Ben Austin has been appointed Alpha Manufacturing Quality Manager after twenty years with the company, bringing with him a vast amount experience and knowledge.
Having joined the company back in 2000 as a programmer, Ben quickly rose into management and has since been involved in various areas of the business. Becoming Programming Manager shortly after joining, Ben then moved in a new role for Alpha as New Product Introduction Manager in 2018. He has also acted as Production Manager on various short-term production projects.
Ben now takes charge of one of the most important departments within Alpha – Quality, where his diverse experience and understanding of sheet metal fabrication processes, gathered over twenty years, will prove vital. Quality has always been central to Alpha’s service and customers are accustomed to industry leading standards, which Ben will be responsible for maintaining. Heading up the Quality Department he will oversee the daily management of Alpha’s Quality Engineers and Inspectors, as well as ensuring Alpha maintain ISO9001 accreditation, with strong process control and performance analysis to ensure total quality management for Alpha’s customers.
Ben aims to bring his own unique style to the role, with excellent man management and communication key to his approach. This partnered with a wealth of sheet metal fabrication knowledge and keen eye for detail, combined with a strict adherence to process and systems will aid Ben in maintaining the standards across the entire quality team.
“Quality Manager is a huge role here at Alpha with a lot of responsibility. Quality is vital for us as a business, we’re judged ultimately on the quality of our products, efficiency of service and reliability. If we fail in quality, we fail as a business because customers rely on us to be consistent and trustworthy, which we always have been. I want my team to build on the great work done here previously and maintain the levels, whilst constantly looking for opportunities for further improvements in processes and efficiencies.”
Now in his twentieth year at Alpha, Ben joins a growing group of Alpha veterans with fifteen-plus years at the company, many of whom have risen into management leadership roles as the company has grown. Earlier in the year, Robin Eley was announced as Commercial Director after sixteen years with the company, while Paul Clews had previously become Managing Director after nine years at Alpha. This latest promotion for Ben once again highlights Alpha’s commitment to recognising and developing talent, rewarding individual’s hard work, and pushing the company forward as a result.
