Introducing Engineering Project Manager Cillian Doyle

In another installment of our series introducing the Industrial Packaging team, we caught up with Engineering Project Manager Cillian Doyle. Read on to learn about what it takes to ensure the highest quality packaging for our valued clients.

What does an engineering project manager do?

Can you walk us through what you do as an Engineering Project Manager? What does a day in your role usually look like? 

I have a set routine in the morning of carrying out engineering checks on our automation lines. I do this to get my head set for the rest of the day and to ensure there are no issues that may affect production for the remainder of the day. Once the checks are done my day can vary a lot depending on the major ongoing projects. I try to get a lot of my CAD work done in the early part of the day to allow time for design revisions, testing and prototyping in the afternoon.  

 

What’s one of the most exciting projects you’ve worked on, and why was it important for the company? 

One of the most exciting projects I have worked on was the robot welding automation. This was the first robot project implemented in the plant and my first robotics project as a lead engineer. 

While robot welding is not a new concept, we had a very unique process which meant the consistency in the presentation of components to the robot cell was critical. We managed to overcome these issues through the design process and completed the transition from manual welding to fully automated welding during a 2-week shutdown. 

 

What is communication flow?

How do you keep the communication flowing between your team and other departments like production and quality control? 

Communication for the engineering and maintenance team is key in staying on top of current projects and for the development of new ones. As part of my morning check I engage with the line managers on any maintenance or quality issues from the previous day. I also chair weekly toolbox talks with our production teams to pass information on current projects and to receive feedback on existing equipment.  

As part of our new project scoping, we engage heavily with production staff to ensure we can deliver exactly what they need as an engineering solution. A clear and concise deliverable can take weeks off a project! 

 

What do you think are the must-have skills for someone in your role? 

Some of the skills I rely on the most are organisational skills and problem solving. These are both key skills for anyone in the engineering or project management areas.  

The problem solving is used throughout the project, but especially at the start and end of the project when generating ideas or solving unseen issues with new solutions. The organisational skills are key to ensuring projects are delivered on time and all components arrive when they are needed. 

How to get into project management

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone who wants to get into project management in manufacturing? 

As a project engineer, the advice I would give to someone looking to start off in this line of work is to approach it with an open mind. You need to know what you’ve learned in the classroom, but the knowledge you will gain from experienced coworkers is even more significant. If you can add the experience of operators, electricians, fitters, mangers etc. to your engineering skills it will stand to you with every project you approach and can help you to bring other disciplines along a project with you. 

Photo credit to Scenicview Gallery

How do you like to spend your free time? 

When family life allows, I enjoy spending my free time competing in Motorcycle Trials. Trials is one of the least known and cheapest forms of motorsport you can do. The objective is to ride a motorbike over rocks and through rivers without putting your foot down or falling off. I have been competing since I was 10 and have represented Ireland at international level as part of the Irish team. I compete most weekends in Ireland over the winter season and travel to the UK when I can for some of the bigger events such as the Scottish Six Days Trial in May, the Reeth Three Day in July and the Scott Trial in October. 

 

If you’re in the market for top of the line industrial packaging then it’s time to shift gears and get in the fast lane. The road to success begins here.

 

Share this article