Rob BallingerNon-executive director

No.1 Provider of Non-Execs to UK SMEs

NXD troubleshooter guides this family run engineering SME back to profitability

Case Study

Guiding a family run engineering SME back to profitability

Rob Ballinger:This family run Engineering Toolmaking business (14 employees) was loss making and unsure as to the reasons why. I was contracted to analyse the business operations and make recommendations on ‘how to stop the rot’.

Client:With his wide engineering knowledge, practical approach to problem solving and his MBA studies behind him, Rob advised alternative business strategies that have transferred our Company to a healthy profit status. Specific achievements include:

Establishment of monthly P&L statements Selection & full implementation of Sage accounting software Advise on ISO 9002 implementation

Rob’s engaging style and hands on approach earned staff respect.

Main challenges: An MD who believed that ‘cutting metal’ was more important

than ‘dealing with paperwork’ i.e. than managing his business Overcapacity plus an inability to estimate large project work

accurately Quality Assurance rapidly becoming an order winning criteria,

even for regular blue chip Customers

Guiding a family run engineering SME back to profitability

Overcoming the challenges:1. Analysis phase: Understand how the business was performing2. Stay focussed on what they are good at, stop accepting large

projects3. Implementing Sage accounting (and training the computer

averse bookkeeper!); Achieving ISO 9002 accreditation

What value was your role to them:I was able to offer my expertise, time and focus to demonstrate: where the money was going; the degree of overcapacity; identify profitable vs unprofitable work; and crucially, able to implement effective processes that guided the business back to profitability.

Profile: Rob Ballinger

A Business Management Consultant since 1993, with international experience and excellent qualifications. A strategist and team player, Rob has the charisma and professional discipline to engage and influence senior stakeholders and policy makers, yet almost uniquely combined with a pragmatic approach to problem solving and coaching, which never fails to mobilise the workforce to implement change and achieve results for my clients.Rob’s Non-Executive Director credentials include:

5 years as Manufacturing Director for an electronics Plc, responsible for 115 staff covering all manufacturing and works operations, including mechanical design, purchasing, quality, & service repair.

Currently a Non Executive Director for Warwickshire Association for the Blind (a registered charity)

A management consultant since 1993 within Manufacturing and Service Delivery sectors across UK and Europe. My clients range from SME’s to large multinationals such as: Rolls Royce (Aerospace and Marine), CPA, HomeServe, Tarmac (BLI), Sky, Interlease, NGT, Virgin Trains, Rugby Cement, et al.

A strong industrial background, borne from an technical apprenticeship and work study training, through a progressive career path encompassing supervision, management to that of Director.

Mentor for the Warwick Business School Mentoring Programme (2012-2015).

NXD is the No.1 Provider of Non-Execs to UK SMEs

NXD is a network that provides non-executive services to SMEs.

Challenges that the NXD non-executives work with business owners to address include :