Staff Spotlight: Dan Ponting

Q. What important decisions do you have to make in your role?

A. At Philtronics, we have high standards for our products. Therefore, all products leaving the company must meet our customers' professional expectations.

As part of my job, I ensure that all products meet stringent specifications. We inspect each product thoroughly, fixing any minor issues right away. Our goal is to achieve perfection in every aspect. We only ship a product after it has passed our rigorous testing. This also applies to goods received from our suppliers - if they don't meet our standards, we quarantine them and investigate the issue. Once we establish the facts, I send a report to the supplier outlining the problem. We then work together to prevent the issue from occurring again.

Q. What is your favourite part of your role?

A. I have always enjoyed resolving faults as a technician in the Royal Air Force, especially when working on Quality. It's satisfying to perform a root cause analysis and investigate the issue when a defect is found. Once the cause is identified, I can work on implementing preventative measures to stop the problem from reoccurring. It is this element that motivates and intrigues me.

Find out more about Dan’s role and responsibilities:

Q. Would you say your military skills are transferable into this industry?

A. During my time in the Royal Air Force, I was stationed at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where we managed several remote sites. At any given moment, I could receive a call from one of my colleagues stationed at a different site, asking me to come and fix a transmitter that had stopped working. My current role at Philtronics is similar to my previous job, as I often have to think on my feet and come up with quick solutions to unexpected problems. For instance, there have been times when I've been working at my desk on a Wednesday, and then suddenly, I've been asked to complete a task before Thursday. It may seem like a lot of pressure, but my military training has taught me how to handle such situations effectively.

Find out more about Dan’s military experience:

Q. What makes Philtronics an excellent company to work for?

A. There are numerous benefits, which include opportunities for personal development training courses and team building days. Additionally, the staff are welcoming to new members.

A critical aspect of our business is the focus on continuous growth and improvement. We are constantly exploring new methods to enhance and make our processes more efficient. What sets Philtronics apart from other similar companies is our unique selling point. We provide a more flexible timescale for our customers, allowing them to receive their products sooner, unlike other businesses that work on a 20-40 week lead time.

Q. Any advice for those seeking a similar role or career path?

A. As someone from a technical military background, I am naturally inclined to understand how things work. This has given me the skills to identify and fix faults. However, anyone interested in Quality can take a route into this industry. One helpful step is to become certified in ISO.9001, which is essential for small to medium-sized enterprise businesses. You could also take quality management systems, auditing, or manufacturing courses. These courses are available online or in person in Cardiff or Bridgend. Therefore, there are numerous paths to enter a similar role to mine, even if you have yet to gain a technical background.

If you’ve enjoyed hearing about Dan’s journey with Philtronics, read more Staff Spotlights on our News page.