Manufacturing & Supply Chain - Interim Management

The longest established mainstream Interim Management provider in the UK.

Our Mission is to provide outstanding flexible Interim Management resources to all our clients.

During times of change and transition successful companies maintain a flexible approach to business and to resourcing skills shortages. Interim Managers play a key role and bring expertise in:

• Lean manufacturing implementation
  
• Sourcing from low cost countries
• Turnaround management
• Business development in new markets
• Provision of robust cost effective solutions
  
  

The Perfect Fit

Russam GMS is not a CV supermarket, we are a bespoke business service that:

• Has a database of over 1500 manufacturing and supply chain professionals/Interim Managers
  
• Works with the latest technology to deliver candidates who fully meet your requirements in just 5 working days
  
• Is a founder member of the Interim Management Association and is accredited to ISO 9001 and IIP
  
• Has a track record of delivering value that exceeds client expectations
  

When GKN decided to downsize one of its UK manufacturing operations owing to the transfer of some product lines to China, there was an immediate need for an HR Director with strong experience in the heavily unionised engineering sector. The task was to reduce from 600 to 300 employees in a way that was wholly compliant with current employment legislation and in full consultation with the unions and the workforce. It was crucial that the project would be carried out in a professional manner that minimised the impact on the morale of remaining staff. It was also important to ensure that those who were affected were treated fairly and in a way that gave them the best opportunities for alternative employment. Russam GMS, a leading Interim provider for the manufacturing sector supplied the services of Geoff North.

Steve Spencer, Director – Group Organisational Capability at GKN commented “Geoff was the right man for the job. He had precisely the mix of experience, negotiating expertise and communication skills that we needed, and Russam GMS was able to supply his services in a matter of days. He fitted in well from day one and the Plant Manager was able to delegate all the people management issues to him with confidence. This ability to take charge and get on with the job enabled us to maintain good customer service through the transition period when supply switched from the UK to China. Geoff completed the exercise to our full satisfaction”.

Interim Management Solves Supply Chain Challenges for WF Howes

WF Howes is a leading UK supplier of Large Print Books and audio books to libraries. To improve the effectiveness of its service it introduced SAP Business One. However, the MRP element of the system was not being used resulting in little or no stock control both on raw materials and finished goods and many stock shortages. Additionally, the Production department was not aware of order priorities so there was a mismatch between customer requirements and goods available for despatch.

Urgent action was needed, so Managing Director Shaun Sibley contacted Russam GMS to quickly find an MRP professional with SAP Business One expertise.

Within a matter of days Interim Manager Ken Alderson was in place and hitting the ground running. He immediately mapped all the systems and reviewed and improved the process maps, and he used the MRP system to support these optimised business processes. As a consequence, all Christmas orders were completed on time with no outsourcing (which had been a common practice in the past).

A new structure was put in place giving the supply chain manager operational control and new inventory levels were established to ensure the achievement of excellent customer service. A successor was employed to ensure the sustainability of the improvements.

Managing Director, Shaun Sibley commented, "This was a key project for us as we were operationally inefficient yet had a very capable MIS system. Ken established an excellent rapport with the staff as a first milestone, thus breaking the barriers for knowledge transfer and change in process. He then repaired our existing processes to ensure effective MRP utilisation. Throughout his assignment, he passed on knowledge and expertise to all around him, which is the icing on the cake when employing Interim Managers. We are now doing what we set out to do, cost effectively. "

John Wilson, Key Account Director of Russam GMS added, "This is a classic example of how the immediacy and flexibility of interim management can bring real, tangible benefits to a manufacturing business in a competitive market."

Immunodiagnostic Systems Holdings PLC (IDS) is a rapidly growing company specialising in the developing, manufacturing and marketing of specialist diagnostic testing kits for the clinical and research markets. It focuses on immunoassays used in bone disease and growth, including Vitamin D its most important product. Listed on the London AIM stock exchange in 2004, IDS has grown from turnover of £ 6.7 million to over £50 million in the last 4 years. It employs 300 staff at 3 manufacturing locations and direct sales operations in United Kingdom, France, Nordic Region, Germany and the United States. In 2009 it launched its automated testing system, the IDS-iSYS, which will drive the future growth of the company.

But don't just take our word for it....

John Anderson
Chief Executive of Kesslers International commented:

‘This is the first time that we have used the services of an interim manager, which I have to say has been a great success. If the need arises in the future we will call on Russam GMS to supply once again.’

Caroline Gumble
HR Director of Textron had this to say:

‘Can I once again commend you for an excellent service. We have been delighted with both Interim Managers and you are our preferred supplier of choice for the foreseeable future.’

Talk to us... there is never a wrong time for the right candidate

Russsam GMS has been pioneering Interim Management for the past 30 years.
We employ experienced Principals with successful track records as approved suppliers to blue chip companies and organisations. We are founding members of the Interim Management Association.