Role: Supply Chain Project Leader
Company: DOW Chemicals
Track Record: Keelin Judge is the supply chain project leader for The Dow Chemical Company in Belfast.
Dow is one of the largest chemical companies in the world, with over 52,000 employees worldwide.
What does your job entail?
I am a Supply Chain Project Leader for The Dow Chemical Company, a large multinational global corporation.
More than 5000 different products from 197 manufacturing sites are transferred to our customers globally every year.
In the Belfast office we provide expert support in all areas of supply chain design and optimisation generating value gains across all industries serviced by the company’s businesses.
I lead improvement projects across the globe, helping to increase efficiency & reduce costs for Dow.
I joined the company just over a year ago and already I have completed some really challenging projects. The variety of the role is fantastic, in the morning I can be advising the European Rail Team on ways to make their fleet more efficient while in the afternoon I could be helping the North American business debottleneck barge operations on the Mississippi.
I have already travelled to Dow plant locations, in France, Michigan, and also the largest European chemical site in the Netherlands.
I am training to become a Dow Subject Matter Expert in some exciting technologies. I am introducing GPS technologies to help track important shipments around the globe. In 2013, I am taking on the new exciting role of project leader for Dow Agro Science New Product Introduction.
Is your job 9 – 5?
My role requires me to support geographically dispersed internal customers so it is important that I am flexible to drive schedules and meet deadlines. The office offers the opportunity for flexible working which not only supports our customers, but can also help me manage my work/life balance which is great!
How did you get into this line of work?
Having thoroughly researched Dow, I knew they were one of the largest chemical companies in the world with great opportunities and offered career progression. The new supply chain expertise centre in Belfast promised exciting opportunities. It was a chance to join a global company that had committed to expansion here in N. Ireland. Dow are growing in Belfast and the chance to join a Global company as it was ‘starting up’ in Belfast was very exciting. I have a wide range of technical & project management skills from my previous job and I felt I had something to offer the Dow Belfast office.
Outline your career to date:
I completed my university internship in Intel and joined the same company as a manufacturing engineer after graduating. I progressed onto a process engineering role in various functional areas throughout the company. My responsibilities included operational and strategic support to the manufacturing and engineering organisation, management and optimisation of product flow throughout my functional area’s supply chain. Improving quality in the product, reducing cost, calculating machine capacity models & leading various lean improvement projects.
Tell us about your qualifications/training?
I have a degree and a postgraduate degree in engineering.
Dow provides a great employee development program. There are many opportunities to develop existing skills and learn new ones. I have completed training in simulation modelling and currently completing Six Sigma – Green belt certification. It will allow me to carry out projects in a more defined and structured sequence of steps with a quantified financial target.
What qualities are required for your job – personal & professional?
Working on supply chain projects requires me to analyse information flows, understand the issues with a view to optimising. I must then present my analysis and recommendations to the relevant Dow business, so good communications skills are essential.
Dow has one of the largest & most complex supply chains in the world, so good organisation and management is key to role.
Interpersonal skills and adaptability are also essential to support our multinational, internal customers.
What are the biggest challenges and rewards of your work?
Every day I work with Dow teams from different business areas, this can be challenging due to differing time zones and nationalities. It is really rewarding to work with diverse people and sharing mutual goals. I work on a variety of different projects, so it is important that I keep up to date with new technologies. It is rewarding when, by applying my expertise to supply chain and incorporating the knowledge of team members, Dow achieves actual logistical improvements which have an actual financial benefit.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to spend time with my family and friends. I enjoy going running and attend a local gym. A recent visit to France has rekindled my interest in the language and I am currently attending French classes.
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.
I have a passion for travelling and a when I was 25 I did a 8 month solo trip around the world starting in India and finishing up in South America. I had a fantastic time, seeing some amazing sights, meeting and travelling with some new lifelong friends along the way.
Who has inspired you most in your life?
My parents have been a continuous source of inspiration. Both were running their own separate businesses and managed to raise my 3 brothers and me. It is from them that I learned how important a good work ethic is and I try to bring this to my job everyday!