Digital Manufacturing Centre appoints Frederick Wray as its new Operations Manager
October 9, 2020
The Digital Manufacturing Centre (DMC), a metal and polymer Additive Manufacturing production facility based within the Silverstone Technology Cluster, run by MEPC, in the South East Midlands region of the UK, has appointed Frederick Wray as its new Operations Manager.
Created by engineering company KW Special Projects, the DMC will physically open in Q1 2021. It is part-funded by the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) and its Local Growth Fund.
Wray has a background in engineering, manufacturing, quality standards as well as experience leading projects and the operations team for an AM manufacturing provider. He will manage the DMC’s internal and external operations.
The DMC explains that as Operations Manager, Wray will oversee and assist the team’s operations, under the leadership of CEO Kieron Salter. Both Salter and Wray have mechanical engineering degrees and a passion for realising the potential for AM and reimagining the traditional supply chain with new technologies.
In his role as Operations Manager, Wray, who has experience and knowledge of different software from MATLAB, CAD packages and FEA, as well as a range of polymer and metal AM machines, will be assisting the DMC’s team from start to finish, as well as communicating key project stages with the DMC’s clients and ensuring their objectives are met.
He will also work with the recently-announced AMFG Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) software. AMFG’s software, which will reportedly be a crucial part of the DMC’s overall operations strategy. Having a comprehensive view of efficiencies, outputs, orders and machine capabilities, the software will be embedded into the DMC’s CAD and Additive Manufacturing machine data, which will provide real-time data of machine outputs and project management analysis of key builds.
The DMC states that Wray has previously led successful AS9100 audits, implemented and maintained a PFMEA that was approved to AS9100 Rev D, ISO13485 and PPAP, as well as leading and implementing lean production methods across an AM production facility.
“Frederick will work with myself and Nigel Robinson [Chief Operating Officer] to ensure that every component the DMC manufactures using additive manufacturing technologies realises our client’s objectives,” stated Kieron Salter, Digital Manufacturing Centre CEO.
“Whether it be focusing on each AM part’s quality, ensuring it’s delivered on time and meets specification, Frederick will be focused on ensuring that every element of the Digital Manufacturing Centre’s outputs are streamlined, efficient and digitally created. He’ll also be managing the AMFG operations management software which we recently announced as part of the DMC’s digital manufacturing strategy.”
Salter added, “Frederick’s passion for Additive Manufacturing as a production solution extends into his own specialised research into AM, which I urge anyone in the industry to discuss with him. Some of his findings within quality and weight/cost reduction versus traditional methods are eye-opening. It’s a pleasure to introduce him to our team as Operations Manager. It’s an exciting time to be joining the DMC and I’m excited to have Frederick on board.”
