Employee Q&As

Q&A: Margaret, Inspector & Auditor

1. How long have you worked in the industry?

Just over 22 years! I was working elsewhere in the Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) industry for five years before joining Chemigraphic, and have now been working here for over 17 years.

2. Why did you choose to work in this field and in the manufacturing sector in particular?

I have been working in final assembly for several years and therefore becoming an Inspector and Auditor was the next step in my career path. The role requires a high amount of experience as it involves managing one of the key quality checks carried out throughout the manufacturing process. Due to my long history in the field, I was offered the position which I gladly accepted.

3. What do you love about your job?

There are many things I like about working for Chemigraphic. My role as Inspector and Auditor allows me to work somewhat independently as I am able to manage my own workload and prioritise jobs that I really enjoy.

I also love working here as it has a wonderfully friendly environment, where everyone involved feels part of the same big project. It is important to me to enjoy where I work, which explains why I have been here for so long!

4. Describe a ‘typical’ day for you.

I inspect and audit Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs), checking the quality of assembly and ensuring that all the components are correctly placed. We check to see if there is any damage or polarity on the boards and their components. At Chemigraphic, the quality of our products is vital to our customers and therefore the business; we have several systems and control processes in place to check for product quality and to confirm they will be fit for purpose. Many of the products we manufacture are used in hazardous environments, or in defence or healthcare industries, and therefore their long-term reliability and functionality is critical.

5. What’s been your proudest achievement in your career so far?

One year ago, I became the team leader which was a great experience and allowed me to achieve an NVQ in team leadership.

6. What’s the biggest change or development you’ve seen since working in the industry?

A technological development that has improved efficiency is the move towards a paperless package, which allows us to look through the assembly instructions and specifications far quicker.

Q&A: Maggie Wen, Chinese Sourcing Manager

1. How long have you been working in this field

I have worked in the Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) sector for over ten years and joined Chemigraphic nine months ago when the Shenzhen sourcing office was opened.

2. What interested you about Chemigraphic?

The great draw for me is that Chemigraphic is such a success story within electronic manufacturing. It has grown from being a localised business to a large global player which means there are – and will be – many opportunities for growth and personal development which I want to be part of.

Sourcing plays an important role in supply chain management as it impacts output and profitability, and because I enjoy negotiating with our Chinese suppliers, I can get the best prices for our customers. Chemigraphic is forward thinking and encourages its staff to learn and develop.

3. What does a typical day look like for you?

My work varies greatly but the main focus is to expand our global supply chain. I meet suppliers and discuss our customers’ requirements and the challenges they face. I negotiate on price and lead times for components. I help Chemigraphic source globally by using our Chinese connections as an advantage to grow the business in the UK.

4. What are you proud of?

The relationships I’ve built for the business and for our customers. I have worked hard to help establish a successful and efficient network of Chinese suppliers who can deliver cost-efficient, quality solutions for our customers. What I do impacts on Chemigraphics success which makes me proud.

5. Are there any obstacles that you need to overcome?

The most common obstacle we and our customers face is the shrinking timescales involved in manufacturing electronic products. Supply chains are increasingly under pressure as companies want to get their products to market quicker, without compromising on quality. Our challenge is to source more parts at better prices which can be delivered in shorter time-frames.