Logging On with…Simon Griffiths
Next in our Logging On With series…we meet Simon Griffiths, chief executive, Manufacturing Advisory Service – West Midlands
Organisation: Manufacturing Advisory Service – West Midlands
Employees: 40
Job title: Chief Executive
Career highlights:
I started work at Land Rover with a Mechanical Engineering Degree from Bath University, working in the Engineering function before progressing through to Principal Engineer Trim and Hardware.
I then moved off into the big wide world of Manufacturing as Engineering Director at IHW Engineering, where we set-up a joint venture with seat manufacturer Johnson Controls to create a greenfield manufacturing facility from scratch.
From there, I went to GKN AutoStructures at Telford as Engineering Director, then as Programme Director I set up another joint venture company between GKN and Dana to manufacture chassis frames for Land Rover Discovery/Range-Rover Sport.
After working my way up to General Manager, I moved to a global engineering role at GKN Wheels and this was followed by my final position in the car industry as Global Technical Director at GKN Off High-way based in Redditch.
I moved to the Manufacturing Advisory Service-West Midlands in July 2009 as Chief Executive.
Who has had the biggest influence on your career to date?
That’s a tough call, as there have been many individuals who have influenced various parts of my career. Bill Morris, Engineering Director at Land Rover, was excellent at encouraging young engineers to develop their capabilities, but then GKN Off Highway’s Martyn Vaughan has a marvellous ability to bring out the best in people and encourage them to push that little bit harder.
What are your key responsibilities?
The majority of my current role is outward facing, meeting key stakeholders whether they be clients, customers, suppliers or partners to ensure that the organisation is heading in the right direction.
I am extremely fortunate to have a strong and experienced team working for me at MAS-WM. They are all passionate about manufacturing and how we can support industry in the region.
As a result, I can be confident that they are all pushing in the right direction, which leaves me in a position to be able to engage with external organisations to make sure our business strategy is going to have the most impact on West Midlands manufacturing.
What do you enjoy most and least about your role?
Most enjoyable is dealing with manufacturers both large and small and seeing how our specialist assistance can make such a massive difference.
We have some truly world class businesses in the region and it has been a pleasure meeting great characters and innovative companies around the West Midlands.
The least enjoyable? Easy, the paperwork !
As a business leader, what’s the key to managing people?
Communication is key, particularly in times of change, but so is setting targets and monitoring them at a sufficiently high level to ensure the business is going in the right direction without micro-managing the detail.
As always, finding the right levers to motivate an individual is critical and you have to make sure you choose the right methods for the right person.
What would make the West Midlands an even better place to live and work?
Naturally, I would have to say a thriving manufacturing community. SME manufacturers in the region seem to have two common needs – volume and finance.
Sales have dropped by as much as 60% (although these levels now seem to be picking up) and many small organisations are finding it incredibly difficult to find finance for their businesses. If we could solve these two problems we would be in a much happier and profitable position.
How has technology changed your life in the last five years?
I think the most fundamental change has been the proliferation of the mobile phone, Blackberry and the internet.
I received the request for this interview by email, on my phone at 17.00 on a Sunday evening and am now writing the response at home in my study whilst connected to the servers at work. Technology has meant a need to be immediately available 24/7.
Information technology has demanded and facilitated immediacy – no longer can you return home at night or for the weekend and expect to remain undisturbed.
How has it changed/impacted on your business in the same period?
Mobile communications and GPS have made communications with our field-based Advisers that much easier. We can contact them whilst away from the office, remotely check their diaries and set appointments, and GPS enabled Sat Nav systems have made it incredibly easy to find new clients in remote locations. Overall it has allowed us to be much faster to react to support requests.
If you weren’t doing what you’re doing now, what alternative career would you chose and why?
If money was no object, I’d probably set up a bespoke wooden furniture business – creating beautiful unique products in wood is incredibly satisfying.
Which sectors do you think will thrive/ struggle in the coming years?
To survive businesses are going to need exciting new products and processes – they will need to innovate to survive.
Companies which continue to do the same thing year-on-year should expect to struggle in this globally competitive economy.
In terms of sectors – anything to do with the Low Carbon economy is likely to outperform the others. As a result MAS-WM is focussing its support on helping businesses to successfully commercialise new products and is prioritising new emerging sectors with its Advanced Manufacturing and Low Carbon programmes.
What do you feel are the key skills/qualities needed to run a successful business in the 21st Century?
I have the pleasure of meeting a wide range of business leaders in this region and irrespective of the sector or products they manufacture, the successful companies have one common feature – strong, dynamic and energetic management with a clear vision of their business and how it will develop.
Which public figure do you admire most and why?
Lord Digby Jones, who I met recently. A really motivational speaker and so enthusiastic about manufacturing in the West Midlands, that you can’t help but be optimistic about the future of business in our region.
In five words, describe your character:
Energetic, focussed, hardworking, competitive, inclusive.
Which actor would you chose to play you in a film?
It would have to be Michael Caine in the “The Italian Job” (the original, and the only proper one!). A great story of how we can outwit overseas competitors by pulling together as a team and using some great British products (the original Minis). He also had his fair share of one-liners as well…
Where’s your favourite holiday destination and why?
Skiing with the family – anywhere as long as the snow is good and the skies clear. It’s the one holiday we all enjoy together, getting some fresh air and exercise.
See other profiles in our ‘Logging on with…’ series
