Ian Edwards is a passionate quality manager committed to creating and maintaining the highest quality and standards for every organisation that he serves, who delivers cost savings, greater efficiency, stronger profits and enhanced reputations for his clients.

 

His accessible manner, combined with more than 20 years’ experience in quality standards, enables him to guide businesses of all sizes and in diverse sectors comfortably through the quality management process. His attention to detail, keen analytical skills and scientific background have enabled him to improve processes, product design and margins, helps clients maintain existing and win new contracts.

Quality Experience

Ian has been successfully implementing quality standards since 1992, when he helped Duracell achieve ISO 9001 accreditation by developing the procedures and writing the technical documentation for the company’s UK analytical chemistry and electron microscope laboratory and much of its main chemistry laboratory in Belgium.

 

At Arista Laboratories, he managed to retain accreditation after the previous quality manager left just two weeks before renewal. The following year he managed to increase the scope of the company’s accreditation by 50%.

 

Since 2008, Ian has helped companies from sectors as diverse as cleaning and pharmaceuticals achieve accreditation first time through Havard Quality Solutions. He is currently delivering ongoing quality standard training and support to laboratories across Lebanon as part of an EU-funded programme. His success has led to him being appointed to advise the new Lebanese national standards body to help them develop their standards and kite-mark schemes.

Continually Improving

Ian continually seeks to refine procedures and processes to improve performance and margins.

While at Duracell, his chemical analysis of competitor products revealed that an accidental process within the batteries enhanced performance: Duracell adapted the process to improve its own batteries.

 

At International Speciality Products, Ian’s examination of processes and products saved the company more than $1million per annum. By retesting, re-grading and reworking expired materials, he reduced the deficit on unsold products by 14%. Running the complaints team, he became concerned that a particular solvent was regularly being returned as faulty: his investigations revealed that the client was mixing it with an incompatible product. Ian introduced a new procedure for signing off the product, saving £20,000 per annum.

 

At Arista Laboratories, his introduction of automated data entry reduced errors and boosted throughput by 50% per day, increasing revenue by around 40%. He reduced costs in another trial by £10,000 by analysing the process and eliminating unnecessary duplication.

Essential Qualities

With experience at all levels – from starting as a newly graduated lab technician to advising national standards bodies – Ian is able to communicate effectively with all levels of personnel, from technician through to MD, and everything in between! An intrinsic part of Ian’s communication skills is his ability to listen and understand, enabling him to comprehend his client’s specific needs and tailor a solution that matches their exact requirements. These two attributes are key to his success in building long-term relationships with clients to deliver consistently reliable quality and standards.

 

But behind Ian’s warm, approachable exterior is a forensic eye for detail and meticulous analytical skills. That’s what led to him solving the mystery of the pins. A leading high-street chain had received several complaints from customers who had found pins and needles in their celebration cakes. The company was about to cancel its contract with the bakery that supplied the cakes, when Ian’s forensic analysis proved beyond doubt that the pins had not been baked into the product. The contract was renewed – and the culprit was found to be a disgruntled employee at the distribution plant.

Call lan on +44 (0) 7852 924237 to discuss how his expertise can help your company.