told they’re good that is – find it hard they’re doing. Enjoyment comes from
to change and fit into a common way of success and this programme has enabled
working. But in fact the early doubters people to see that success clearly.
have often become the most positive “Mentoring has also been critical
supporters of the approach because because it isn’t easy to make some of the
they’ve discovered it makes them much changes permanently. Without a mentor,
better managers and improves their I doubt if anyone would truly recognise
career potential.” or face up to their leadership failings, let
Stevens: “Yes, some people do put up alone know how to tackle them. And it
barriers because we’re forcing them to takes time and guidance to learn how to
challenge their leadership methods and really involve people in a disciplined and
accept their leadership failings. Also, structured way.”
many managers simply expect to be given Q: Why do you think the approach has
new tools and techniques, but Structured been so successful within MSS?
Leadership demands thought – within a Jamil Rashid: “MSS has consistently
framework – just following steps doesn’t demonstrated commitment from the
change behaviour.” top. The management team actually
Q: How have you tackled these? does it themselves and so their people
Bernie Stevens: Director, Meggitt Group
Stevens: “By genuinely involving people, are constantly reminded that they’re
not dictating to them. Sure, some people serious. They weren’t afraid to tackle all going to be consistently applied across all
have been doing the same thing for the difficult issues either – they were the strategic business units around the
prepared for and were ready to get world – a major achievement – just by
through the tough times, right from the following the same approach.”
start. The reason for success is really Q: What management challenges do
nothing magical; it’s simply been a you think MSS and other aerospace
disciplined execution of the strategy.” businesses will face in the future if
Stevens: “Of course we needed to see they are to remain competitive?
results and those results have allowed Rashid: “From a management
us to continue the investment for a long perspective, doing more with less
period of time. But it’s the behaviour is a certainty. Even though many
of the leaders and the people that has improvement techniques have been
been, for me, the best thing overall, around for years, the industry as a whole
by which I mean how consistently is still in a relatively early stage in terms
structured and focused they’ve become of its experience with them. Over the
in their thinking in areas where next 20 years, as more companies take on
structure is not normally seen as being these techniques, being competitive will
important. For example, our sales and depend on who uses them best, not who
engineering teams have been successful is using them.
in harnessing their creativity within the “In saying that, I don’t think using any
Jamil Rashid: Managing director, JARA
structure and so produced even better technique is the key to success because
results. they’re all simply a means to achieving
a long time and may be reticent and Q: Where now for Structured company objectives. The challenge now
sceptical about what’s going to happen, Leadership within Meggitt? and in the future is to keep focused
but it doesn’t mean that they don’t want Stevens: “I’m responsible for the and structured. As more improvement
to embrace change. They just need transformation of engineering globally; techniques for various functions become
time to get through the difficulties and not only to save money in difficult available, companies need to be able to
eventually see the success. You have to economic times, but to position the take advantage and not get lost in the
have the faith and the vision to keep company so that it is better able to meet tools. They need to remember what the
them at it until that happens. the demands for future growth. By the goal was and only use as much resource
“Ultimately, most people want to end of this year we’ll have transformed as necessary to get there.” ❙
improve their lot – yes, they want to get engineering in Meggitt, it’s going to look www.jara-management.com
paid, but they also want to enjoy what and feel different from before and it’s www.meggitt.com
AEROSPACEMANUFACTURING | MARCH 2010 29
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