Consultant Profiles

Gideon Hillman - FCILT MIBC - Managing Director - Materials Handling & Logistics
Sue Hillman - MCIPD AIBC - Director - Project Administration & Accounts
Ian Kendell - MSc. MILT - Project Management & Lean Supply Chain Development
Phillip Beckham - MILT - Warehouse Management & Inventory Optimisation
Christophe Evo - MSc - International Freight & Multi- Temperature Distribution
Chris Braganca - BSc MBA CEng MIEE - Lean Supply Chain & Process Automation
Keith Fuell – Logistics & Warehouse Management System Development
Richie Keen - Transit Packaging & Reverse Logistics - Retail Sector

Gideon Hillman FCILT MIBC - has over 17 years European Supply Chain, Logistics and Materials Handling industry experience, having been employed at a Senior Management Level throughout Europe with both manufacturers and Global 3rd Party Logistics Providers for over 12 years, prior to establishing Gideon Hillman Consulting in 2004.

Gideon is an experienced and accomplished Materials Handling and Logistics Consultant with expertise gained from many years operational and commercial experience. He is a Member of The Institute of Business Consulting, (a division of The Chartered Management Institute), and a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Logistics and Transport.

His experience and skills include:

• Contract Management, Project Management, Commercial and Business Development, and Solution Implementation at Senior Management Level throughout Europe within the Materials Handling, Warehousing, Specialist Supply Chain Services and Logistics & Distribution Industry, specifically in the Automotive, Food Processing, Grocery and Non-Grocery Retail, General Industrial, Home Delivery Networks, Utilities Services and Manufacturing sectors.
• Management of multi-discipline project teams on Materials Handling and logistics / supply chain tenders and strategic implementation projects across Europe.
• The proven ability to recognise, develop, implement and maintain strategic commercial opportunities and supply chain efficiencies for clients in all sectors.
• Process design and Implementation of Warehouse, Materials Handling, Transport and Production, logistics solutions to suit customer supply chain needs throughout Europe.
• Cause and affect analysis of the integration of the proposed process into new or existing logistics and manufacturing operations.
• Development and Implementation of RFID & barcode enabled, Internet based Asset Management Systems for product tracking, container/pallet pooling and management within the supply chain.
• Design and installation of warehousing and manufacturing facilities, and firsthand experience of installing and running an automated food hygiene plastics packaging manufacturing facility for high volume cost competitive product.
• As well as presenting to, and working with, Industry specific forums such as BARD / BPI in the music retail industry, the IISRP in the Global Automotive Tyre Industry and the Odette Group for Automotive Materials Handling, he was a Keynote speaker on "Asset Management in the Supply Chain", at the 1998 IFPWA Global conference and has worked closely with the IARC (International Automotive Research Centre) on RFID implementation for Automotive Stillage Tracking. He has also been a speaker on Asset Management in the Humanitarian Aid Supply Chain, at the Aid & Trade Humanitarian Relief Conference in Geneva.
• Gideon is frequently asked to write articles and provide editorial comment for many trade publications as well having been asked to write and provide comment for Logistics features in The Times and the Daily Telegraph newspapers.

Sue Hillman MCIPD AIBC - prior to joining Gideon Hillman Consulting in 2005, had spent 9 years in Senior HR roles (both permanent and contract). She is MCIPD qualified with Chartered status and an accomplished HR generalist with experience in a range of HR activities including Employee Relations, Pay and Reward, Performance Management, Advising on Employment Law matters, Training and Development and specialist project work.

Her Career & Experience includes:

• 6 years with Lloyds TSB Insurance as a Senior Personnel officer for the “Insure Direct” call centre. This included HR Generalist work as well as high volume Recruitment and Selection for sales and customer service staff (incorporating design and management of assessment centres). She also managed recruitment advertising campaigns and liaison with external agencies as well training staff in Sales Techniques, Product Knowledge and Customer Service Skills. Sue had responsibility for many specialist recruitment campaigns for senior management and technical positions, (up to Managing Director level) and designed, delivered and evaluated in house management training.
• Project Management of a Job Evaluation Programme for a Warwickshire Local Authority requiring Design and Specification of a 2 year project plan, formulation of a communication strategy, benchmarking against other local authorities and advising on related Employment Law issues. Sue established a project Steering Group in order to facilitate and maintain project “buy in” from Senior Managers, Councillors and Union Representatives alike. This project management role also required Job Evaluation interviews on a “face to face” basis with staff members, managers and Union Representatives utilising the Pilat “Gauge” Software. The project also included Involvement with formulation of new pay and grading structures and attending formal pay review hearings and advising Councillors on legal and local implications of decisions.
• Recruitment and selection of Contract Staff to IBM, based in Warwick, across all their UK sites.
• Other areas included responsibility for Investors in People, Absence Management, Harassment Investigation, Equal Opportunities project work, Recruitment and Retention projects.
  

Ian Kendell MSc. MILT has over 17 years experience (10 at a Senior Management level), in Materials Handling, Logistics and Supply Chain Management supporting Global Manufacturers and European Retailers.

He completed his Master of Science Degree (MSc.) in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Cranfield School of Management, in 2001 and has BTEC National & BTEC Higher National Diplomas in Control Engineering. (1984-91).

Ian is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and the Institute of Directors, and is an experienced professional Consultant / Project Manager, having successfully managed a diverse range of international Supply Chain projects across the whole of Europe and extensive US & Far East assignments.

His Project Management skills and Warehouse implementation experience include:

• Full supply chain cost modeling and evaluation, process and value chain analysis, supply chain strategy design and implementation, ROI / ROCE / EVA appraisal, SOP implementation.
• Experience of over 60 Warehouse Design, Implementation and Management System projects, a proportion of which were automated warehouses. Examples of his ERP Warehouse Management implementation experience include projects for Samsung, Unilever, Mitsubishi and Mowlex, among others.
• 8 month assignment as Interim Vice President Logistics EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Asia) for Cooper Vision, the World’s third largest contact lens manufacturer, with over 100,000 products SKU’s Includes finalised design of a Central Distribution Centre handling an average of 300 orders per day, 1200 Order Lines per day and over 10,000 Line Items Shipped per day.
• Project Managed Strategic review, development and implementation of UK Supply Chain, Logistics and Warehouse operations for Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions.
• Project Managed Warehouse layout review, assessment and development for Technology Supplies Limited.
• Project Manager for Wales & West Utilities Supply Chain Review and Logistics RFP Scope development.
• Sourced several Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) from leading suppliers (Synergy Logistics, Kewill, and Klump) for integration both to the Materials Handling Equipment (racking, stowage & retrieval) but also upwards to leading ERP technologies like SAP, Baan and Oracle. Further work with Customer Own WMS such as Red Prairie, Oracle, and SAP MM/WM.
• Project and Programme Management, including WMS, ERP & MES Systems Integration and New Product Development for manufacturers. Quality based training around 6 Sigma, TQM, TPM, Lean Manufacturing & Lean Supply Chain principles.
• General Management experience including fiscal control, budgeting, employment procedures, facility start-up, legal standing, marketing, sales management, logistics, stock and purchasing.
• Extensive "asset management and equipment pooling" experience with Pallets, Containers, Trays, Roll Cages and Trolleys including repairs, washing, quality control, asset tracking and control systems and customer optimisation.

Phillip Beckham MILT has over 28 years experience in Warehousing and Logistics including 20 years in Senior Management positions covering all aspects of Materials Management, Procurement, Stores and Inventory Management, European Food Logistics, Supply Chain Optimisation and Quality Management, prior to joining Gideon Hillman Consulting as a Senior Associate in 2007.

Phillip has significant experience in Supply Chain Management, Vendor Management, Vendor Support Operations, Logistics, Materials and Warehouse Management as well as Facilities and Engineering management. He is a Certified ISO Auditor, and has managed the implementation of ISO14001 for Major UK Food Manufacturers and also has a certificate in Safety Management to BSC standard and is Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport.

His key skills and Consultancy experience include:

• Lead Consultant for Premier Foods Group Bakery Division MHE strategy review & recommendations.
• Lead Consultant for Cygnet Catering (Food Service Division of Cygnet Foods) – developing their Environmental and waste reduction initiatives and processes towards achieving ISO 14001 accreditation, to enable the client to further improve their supply chain.
• Project Management Consultant for Full design, development, and implementation of Warehouse “end to end” process SOP’s for Premier Foods Grocery Division and review of MHE.
• Project managed the installation of a variety of MRP & ERP systems modules covering Warehouse & Materials Management across production sites and warehouse facilities, including writing complete Standard Operating Processes (SOP’s) and delivering associated training.
• WMS integration and warehouse facilities design and installation including Ingredients and Packaging Stores within a high volume fresh food added value factory.
• Design and Implementation of a Dry Ingredient Storage facility for a production line which at the time it was the largest single cooked sliced meats factory in UK.
• AS400 MRP planning and materials management and AS400 based Purchasing Systems and installation of MRP IT systems covering Warehouse & Materials Management.
• Management for all aspects of UK Dry Storage facilities including production scheduled order picking in high volume short lead time environment and management of Materials Control team responsible for procurement of Raw Materials, Ingredients and Packaging.
• Installation of Vendor Managed Systems including IT based forecasting information for all Vendors, and sourcing Logistic solutions for UK & European production facilities.
• Project leader for definitive and significant improvements and Inventory Reductions throughout the Ingredients, Raw Materials and Packaging Supply chain for Food Manufacturer, achieving significant cost reduction in supply chain for purchased materials.
• Installation and Management of Plastic Pallet Pools for UK Food manufacturer using Bar Code/RFID technology and Web Based tracking system as well as sourcing, provision and systems management of bulk container handling for UK and European supply chain.

Christophe Evo MSc has over 18 years experience in all aspects of Logistics, Warehousing and International Distribution and Haulage, dealing with European and UK retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers, having held Senior Management positions with major European Food Production and third party Logistics businesses. Christophe was Head of Distribution for 5 years during his 11 year career with RHM Frozen foods (now part of Premier Foods), prior to joining Gideon Hillman Consulting as a Senior Associate in September 2008.

He has specific experience and expertise in Distribution Planning and Transport management as well as in Logistics Outsourcing and Project Management for cost reduction of Intercontinental sea freight distribution networks.

Christophe is fluent in both French and English, has a Master’s degree in International Trade, B.T.S. in International Commerce (equivalent to BA) and his CPC in National and International Haulage.

His key skills and Consultancy experience include:

• Lead Consultant on project for Full design, development, and implementation of Warehouse “end to end” process SOP’s for Premier Foods Grocery Division.
• Distribution network development and modelling analysing Geographical spread of suppliers and hauliers, identifying opportunities for transport tenders on a national or regional level, analysis of proposed costs vs. current cost models.
• Logistics and Warehousing service reviews including efficiency improvements through racking configuration changes and reduced energy usage, including “pallet mile” reduction initiative design and implementation, reducing carbon emissions through changes in the Supply Chain.
• Project Management for cost reduction of Intercontinental sea freight distribution network of chilled / frozen produce .
• Supply Chain “alignment” between supplier and customer needs to ensure continued relationships and best practice service is maintained.

Christophe has experience of working on the following International transport & distribution Tenders:

• J Sainsbury / Sofrapain contract (Value £3M p.a.) - Primary Trunking from France to the UK including Handling / Storage / Picking and Secondary Transport to 4 Sainsbury RDC’s.
• RHM Frozen Outsourcing RFQ (Value £6M worth of activity - £60M value of products) - Evaluate outsourcing the in-house distribution operation including Primary trunking from UK to UK; Storage / Handling / Picking; Secondary Transport to all major Retailers; Export to France via Road Haulage and to Malta via Sea Freight; Evaluate potential TUPE obligations for over 60 staff.
• Doux Poultry – Frigosul (Value £2.5 to £3M) – Inbound Sea Freight from Brazil and distribute to UK retailers. Requirement included management of Bonded warehousing for duty / tax issues, Delivery to NAAFI – under bond; Handling / Storage / Picking; Average 8 x 40’ FCL per week to handle.
• Continental Food Supplies (UK) Ltd (Value £1M p.a.) - Review of Sea Freight from Poland, France, UK, Spain, Italy and India to West Africa including Togo, Ivory Coast, Benin, Angola, Senegal. Review included Administrative process and best price for of 2 x 40’ FCL per week.

Chris Braganca BSc MBA CEng MIEE is a degree qualified Chartered Engineer specialising over the last 25 years in Lean / 6 Sigma improvement and lean Manufacturing Process and System Design, Supply Chain Improvement and Change Management. Chris has significant experience in automated handling and robotics having successfully implemented over 50 Systems, covering the full spectrum of manufacturing processes from Part Handling, Inspection, and Process to Complex Assembly.

As well as being a professional Supply Chain Project Manager, Chris has extensive hands-on experience as a supervisor and engineer level in project development and on the shop floor. He is fluent in French and has experience of working in Japanese, French and Scandinavian Cultures and is a DTI Registered Independent Consultant in Operations and Process Improvement

His Qualifications, experience and expertise include:

• Chartered Engineer of IEE
• MBA (Aston) (Sponsored by Westinghouse) Thesis: Impact of Automation on the Garment Industry
• Cambridge University - Advanced Course in Design Methods and Management
• B.Sc. Honours - Electrical & Electronics (Sponsored by CAA) – Grade 2:1
• CPD LEAN:- Diploma in Business Excellence /TQM/NPI/6Sigma/PRINCE 2
• Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management - NPI, Work Study , Capacity Planning, DFM,VE,
• Quality Management – Prince 2, 6Sigma, DMAIC, DOE, QFD, TPM, TQM, and EFQM.
• TPS Lean Working - Lean Audit, Process & VSM, BTO, SMED, POKA-YOKE,5S,KANBAN,OEE
• Automation Programming - Robot Programming & SCADA, Passive & Active Sensors, PLC’s & Network
• Computer Programming - Assembler programming of Motorola-Intel Texas Instruments chipsets
• System Analysis - Use of Emulator systems, MICROSOFT Office, MS Project , MSSD Course
• Strategy / Change Management - Foresight, Hedgehog, Performance Coaching & NLP Practitioner.

His Experience Includes:

• Consultant Project Manager for Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions Logistics and Supply Chain Review. Senior Consultant / Programme Manager for the Technology Innovation Centre, Senior Production Engineer for NEC Technologies and Automation Manager for the Royal Mail.
• Chris has defined, designed and project managed multiple Automation System Projects, either manual or machine focused, costing from £150K up to £ 2m+. Developed and managed the delivery of state of the art technology solutions integrating plc, robot and sensory systems into Automotive, Electronics and others sectors with companies such as: Mercedes-Benz, MG Rover, IBM, Avon, Ford HP,IBM, BAe, Chloride, BOC, Marley, BNFL and Control Data.

Keith Fuell has over 27 years of experience in designing and installing processes and systems in the logistics and supply chain industry, specialising in Traffic Office, Returnable Packaging Management and Warehouse and Inventory Management solutions, prior to joining Gideon Hillman Consulting as an Associate in April 2008.

He is an accomplished systems Project Manager with experience of working across Europe in a wide range of industries including automotive, food processing, white goods, retail, DIY, construction, general manufacturing, publishing and maintenance workshops.

His key skills and experience include:

• 20 years of integrating multiple systems including, SAP, Paragon, DPS, Microlise, Datadriven, Red Prairie.
• 27 years experience developing system solutions in tanker distribution, freight forwarding, sea freight, air freight, road freight, dedicated and core fleet distribution.
• Project Management of workshop maintenance systems in Europe and Oman
• Design and implementation of Materials Supply System for high volume production lines.
• 8 years in designing and implementing traffic security systems to help ensure the safety of drivers handling high value and high risk loads such as payrolls and tobacco.
• Integrated database developments with Web interfaces across multiple networks
• Designing and implementing systems in warehouses incorporating RF scanning and interfaces to multiple external systems for both inbound and outbound transactions
• Use of various data capture/communication methods including, barcode, RFID, Digital Pen, Hand Held Terminals, Voice data capture, SMS messaging, Email, EDI and bespoke methods.
• Project management of a number of Finance systems implementations
• Resource planning using vehicle routing systems and distribution costing analysis for a number of transport operations.

His experience employment and consultancy experience includes:

• Software consultancy specialising in Contract Distribution projects - 1993 to 2008 working with numerous companies including Ceva Logistics, Exel Logistics, Lloyd Fraser, Nissan Motors, Renault, Landrover, Mercedes, Daimler, Ceva Container Logistics, Bernhard Matthews Foods, Securiguard, MCM Security, Imperial Tobacco, Dairy Crest, TMME, Fuji, Body Shop, Raflatac, Cemex, NHS Logistics, Miele, Allied Bakeries, Swish Building Products, Mannetti, Focus Do It All, Man ERF, Xerox, Michelin, Continental Tyres, Tenneco Walkers, Herman Miller, Nutricia Foods, Shell Oils Oman. MSAS, , Simons Reeve and others
• UK MD for US Software Company specialising in Tanker Distribution - 1989 to 1993
• United Transport - MIS Manager Tanker and Logistics Divisions - 1985 - 1989
• Unilever Export - IT Manager 1981 - 1985

Richie Keen has 17 years experience, (6 as Equipment Control Manager for Tesco Logistics), specialising in Transit Packaging and Reverse Logistics in the Retail Sector prior to joining Gideon Hillman Consulting as an Associate in March 2007.

In the last 8 years Richie has provided support as a consultant to Manor Bakeries, Nestle, IFCO and Symonds Hydroclean, as well as others, advising on Packaging Waste Regulations, early shelf-ready packaging initiatives with coffee and re-usable confectionery packaging, crate washing and container recycling centres, as well as equipment leasing and managed pool services.

His key skills include:

• 17 years 'asset management and equipment pooling' experience with Roll Cages, Pallets, Containers, Trays and Trolleys including repairs, washing, quality control, asset tracking and control systems and customer optimisation.
• 8 years Transit Packaging Sales and Consultancy within Materials Handling and Supply Chain Management.
• Multi-operating site management, procurement, deployment and control of reusable transit packaging, managing budgets up to £18m.
• He also has experience of managing 9 recycling centres that processed fibreboard, paper and plastic returns from retail stores.
  

His employment experience prior to joining Gideon Hillman Consulting includes:

• 5es Transit Packaging Sales and Consultancy - 1999 to present
• Tesco Logistics - Equipment Control Manager - 1990 to 1996
• Tesco Technical Services - Quality Assurance Manager - 1986 to 1990
• Tesco Technical Services - Food Technologist - 1986
• Tesco Technical Services - Quality Control Officer - 1984 to 1986
• Tesco Retail - Produce Manager - 1979 to 1984