A Day In The Life of a Troubleshooter
Rachel Wignall - C-TEC
C-Tec
When the things your company makes keep people safe it's crucial that they work properly... every time.
In my job as a manufacturing support technician I help to make sure they do. Basically I'm a troubleshooter. I sort out problems on the factory floor and liaise between our research and production people.
The research guys design a product, the shopfloor people make it, and we all work together to ensure that it does its job. Perfectly.
C-TEC makes electronic equipment from fire alarms to personal protection systems. They're often used for protect people who are vulnerable, perhaps through disability, or in potentially dangerous jobs like prison officers and security guards. Sadly in our increasingly violent society, even people such as doctors, nurses, teachers and cashiers can be in the firing line. We protect them, too. It keeps me very busy...
8.30 am. Check into our super new factory at Wigan. Work out priorities for the day ahead. We're launching four new product ranges including a very sophisticated fire alarm control panel. So we're up against very tight deadlines. It can be incredibly stressful, but hey! that just makes it more exciting!
9.00 am. Time for a team briefing. This is to work out priorities for testing the new products before they go into production.
10.00 am. Meet with production staff. How's progress on products on the shop floor? Discuss the new stuff, and what we'll need to test it fully. It's all vital work. People's lives might depend on these things working properly.
12.30 pm. Relax over lunch in the canteen. Good chance to catch up on what's happening in the factory. Feedback while we feed!
1.00 pm. Into the car to take a finished product to our new research facility about 20 miles away. On arrival, meet project engineer for detailed discussion on how the new equipment works, what standards it has to meet - and how to test all this.
2.30 pm. A couple of hours at the sharp end, but a very satisfying part of the day. Here I am in the laboratory testing new prototypes. Reflect that some of the electronic gizmos we all take for granted would have amazed even advanced researchers only a few years ago. Goodness knows what magic the industry will come up with next!
4.50 pm. Last job of the day - a spot of 5S. Never heard of it? You should. Basically it's about housekeeping. Untidy and cluttered work areas are not productive. Junk gets in everyone's way. Dirt compromises quality. A clean and tidy workplace makes people happier. Or as my gran would have said - don't put it down, put it away!
Rachael Wignall gained eight GCSEs including As in electronics and art, and worked in administration at Wigan Council before joining C-TEC as an apprentice. In 2006 she won The Manufacturing Institute's Young Manufacturer of the Year award. So besides her job she's been involved in the institute's mission to attract more young people - particularly girls - into modern industry.
