'I'm a great believer in bureaucracy being enabling': Max Coller, SMMT Industry Forum

Beginnings

As a teenager I was constantly disassembling and improving mountain bikes, which spiked my interest in mechanical systems; this later transitioned to automobiles.

1997-2004, Leeds University/ Rolls-Royce

I have always been keen to balance work experience and academia. I took a Year in Industry opportunity at Rolls-Royce and Bentley, and subsequently sponsorship placements at Federal-Mogul, before heading back to Leeds to finish a masters in automotive engineering. After university, I started a role at Rolls-Royce (Oil & Gas) as a project coordinator but missed the automotive element that had driven me to pursue an engineering career. 

2004-06, Millbrook Proving Ground

I worked on Vauxhall’s DualFuel car range where we operated a low-volume conversion production line. We were a small team, so I was involved in the entire process (from receipt of goods to customer concerns). This gave me an understanding of how a business works, not just a production engineering facility. I was driven to seek process efficiency improvements, and this led me to move to a higher-volume operation to help learn industry best practice at scale.

2006-11, Delphi Technologies

In my first week in the role at Delphi, I was sent to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Industry Forum for auditor training. The environment at Delphi gave me the opportunity to put theory into practice. During my five-and-a-half years at Delphi I returned a number of times to SMMT Industry Forum to further my knowledge and understanding, mainly in the ISO:TS 16949 quality management standard. I still draw a great deal on the experiences, methods and people that I encountered during this time. In 2009 I received a scholarship from Leeds University Business School so returned part-time to start an MSc. Again, Delphi provided an excellent environment to help me contextualise some of the classroom theory.

2011-15, Ford Motor Company

I wanted to spend time in project management after my limited exposure at Rolls-Royce, and with a move to Ford I went from supplier to customer overnight. At Ford, I finished my studies, completed a PMP project management qualification, and felt I had enough workplace experience for CEng. My line manager, and a colleague too, were both chartered engineers, and they helped me through the competency-based application process. For anyone considering applying, I would highly recommend finding a sponsor or mentor.

2015-17, Segula Technologies

I was approached by Segula to set up its first UK office. It was an appealing assignment, not least because I knew it would involve recruiting engineers and potentially helping their development, something that I felt I could add value to. During my time at Segula I helped to grow the team and the UK business. I learnt a great deal about business development, and it enabled me to put into practice some of the theory from my business degree. 

2017 – present, SMMT Industry Forum

After positive experiences with SMMT Industry Forum as a delegate, I was delighted to join the team as a consultant in 2017. The company’s relationships with automotive OEMs, as well as various-sized organisations in the supply chain, means we are well-positioned to provide guidance on the expectations and best practices in quality management. 

In my opinion there is no ‘next big thing’ in quality. The principles remain largely the same as they have been for decades. It is the level of understanding and implementation that still needs to improve. Sometimes quality accreditation is seen as a box-ticking exercise, and often lower priority than delivery in busy working environments. A quality management system is really a business management system and I am a great believer in bureaucracy being enabling rather than coercive.