifiers. Provide first line of contact for equipment,
documentation or amplifier issues. Carry out FMEA, SPC, trend and data analysis
to establish root cause of device failures. Apply layout redesign / process
simulation and capacity modelling to improve quality and reduce cycle times.
Carry out manufacturing excellence concepts including Six Sigma, 5S, TPM, Kanban,
Poke Yoke, CeDeMeQ, CDM, value stream mapping and continuous improvement. Manage
various contractors and other personnel to implement cost reduction and lean
manufacturing projects (GDPM) within the company.

NOV 99 - MAY 00 Oxford Instruments Superconductivity Ltd., Oxon, OX13 5QX

 MANUFACTURING ENGINEER / CELL MANAGER (CONTRACT)
Managed 25-person Ultra Low Temperature, test and assembly cell that
manufactured dilution refrigerators and high field super-conducting magnets.
Initiated and implemented best practice processes, techniques and continuous
improvement methods in co-operation with manufacturing. Effective working
relationships were established and maintained throughout the business. Applied
the latest manufacturing techniques including TOC, NPI, and KPI and KANBAN.
Ensured all activities were carried out in accordance with Health and safety.

1997 - NOV 99 Combined Optical Industries Ltd., 200 Bath Road, Slough, SL1 4DW

 SENIOR DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER
Developed opto-mechanical test equipment in collaboration with production
engineering and quality departments capable of measuring products to improve
performances and ensure the product specifications were consistently met on
production. Assisted in process auditing. Wrote operational procedures for all
factory instrumentation and carried out training of engineers, inspectors and
operators to enable them to perform required testing on products. Developed
optical design and analysis techniques using Zemax to improve the optical
engineering capabilities within the company. Liaised with outside contractors and
test houses to perform measurements off-site and help develop internal optical
design and measuring capabilities. Editor of an internal electronic newsletter
entitled Instrumentation Update.

1986 - 1992 Pilkington Defence Systems, Barr & Stroud Ltd. (Glasgow)

1991 - 1992 MANAGER GOODS RECEIVING & METROLOGY
Managed a complete computer controlled purchased goods receiving inspection,
evaluation and testing facility for all electrical, electronic, optical and
mechanical raw material, discrete components and sub-assemblies to ensure the
required standards and fitness for purpose were achieved. Developed and
maintained a departmental organisation structure that was capable of responding
rapidly to meet both current and unforeseen requirements. Integrated into the
manufacturing processes an efficient and co-ordinated 45-person team of selected,
developed, disciplined and motivated individuals. Developed and maintained with
inspection union representative's effective relationships that promoted improved
efficiency and reduced areas of conflict.

1990 - 1991 OPTICAL METROLOGIST / CALIBRATION ENGINEER
Ensured all measuring and testing equipment used in inspection was correctly
functional and kept in a good state of repair and that it was calibrated when
appropriate. Carried out self-audits to ensure compliance with procedures and
policies as determined by departmental procedure instructions.

1986 - 1990 OPTICAL PRODUCTION APPRENTICESHIP
Manufactured and coated for various Admiralty and MOD contracts, lenses, prisms,
and crystals. Confidently produced products that entirely satisfied the
customer's contractual quality requirements. Investigated problems resulting from
conflicting documentation and non-conforming products and non-achievement of
quality standards. Ensured all work was carried out within the requirements of
relevant quality procedures and complied with Health and Safety at work acts.

EDUCATION / QUALIFICATIONS
2002 - Ongoing MBA / MSc - Manufacturing Management & Technology
 Open University
 Modules completed: - Quality Management; Project Management.
1997 - 1998 PgDip - Astrophysics 
Queen Mary and Westfield College, London (Night School)
1992 - 1996 B.Sc. Combined - Physics and Astronomy
Glasgow University (Full Time)
1988 - 1990 HNC - Mechanical Production Engineering
Stow College, Glasgow (Day Release)
1986 - 1988 ONC - Mechanical Engineering
Anniesland College, Glasgow (Day Release)
1987 - 1988 City and Guilds - Precision Optical Crafts
York College of Arts and Technology, York (Block Release)
1981 - 1986 7 'O' Levels
Knightswood Secondary School, Glasgow 
Time served Optical Production Craftsman (Pilkington Defence Systems)
EITB Basic Training Certificate - in Machining and Mechanical Fitting Skills
QSPAK (BASIC) Certificate - Operation / Application of Co-ordinate Measuring
Machines

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Chartered Physicist - CPhys
Member of the Institute of Physics - MInstP
Member of the Society of Professional Engineers - P.Eng, MSPE
Member of the Royal Institute of Great Britain - MRI

COMPUTER SKILLS
Extensive experience of: - Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Project, Photo editor
software, E-mail and Internet facilities combined with in depth knowledge of most
modern Optical instrumentation and design software.

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Attained the Special Forces Green Beret (1st Class) in the Royal Marines.
Corporal in charge of an 8 man Commando Assault Team. Fully trained in all
military tactics and practices. Sense of humour, leading by example and good
control of team whilst under extreme conditions both physically and mentally were
essentials of the job.

PERSONAL DETAILS
Driving licence Full

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
Dependable, punctual, highly motivated with superb leadership abilities and
sense of humour.

INTERESTS
Physical exercise, listening to music, doing crosswords, reading and socialising
with friends.