Role: Executive consultant / managing director

Sector: Domestic water filtration

Functional Areas: Manufacturing and operations, new product design and development, new market entry, export sales, brand design and management

The Brief:

Assess the potential of a struggling division that was set up to OEM manufacture domestic ceramic water filters using proprietary automated casting technology.

Activities:

• Build business model and forecast in order to secure internal group funding

• Redesign product for automated manufacturing at greatly reduced unit cost and higher yields

• Install new manufacturing line; specify safe working practices for hazardous environments; implement ISO9001 manufacturing standards and quality control procedures.

• Source filter housings, taps and accessories from the Far East

• Launch new “Coldstream” brand reducing sole reliance on low margin OEM manufacture

• Make first sales in the UK, USA and Far East

Results:

Established the division as a separate profitable company within the Group taking it from loss making to profitability. The business continues to grow successfully.