A Day in the Life of.......

The Production Manager

I get in around 6.30am although the factory may have already been opened up by the staff wishing to get on with a particular job. My first thoughts turn to making sure the basics are all in place, such as ensuring the toilets are working - after all if they broke down the place would grind to a halt!

My job is a combination of leadership and managing personalities, so I will go round the factory ensuring that everyone has what they need and logging any problems. The staff are well motivated at Cameron Balloons; we are a genuine team and have a family business feel. That said, there can be problems, particularly when we are under pressure to complete a balloon and get the order out. It is my job therefore to know the staff and their problems, acting as a supporter as well as a leader.

Being a Monday at 9am we have the once-a-week production meeting where section heads and about 25 % of the staff meet to review the status of projects, problem-solve and plan ahead. It is here that all the key decisions are made. This meeting is also open to anyone else in the factory who would like to raise an issue. Today the major issue was to do with taking on a new supplier, what we should expect from them and what information they needed.

While the balloon side occupies the majority of my day, I am also heavily involved in our production sideline of revolutionary medical products. On the production side we have had to brainstorm ways of making these medical instruments work, test the material and basically make the idea work. Today we are working on improving the 'Hyperslide System' which uses balloon fabric technology to move hospital patients literally by sliding them down the fabric.

I normally shut up the factory between 7 and 8pm but tonight we are working late to get a balloon completed and I must inspect it before leaving. It will be a late finish but the team are all in good spirits and the end is in sight.

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