Martin Smith CV
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Change Management Practitioner
Phone:
07858 310 544
Email:
Addresses:
2 Craignair Park, Annan, Dumfriesshire. DG12 6ND
Date of Birth:
July29th, 1971
Martin Smith CV
Welcome to my CV
With seventeen years as an Operations Manager and nine years as Managing Director of an industry leading manufacturing company, I possess significant experience in all business functions and have supplemented my capability with a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, in addition to a number of change management related qualifications.
In examining this CV and hovering over the different icons and areas of study, you will discover a detailed breakdown of what I have achieved; my positional responsibilities; my professional advancement and the range of benefits I can offer your organisation.
In addition, you can download a pdf version of this site, by clicking on the following icon
I hope you find the information and media contained useful; enlightening and of sufficient interest to speak to me further.
Kindest regards
Say Hello to Martin
Personal Statement
Career Timeline
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Experience
Present
Prospective Candidate
Self Improvement
As part of my efforts to establish a new career and to use my time constructively, I have expanded my knowledge and understanding by acquiring a number of high level qualifications, including a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.
2012-2021
DFS CASKETS LTD
Managing Director
As Managing Director, I was responsible for the leadership and direction of the company. After purchasing the company in 2012, I continued to innovate production; optimise our product range and position the company for ongoing growth and success.
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1995-2012
DFS CASKETS LTD
Operations Manager
As Operations Manager, I was tasked with modernising production, at the same time as fulfilling daily productive requirements and ensuring On Time In Full customer deliveries. Within four years, I had led the company to industry quality leaderships.
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Qualifications
Strengths
In addition to the experience and qualifications highlighted above, I believe I am particularly strong in the following areas:
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Achievements and Events
Background: Precision Engineers in Wood
“I spent twenty eight years within the multi-billion-pound UK Funeral Industry, effectively competing against industry giants such as Co-op Funeralcare plc and Dignity plc.
The Funeral Industry is an extremely competitive environment, with many companies struggling to differentiate themselves, due to the general unfamiliarity of consumers regarding products and services.
During the last three decades, the industry has polarised as a number of large groups have entered the market, purchasing smaller funeral directors in an attempt to maximise their market share and competitive position.
This change, with the accompanying concentration of purchasing power, has forced a number of smaller manufacturers out of business and the percentage of non-aligned customers available to companies such as DFS CASKETS, has fallen from 85% of the total market, to less than 40% today.
To compete and grow in such an industry, requires a total dedication to continuous improvement and products of the highest quality; whilst being creative and open minded, to accelerate market disruption and innovation.
We didn't see ourselves as coffin manufacturers. We saw ourselves as precision engineers in wood and it was the adoption of these principles and mindset, which facilitated our achievements.”
2021 Best UK-Wide Manufacturer Award
Throughout the pandemic, DFS CASKETS not only maintained its' position of quality leadership, but the company was also recognised as providing the shortest lead times; the largest product range; and the highest levels of customer service during the unprecedented and onerous conditions.
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We were extremely proud, when the effort and personal sacrifice of team members was acknowledged and we were named Best UK-Wide Manufacturer 2021.
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2020-2021 0% infections as an Essential business
One of my proudest achievements, was keeping my employees safe during covid, with 0% incidence recorded among staff from March 2020, until I sold the company in June 2021. This despite the company operating continuously, six days a week, as an Essential Business.
I protected my team through a policy of pro-active prevention: providing PPE and sanitation facilities not only to employees, but to their entire families as well; in addition to the adoption of comprehensive safety procedures and on going education.
2020 Manufacturer of the Year Award
In 2020, we were named as Manufacturer of the Year, in the Scottish Enterprise SME Awards, for the second year running.
2020 ACQ5 Global Gamechangers Award
We received international acclaim in 2020, in acknowledgement of our endevour, to elevate manufacturing standards within the UK Funeral Industry.
With large variations in product quality evident throughout the trade, it was my aim to introduce a nationally recognised standard, through which all manufacturers could be compared. Although cautiously welcomed by industry rivals, the impact of this initiative was curtailed with the outbreak of Covid.
Please click on the image and navigate to page 76 to read the article.
2019 Best Manufacturer Award
We were the first recipient of this award, in recognition of our: continuing quality leadership; our outstanding reputation and our market innovative, as seen in the launch of Family Assistant and our massively successful cardboard range of products.
2019 Cardboard Range
With a growing trend towards eco-funerals, I identified an opportunity to introduce a whole new range to our customer offering: cardboard products.
Although we could not compete with the economies of established manufacturers, our geographic position gave us a considerable advantage in terms of delivery costs and I was able to design and introduce a higher quality item, at a lower price compared to all available alternatives.
The introduction was a resounding success and within 12 months we dominated the market within Scotland and Northern England.
Time lapse video of final prototype being manufactured
2014 Family Assistant Launched
Demonstration video of Family Assistant software
DFS CASKETS has a huge product range and this makes printed literature both impractical and expensive. Advancements in technology, however, facilitated a solution and in 2014 we launched Family Assistant design software.
The application was an industry World 1st and enabled users to quickly and comprehensively customise their image, using multiple options.
Regularly improved and updated, version 4.1.1 had the capability of generating over 2 billion possible image combinations.
1999 Quality Leadership achieved
When you're smaller than industry rivals, without economies or market power, you have to be better, to survive and grow.
By analysing and optimising our processes; by investing in and exploiting the capabilities of new technology; and by looking outside the box and actively searching for innovation, I led the company to quality leadership within four year of appointment.
This position was universally recognised, after we introduced unique product packaging, which expanded the shelf life of finished goods from a few weeks to several years, regardless of quality of storage.
How we differentiated ourselves from competitive rivals
Hobbies and Interests
