Chris Francis

Experience

• 

  Bosch

  Sept 1993 - May 2009

  The Robert Bosch plant in Wales, is a large industrial facility which manufactures high quality car alternators, utilising pioneering technology and the latest lean manufacturing methodologies. Employing over 1600 people locally and manufacturing over 2 million alternators annually, Bosch is a centre for excellence and has won many prestigious awards. As a Controls Engineer I am responsible for the safe operation of over 70 machines on the Rotor Line. This involves directly managing 4 technicians and reporting to the Senior Automation Engineer. In addition to resolving machine breakdowns, I commission new systems and maintain the production line, while performing continuous improvement activities. My technical duties include:• Commissioning high volume manufacturing line.• Introduction of new type data / recipes.• Bosch and Siemens PLC and HMI programming.• Alterations and improvements to existing product.• Trouble shooting on high volume production lines.• Maintain electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic systems.• Spares sourcing & creation of TPM documentation.• Lean Manufacturing via KANBAN, OEE, and 5s... • Quality control adherence via SPC.• SCADA monitoring for zero defect elimination.• Main point of contact for all control issues.• Diameter detection using National Instrument card.• Application of Bosch Rexroth nut runners.• Support Ovens, Welders, Presses, Lathes, Balancers.• Gas Oven start-up / sequencing / maintenance.• Circulation fan air flow detection via pitot tubes.• Oven temperature setting via Eurotherm controllers.• Lacquer level detection using ultrasonic sensors.• Proportional valve control for welding process.• Calibration of load cells & LVDT's, 4-20mA analog.• Servo and stepper drive tuning. Show less • Responsible for maintaining production line. • PLC, Electrical, and Mechanical support.• Problem solving and fault finding.• Planned maintenance activities.• Project work and machine modification.• Control panel design and assembly.• Neurocheck vision system integration.• HMI design and software maintenance.• Six axis robot programming.• SCADA monitoring for zero defect elimination.• Production line Lean Manufacturing techniques.• Relocated low volume line to Bosch, Bangalore.• Tracking of product status via RFID technology.• Software system backups. Show less

  • Controls Engineer

    Feb 2006 - May 2009

  • Production Technician

    Sept 1997 - Feb 2006

  • Electrical Apprentice

    Sept 1993 - Sept 1997
• 

  Spectrum Technologies Ltd

  Jan 2010 - Oct 2018

  Spectrum Technologies is the world leader in laser wire marking and stripping technology for use in the manufacture of complex wire and cable harnesses, supplying bespoke laser wire processing machinery for the Aerospace and Automotive industries. Exporting over 75% of product to North America and the remainder across Europe and Asia, Spectrum has sold more than 1200 systems and has 70 employees worldwide, of which 57 reside in the UK.As Engineering Manager, I provide strategic departmental leadership for new product development (NPD), as well as cross-departmental support to Sales, Service and Production. This includes direct management of 13 engineers and 1 project manager. Reporting directly to the CEO, I am a valued member of the senior management team, setting and achieving operating plans, KPI's and budgets. I handle high profile projects with a combined budget of £2M and departmental budgets of £1M. My responsibilities comprise:• Creating project scopes, objectives & specifications.• Project management through all ISO9001 phases.• Communicating strategic and project objectives.• Auditing product CE compliance technical folders.• Effective handover of product to operations.• Senior point of contact, both internal and external.• Resolving scheduling and resourcing conflicts.• Producing Director level summary reports.• Reporting on cash flow for project expenditure.• Managing project risk and contingency plans.• Chairing risk assessments and FMEA’s.• Communicating project status and critical path activities to project sponsors.• Facilitating project handover to customers, to include training and maintenance support.• Remaining cognisant of current and future business plan activities.• Owner of short, medium and long-term engineering business objectives.• Management of safety, environment and management processes.• Establishing work relationships with Universities.• Setting out and agreeing government grant funding. Show less • Leading new product design & development teams.• Manufacture of bespoke laser marking machines.• Management of multiple key projects (~£1.3M).• Preparation of project costings and timescales.• Project delivery scheduling / product launch.• Resource management for small teams of engineers.• Innovation proposals for new business development.• Input into long and short term operating plans.• Departmental / project budgetary proposals.• Comply with standard operating procedure (SOP).• Reporting directly to Senior Management.• SMART Cymru and Innovate UK grant reporting.• Request for quote (RFQ) for bespoke machinery.• Support sales and marketing requirements.• Chairing weekly project meetings / design reviews.• Detailing sales technical specification for products.• Lead risk assessments.• Regulatory compliance management. • Peer review of product documentation.• Produce and maintain standard operating procedures.• Waste reduction and value engineering.• RFI laser safety and control solutions.• Controls / Automation / Electrical design mentor.• Communication with customers and vendors.• Analysis and reporting of complex problems.• Technical documentation preparation. Show less • Design bespoke Laser Marking / Stripping machines.• Request for quote (RFQ) for control systems.• Concept design / detail design / functional overview.• Specify control architecture for machines.• Project management activities / risk assessment.• Comply with current health and safety legislation.• Verify safety performance levels using SISTEMA.• Control panel layout / design calculations.• Cost reduction and value engineering.• Draft electrical schematics using ePLAN.• Produce bill of materials and assembly instructions.• Generate reports and wiring schedules.• Creation of software I/O schedules.• Create testing and commissioning documents.• Detail maintenance procedures and spares lists.• Produce and maintain standard operating procedures.• Populate product technical folder to ISO9001.• Manage a team of engineers, technicians, contractors.• Supervise and train machine panel builders. • Continuous support for existing product.• Electrical, pneumatic and electronic installation.• Mitsubishi and Yaskawa PLC programming.• BS EN 60204-1 testing / PAT testing.• Fault finding, testing, inspection, & commissioning. Show less

  • Engineering Manager

    Jan 2018 - Oct 2018

  • Project Manager

    Oct 2014 - Jan 2018

  • Senior Electrical Design Engineer

    Jan 2010 - Oct 2014
• 

  University of South Wales

  Oct 2018 - Apr 2020

  Programme Manager

  As Programme Manager, my role is to lead the Smart Energy Storage Solutions (SESS) academic team, in a £3.5m project funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). SESS is a collaborative research and development operation, within the world-class Centre for Automotive Power Systems Engineering at the University of South Wales. SESS is demand-led by companies, researching and piloting new innovative technologies, products and processes, specifically in electrical energy storage to aid the wider adoption of micro-generation and renewable energy sources as well as electric and hybrid-electric vehicles for land, sea or air transport.Responsibilities include the development and delivery of all collaborative R&D projects delivered by the SESS programme, undertaking both operational and project management functions. In addition to the line-management of the senior research and engineering teams and administrative staff working within this project, I perform the following:• Managing the day-to-day operation of the SESS programme.• Act as the principal point of contact for all active projects.• Undertake collaboration/liaison activities to develop new SESS projects.• Ensure the effective co-ordination of the SESS project delivery team of Senior Researchers, Engineers, and Administrative staff.• Review the programme’s objectives on an ongoing basis, by presenting progress reports at the Operational management meetings and to the Board.• Update progress reports / project plans of the individual SESS projects.• Ensure the research and engineering teams are sufficiently resourced to meet the SESS work plan.• Implement, manage and maintain an appropriate, structured development process.• Monitor the SESS programme’s overall progress against target indicators, taking action to deal with forecast difficulties or slippage against agreed plans.• Manage overall programme budgets and administrative resources in line with WEFO and University requirements. Show less

• 

  EPropelled

  Apr 2020 - Jan 2023

  Senior Engineering Manager

  ePropelled is a leading expert in magnetic engineering innovations that significantly improve electric motor and generator efficiency for propulsion systems, leveraging its broad technology patent portfolio to deliver propulsion systems for electric vehicles (EVs), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL).My role is to build and lead a team of NPI engineers to design and develop new and innovative products from cradle to grave in the EV sector, driving circa £1M projects as lead partner with Embed Limited and Tata Motors European Technical Centre (TMETC). As part of the senior management team, I manage a team of 12 technical staff and am responsible for both operational and project related activity at Cardiff.• APC grant bid writing (won the ARMD2020 grant).• Contributing to Market Requirement Documents.• Directing internal & external project stakeholders.• Charing business risk via SWOT sessions.• Creating Project Brief, plan and business case.• Creating schedules and chairing progress reviews.• Software and hardware reviews.• Test rig development – motors and controllers.• Exploitation activities – LCV2021 / LCV2022.• Preparing budgets and tracking project costings.• Building a strong team and maintaining morale. • Producing and maintaining risk register.• Implementing Arena (PLM system).• Releasing product to serial manufacture.• Managing engineers of all disciplines.• Staff appraisals and team updates.• Hybrid UAV technology development / Orbital.• Driving cultural change through process. Show less

• 

  GE Aerospace

  Jan 2023 - now

  Senior Systems Engineering Manager

  Development, validation and verification of complex Electrical Systems for large civil aircraft and regional business jets to FAA and EASA regulations.