Blair McTavish
Auckland
Summary
As of current I am the Processing manager for the Cultured Foods plant within the Takaanini site at Fonterra brands NZ Ltd. This is multi fasciate role as sees me having responsibility over the processing areas of a very complex and fast moving plant. In this role i have been lucky enough to be the lead to stand up a new fruit processing plant and coach, guide and develop a new team all from the ground up.
My biggest achievement to date and most humbling, is receiving the highest manager recommendation numbers from my team in two recent surveys.
I also believe i am a encouraging manager and analytical problem-solver with talents for team building, leading and motivating, as well as excellent customer relations aptitude and relationship-building skills. Proficient in using independent decision-making skills and sound judgment to positively impact company success. Dedicated to applying training, monitoring and morale-building abilities to enhance employee engagement and boost performance.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Process manager – Technical (Secondment)
Cultured Foods, FBNZ Takanini
07.2021 - 07.2022
- Building on people leadership skills and growing technical abilities and knowledge of keeping a cultured food plant running and making improvements.
- Streamlined process workflows by identifying inefficiencies and implementing targeted improvements.
- Reduced production costs through the optimization of resources and the elimination of waste.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to identify areas of improvement, leading to increased efficiency across departments.
Shift manager Form/Fill & Seal
Cultured Foods, FBNZ Takanini
06.2020 - 07.2021
- Leading a team in filling and packing operations, improving engagement and achieving production targets.
- Improved overall team performance by effectively delegating tasks and providing clear instructions.
- Achieved consistent customer satisfaction by addressing concerns promptly and professionally.
- Managed employee schedules to ensure adequate coverage during peak hours, resulting in a smoother workflow.
- Promoted a positive work environment through open communication and constructive feedback.
- Trained new employees on company policies, procedures, and job responsibilities, ensuring seamless integration into the team.
Process manager Form/Fill & Seal (Secondment)
Cultured Foods, FBNZ Takanini
02.2019 - 06.2020
- Managing production cell, ensuring quality and safety standards, and leading operator capability builds.
- Enhanced operational performance by conducting regular audits and making necessary adjustments to processes.
- Increased overall productivity by providing training and support for team members in best practices and techniques.
- Ensured compliance with industry standards by establishing guidelines, monitoring progress, and addressing deviations promptly.
Process Technologist Form/Fill & Seal
Cultured Foods, FBNZ Takanini
04.2016 - 02.2019
- Problem-solving on the production line, collaborating with stakeholders, and improving equipment capability.
- Enhanced product quality with rigorous testing and monitoring of process parameters.
- Assisted in new product development, conducting pilot scale trials and analyzing results for scalability.
- Trained new employees on process equipment operation, safety protocols, and quality control measures.
- Optimized material usage by conducting regular waste audits and adjusting process parameters accordingly.
Deployment Specialist (IWS)
Tip Top Fonterra Brands
12.2015 - 04.2016
- Implementing Integrated Work System (IWS) and building capability within line structure teams.
- Streamlined deployment processes by identifying inefficiencies and implementing effective solutions.
- Reduced downtime during deployments through careful planning and communication with stakeholders.
- Enhanced system stability by conducting thorough testing and validation before deployment.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams for seamless integration of new applications into existing infrastructure.
- Developed comprehensive documentation to support end-users during the transition to new systems or software updates.
- Facilitated training sessions to ensure users were proficient in utilizing deployed technologies, increasing overall productivity.
- Managed project timelines and resources effectively, consistently delivering deployments on schedule and within budget constraints.
Process Lead (Later changed to Technologist) Storks, Beverages, Fonterra
Fonterra
05.2015 - 12.2015
- Leading the implementation of a new system, coaching teams, and ensuring targets were met.
- Streamlined processes by identifying inefficiencies and implementing improvements for increased productivity.
- Reduced waste in production by closely monitoring operations and making necessary adjustments.
- Implemented new process technology, improving overall efficiency and reducing costs.
Team Leader, Beverages, Fonterra
Fonterra
11.2014 - 05.2015
- Managing a team of filler operators and processing operators, ensuring smooth operations and quality checks.
- Developed team members'' skills through targeted coaching sessions, resulting in improved individual performance.
- Streamlined workflows for increased efficiency, reducing turnaround times for critical tasks.
- Managed conflict resolution among team members, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment.
- Established clear communication channels that ensured the timely exchange of information between team members and stakeholders.
Education
Manurewa High School
01.2005
Skills
- Process Mapping
- Project Requirements
- Operational Excellence
- Quality Service
- Report Generation
- Lean Manufacturing
- Problem Solving
- Decision Making
- Adaptability
- Emotional Intelligence
- Conflict Resolution
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Team Building
- Continuous Improvement
- Root Cause Analysis
- Performance Metrics
- Project Management
- Staff Management
- Employee Development
- Process Improvement
- Needs Assessment
- Goal Setting
- Hiring and Training
- Onboarding and Orientation
- Documentation and Reporting
- Training and Development
- Professional and Courteous
- MS Office
- Preventive Maintenance
Mobile Personal
(021) 268 1389
Mobile Work
(027) 809 6927
Email Personal
thirteen_ltd@hotmail.co.nz
References
- Steve James, IWS Specialist, Fonterra Brands, Auckland, 027 809 6252, steve.james@fonterra.com
- Jason Millett, Process Technologist Prefrom, Fonterra Brans, Auckland, 021 0232 4115, Jason.Millett@fonterra.com
- Lewis Hori, Senior Process Manager, Fonterra Brands, Auckland, 021 204 8834, Lewis.Hori@fonterra.com
- Mouna Neyogi, IWS/Transformation lead, Fonterra Brands, Auckland, 027 527 5845, Mouna.Neyogi@fonterra.com
Hobbies and Interests
Currently have a young family who keep me very busy with very active children are nearly always on the go and ready to take on new things.
I have a real passion for anything with an engine and sink far too much time and money into my own current projects of building racecars.
I find I am a very technical minded person who likes to problem solve and root cause almost every problem and find out how things work and how I can make things better.
My father a former race engineer who worked for McLaren has played a huge part in building my technical mind and responsibly for getting me in to the “hobby” of cars.
Timeline
Process manager – Technical (Secondment)
Cultured Foods, FBNZ Takanini
07.2021 - 07.2022
Shift manager Form/Fill & Seal
Cultured Foods, FBNZ Takanini
06.2020 - 07.2021
Process manager Form/Fill & Seal (Secondment)
Cultured Foods, FBNZ Takanini
02.2019 - 06.2020
Process Technologist Form/Fill & Seal
Cultured Foods, FBNZ Takanini
04.2016 - 02.2019
Deployment Specialist (IWS)
Tip Top Fonterra Brands
12.2015 - 04.2016
Process Lead (Later changed to Technologist) Storks, Beverages, Fonterra
Fonterra
05.2015 - 12.2015
Team Leader, Beverages, Fonterra
Fonterra
11.2014 - 05.2015
Manurewa High School
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