Author Archives: Michael Carr

About Michael Carr

Specialising in Strategy, Systems and Organisational Design I've had a varied and rewarding career and been fortunate to work for some superb companies such as Courtaulds, Unipart International, Akzo Nobel and more recently Jaguar Landrover, all luminaries of a solid, disciplined and a conservative, though never lacking in innovation, approach to business management and development. Augmenting my career with studying for my MBA at Warwick in the early 90's has given me a balanced and I believe rich resource set to draw upon in my Consultancy Practice. My Clients have been good to me, tolerating my idiosyncrasies, giving me enough rope to go along the journey that I was taking them and hopefully in return I've been able to repay them by raising the bar and their business performance, giving them the results and achievements they were looking for. I really enjoy my work and love the challenge - isn't that what it's all about?

Carillion and Ted Welch

Posted on February 5, 2018

A few years ago, I was lucky to meet a Gentleman; lucky, because I think that, in the passage of grey hair that I’ve acquired, I haven’t met many, and this man resonates with my soul. He’s called Ted, Ted … Continue reading →

Posted in Corporate Social Responsibility | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Gravity Racers & Student Engineering

Posted on July 7, 2017

A number of years ago I was approached by a local Technology & Design teacher, David Ackroyd, (brother of John Ackroyd, the Thrust SSC designer) seeking sponsorship to build a Gravity Soapbox race kart; the objective was to encourage students … Continue reading →

Posted in Corporate Social Responsibility, Engineering, Gravity Racer, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Simple Tale of Slippers and Batch Control

Posted on April 22, 2017

So who would like a laugh at my expense? On Wednesday I bought a new pair of slippers – nothing of particular interest except that they were too tight. Quick check of the label said they were my size- “I’ll … Continue reading →

Posted in Manufacturing Process, Quality Control, Root Cause Analysis, SPC Batch Control, Systems | Leave a comment

John Clarke RIP

Posted on April 22, 2017

Well no sooner had I posted the previous short piece mentioning the brilliant satirist John Clarke, then news reached me that he has died . Apparently whilst out bush-walking in Victoria he died from natural causes . He was aged … Continue reading →

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#PM Brexit Letter# Understanding Grexit

Posted on March 29, 2017

So today, our Prime Minister, signed the letter that will inform the EU of our intention to leave the European Union. The events leading up to today have been a colourful twist of hyperbole, dis-information, naievity and political snakes and … Continue reading →

Posted in business planning, Business Strategy, Strategy, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Economic Insight for Informed Business Decisions

Posted on October 11, 2016

I’ve commented before on the availability of economic and industry data reports from the banks. If you haven’t already subscribed for these reports I do recommend them to you. The reports are not just to aid you when you start … Continue reading →

Posted in Annual Budget, business planning, Business Strategy, Management Information, Strategy, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

“We’ve Just Engineered a Tool for Delivering Stem Cells, Mid Brain”

Posted on September 8, 2016

The statement above was quietly delivered by a Dr Stone, a Clinical Scientist at Addenbrookes Hospital Cambridge. at a presentation that I attended last night. I sat amongst the audience and took in what he had just said; the capability … Continue reading →

Posted in Corporate Social Responsibility, Organisation, Uncategorized | Leave a comment