After a fantastic 23 years of service, Bob Davies our Production Director is taking his well-deserved retirement.
We catch up with Bob to find out his best memories and how Applied Measurements has changed during his time with us.
We hope you will join us in celebrating his unending support and loyalty to Applied Measurements and wish him the very best of luck in his retirement.
What’s your earliest memory of Applied Measurements?
My original interview with Peter Lewis when AML was based at Vulcan House,… 5 years before I actually joined in March 2000. The 68-mile journey each way to work persuaded me to stay where I was….for the time being.
What has been your most memorable or enjoyable moment at Applied Measurements?
It has got to be my 1st week at AML and working for an excellent boss who appreciated hard work, dedication and made the job fun….I hadn’t had that for a long time. I also got paid on time and was actually awarded a bonus that allowed me to take my young family on a 2-week holiday to Menorca.
How has Applied Measurements changed over the last 23 years?
The company has changed massively from back then when there were only 4 of us, with all the product knowledge, parts and processes held in Peter’s and my head to where we are now with comprehensive Bills of Materials and works orders to SOP’s and a vast array of data analyzing calibration templates, digitization and automation but the strive for product perfection is still there.
Who has been the biggest influence in your life?
It has got to be Peter Lewis, he gave me the production manager’s job 23 years ago,………he also gave me the opportunity to become a director and part owner of this company which leads me to where I am today.
Controversial……who have you most enjoyed working with?
I would probably say Richard Parry. When Richard first joined AML he was my Production Manager and I worked closely with him for 5 years, he was an absolute pleasure to work with,……..Richard was one of the good guys. For the last few years, I have enjoyed working with Lee our Production Planner, he is very good at his job and again is a pleasure to work with.
Describe yourself in 5 words.
Conscientious, amiable, perfectionist, loyal, lucky.
If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
It would have to be a Tiger,….gracious, proud, respected and could bite your head clean off your shoulders!
What made you want to be an engineer?
That would be my Dad, he was a tool maker by trade and I wanted to be like him…..work with my hands to make things, fix things and strive for that sense of achievement.
If you hadn’t become an engineer, what would you have done instead?
I really wanted to be a car mechanic; I had a job lined up for when I left school to start an apprenticeship with an engineering firm that specialised in automatic gear boxes but after a long chat with my Dad, he persuaded me to go into electronic engineering, he said it was the future. I applied for an apprenticeship with Marconi Electronics (along with 60 other hopefuls) and I was one of four chosen…..I guess it was meant to be.
What advice would you give to anyone considering this career?
Listen to your peers and absorb as much technical knowledge as possible, if you are not sure about something then ask for it to be clarified……..if you don’t grasp the basics you will never fully understand and appreciate the end result.
What are you most looking forward to in your retirement?
Unwinding and living life at a slower pace, spending more time with my family, especially my grandson Dexter. Being able to do what we want, when we want and not be limited to 4 weeks annual leave!
