Duncan McQuire

Experience

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  Premier Farnell

  Oct 1996 - Jul 1998

  Product Manager

  This company purchased common industrial products wholesale, storing them in a warehouse and selling them to retail clients via catalogue. I began my engineering career as a Technical Assistant to the Product Manager for Pneumatics and Hydraulics, and my first project was to establish the technical data library for the entire project. I coordinated the other technical assistants to gather all the data on all products and after 12 months was promoted to Product Manager for Pneumatics and Hydraulics. Ultimately my goal was to optimise purchasing and sales to increase profits. I had overall responsibility for product selection, vender agreements and marketing and catalogue copy, forming effective vendor relationships to reduce our cost price and increase margins. I also took care of setting our retail prices, including bulk discount deals and shifting unsold stock. Show less

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  Hazlewood Foods

  Jul 1998 - Sept 1999

  Capital Projects Manager

  At this convenience food plant producing 300,000 sandwiches per day I was responsible for creating and evaluating ideas to reduce delays and minimise production costs, thereby increasing overall company profits. These ranged from new machinery or production line methods to emergency power supplies and building modifications and construction. Reporting to the Engineering and Manufacturing manager, I produced Capital Expenditure Appraisals of these ideas, developing the business cases for management to seek approval from the board. I was dedicated to making improvements and keeping production running, managing the implementation of approved projects with budgets of up to £150K. With a focus on increasing overall productivity, I effectively supervised three maintenance staff and had direct responsibility for factory maintenance teams of up to 10 employees per day and night shift. Show less

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  Royal Navy

  Jan 2001 - Sept 2006

  Marine Engineer Officer

  My Naval Service was broad and varied, serving on three Type 23 Frigates, sailing to the USA, Arabian Gulf, Black Sea and Russia. This included active combat operations as well as peace keeping and diplomatic duties. I qualified as Marine Engineer Officer (Frigates/Destroyers) in January 2005 and proceeded to sea as the "Chief" on several occasions before leaving for my last shore job as Special Projects Officer for the Defence Procurement Agency. I was a leader of up to 40 personnel, responsible for the career development and welfare of all in my team, as well as planning and implementing projects with an emphasis on efficiency, safety, compliance and maintaining availability for tasking at all times. Overseas deployments varied from combat missions to diplomatic and "UK Plc" trade missions in the Middle East, USA, Russia, Baltic nations and Mediterranean shores. My shore side role involved project management, dealing with classified equipment and technology development. Show less

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  DMQ Projects Marine Engineering Solutions

  Sept 2006 - Dec 2007

  Proprietor

  After leaving the Navy I founded DMQ, a one-stop-shop for marine engineering, covering inboard and outboard engines, DC and AC electrics and electronics, blown air heating systems, water makers and air conditioning for private yachts up to 50’ based in Southwest UK. I was responsible for all technical, financial and managerial decisions and was the service agent for Fischer Panda generators in the south west region of the UK.

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  45m to 86m Superyachts

  Jan 2008 - now

  Chief Engineer

  The engineering department of a superyacht creates the framework to provide the yacht owner and guests with the ultimate experiences of luxury hospitality onboard. From hotel services such as plumbing, heating, air conditioning, appliances (including fridges, freezers, galley equipment, water makers, generators, laundry and AV/IT systems) to operating and maintaining extremely high tech engines, machinery, electronics, tenders and toys, our role is to keep the yacht functioning at the highest possible operational standards at all times. When owners are paying millions to purchase and maintain their vessel, and charter guests pay £500,000+ a week, we are expected to keep everything running perfectly at all times. Effective planning and efficiency are essential to maintaining these extremely high standards; as once at sea we are on our own. Unplanned downtime due to malfunctioning equipment is absolutely unacceptable to our guests, because time is the one resource they cannot buy. Over the past 14 years as a Chief Engineer in luxury yachting I have cruised the Mediterranean, Caribbean, East coast USA, Seychelles, Norway, Middle East and Thailand.* Project & Financial Management* Planned Maintenance & Systems Management* People Management* Safety Management & Compliance Show less