Katie Malone: Procter & Gamble graduate

JOB Technology engineer
EMPLOYER Procter & Gamble
QUALIFICATIONS MEng chemical engineering, University of Strathclyde (2008)

I decided to work in fast moving consumer goods as I wanted a role in a hands-on environment producing a tangible product. I did two internships while at university: I spent a summer with a consumer products company, and a semester of my final year with my current employer. I completed a project to reduce the time it took to change a production line from producing one product to another by 50 per cent and wrote my thesis on this. At the end of the project I presented my results, had an interview and was offered a job.

Production line efficiency

I help ensure we get the most out of our production line, for example reducing the unit cost of producing a product, increasing the rate at which it is manufactured or making sure we can produce a new product. The work breaks down into project management (heading up planned products), continual improvement (providing support when a production line team needs it) and new product launches. I’ve had extensive project management and technical training and particularly enjoyed using our hands-on training centre, which contains complete replicas of the production floor machinery.

Regular tasks include reviewing designs with vendors and operators; creating and updating schedules and action plans; attending daily update meetings for production lines that I help support; and preparing costings for upgrades. This involves defining what is needed, discussing costs and requirements with vendors, producing estimates and presenting these to the plant manager to demonstrate the benefits. On average I work ten hours a day and can organise my own time, for instance leaving early on Fridays to travel home to Glasgow.

Team trip to France

I work closely with vendors and with colleagues whom changes will affect, particularly the operations team. Good communication and teamwork skills are essential: operators are very familiar with their equipment and can be nervous about change, so I need to make sure that they feel comfortable. I recently arranged for a team of ten operators to spend a week in France with a vendor from whom we were purchasing new machinery, using the equipment and getting used to it. When we installed it at our own site, the team had the background knowledge needed to solve problems and make adjustments.

Home and away

I spend about 20 per cent of my time in my office and 80 per cent on the production floor or with vendors. The constant interaction with other people is my favourite aspect of the job, though the flipside is that I can’t hide behind my desk if I’m feeling tired! I visit vendors about once a month, which involves a trip to mainland Europe lasting from one night to a week. Most of my contacts speak English but not everyone; my French is improving, though I sometimes use a translator. If I’m away for several days there’s usually the chance for some sightseeing in the evening.