Mike Newham

With experience working within highly regulated industries such as Biopharmaceutical, Rail, Automotive and Oil & Gas, I am a dedicated and driven Engineering and Manufacturing Program Manager and Continuous Improvement Leader. I have a proven track record of working from concept design through to production/installation, managing the complete project lifecycle for high-value turnkey installations. I am skilled in dealing with customers and suppliers at all levels, and possess highly developed negotiation and reasoning skills. In addition, I have great communication skills, problem-solving abilities and a constant eye on continuous improvement and business development. As an individual who never shies away from confronting issues at hand, I pride myself on my ability to deliver results.

Employment History

Watson Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions Nov 2021 – Present 

Program Manager

• Working predominantly with Watson Marlo Flexicon to deliver a program of projects including managing the complete project lifecycle for high value turnkey installations.
• Driving communication between Product Management, Sales and Engineering to ensure the scope, timeline and budget are fully understood.
• Aiding in the development of Watson Marlow Flexicons internal sales and quotation processes.
• Reporting to senior management on project progress, change management and project financial KPI’s.
• Additionally working with the Watson Marlow Information Systems team to deliver a PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) system implementation project across multiple companies within the group.  

Mountainside Talent Solutions May 2020 – Nov 2021

Head of Engineering & Project Management

• Asked by a previous colleague to help launch a recruitment firm utilising my technical

expertise and industry knowledge in the automotive sector.

• Partnering with leading technology firms in the automotive sector supporting their talent acquisition and organisational needs
• Using in depth industry knowledge to effectively headhunt for senior commercial and technical positions for a select client base.

Gemini Rail Services June 2018 – May 2020

Head of Continuous Improvement (Feb 2019 – May 2020)

• Working as a member of the senior management team, I led the department responsible for identifying and implementing effective change with the aim of achieving operational excellence.
• Working with planning and production teams to identify and clear operational bottlenecks.
• Running time and motion studies to understand potential process improvements.
• Taking interim control of departments that require in depth assessment or improvement.
• Supporting members of the management team through Personal Improvement Plans to allow them to perform their duties more effectively and efficiently.
• Assessing and altering organisational structures to better suit the business needs.

Project Manager (Jun 2018 – Feb 2019)

• Leading a cross functions team to delivery a rollingstock overhaul program for two TOC’s (Train Operating Companies) with differing deliverables simultaneously under a single program.
• Operating in a matrix organisation with a team of ~40 heads.
• Responsible for implementing and monitoring effective change management.
• Reporting to senior management on project progress, on time shipment, change management and project financials.
• Working with procurement to manage suppliers and mitigate supply delays.
• Working closely with engineering and manufacturing to plan, monitor, manage and report on detailed design and product production in line with customer requirements.

Akwel Automotive January 2018 – June 2018

Contract Manufacturing Project Manager

• ▪Working with Akwel Automotive on a contract basis.
• Delivery of a prototype component build for a major OEM.
• Single client point of contact.
• Coordination of multiple European manufacturing facilities.
• Delivery of new prototype tooling.
• Sourcing of prototype and standard components.

Jaguar Land Rover September 2016 – December 2017

Contract Design for service programme lead

• Working with Jaguar Land Rover on a contract basis.
• End to end project management.
• Management of design for service for specific model platform from conception through to launch.
• Management of service strategies and implementation of service standards.
• Liaising with technical specialists across the entire company to resolve problems and gain information.
• Maintenance of program status and cascading of requirements through project
• database.
• Communicating and presenting project milestones and status to senior managers within the wider business.
• Departmental lead for introduction of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle technology into the service environment.

Internal process development

• Implemented an automation of a currently manual process which has reduced risk of error and streamlined the operation to the point of allowing head count reduction.

OneSubsea (Schlumberger) July 2013 – September 2016

Contract Project manager – Commercial

• Working with OneSubsea, a Schlumberger company on a contract basis.
• Managing a portfolio of commercial connector and subsea control projects valuing in excess of $15m alongside New Product Development projects.
• Sole point of contact for clients with responsibility for developing client relations and an understanding of upcoming potential business opportunities.
• Working with the Sales team to identify and develop future business opportunities within my client base.
• Responsible for implementing and monitoring effective change management.
• Reporting to senior management on project progress, on time shipment, change management and project financials.
• Working with procurement to manage suppliers and mitigate supply delays.
• Working closely with engineering and manufacturing to plan, monitor, manage and report on detailed design and product production in line with customer requirements.
• Planning Qualification and FAT tests to ensure compliance with relevant standards.
• Identify, assess and monitor risks in line with companies Risk Assessment procedures.
• Heavily involved with the projects and finance teams in the development and implementation of new robust reporting methods.

Project manager – Internal development

• Restructuring of the Qualification testing and Factory Acceptance Test departments.
• Introducing new planning and reporting procedures to allow accurate capacity planning and utilisation logging.
• Designed, produced and implemented a new costing tool now used throughout the business allowing more accurate and efficient quote generation.

Delphi Diesel Systems May 2011 – June 2013

Project manager – Euro 6 cost down team

• Recruited in development to work on Euro 6 heavy duty common rail injection systems. Responsible for product development, quality control and providing technical support to customer.
• Quickly transitioned to project management at our main manufacturing facility with a focus on cost down activity.
• Responsible for the coordinated management of multiple related projects directed toward streamlining of manufacturing processes, process change and scrap rate reduction.
• Provide direction and support to junior team members to increase quality and efficiency of work
• Plan out and report on potential cost down initiatives, presenting to senior management on financial viability, risk and cost reduction over project lifecycle.
• Constant communication with suppliers to develop external manufacturing processes with the aim of reducing part cost and scrap rate.
• Documentation of project progress inline with phase gate targets.

Cornish Crabbers LLP Nov 2010 – May 2011

Production Process Coordinator

• Update and maintain Recreational Craft directive compliance.
• Update and refine Bill Of Materials.
• Fine tune engineering practices.
• Produce engineering drawings.

APMG

APMG AgilePM Practitioner 

Project Management Institute (PMI)

PMI PMP (Project Management Professional).

Coventry University

BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering; 2:1

Modules included:

• Solid Mechanics.
• Thermo Dynamic.
• Fluid Mechanics.
• Vehicle Dynamics.
• CAD.
• Event Management.

Cornwall College, Camborne, Cornwall

• BTEC National Diploma in Automotive Engineering.
• City & Guilds Automotive Engineering Class 1.

Additional Skills and Qualifications

• Advanced in Microsoft Excel, Project, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Working knowledge of Catia V5 and Solid Works CAD packages.
• Excellent report writing and presentation skills.