Roland Sommer
Interim CEO at Argus Group- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Gary Sheedy
Roland was a pleasure to work with as he brings a high level of professionalism and project/engineering management knowhow to the table. Roland delivered on-time, exceeding expectations on information exchange and taking the initiative with the resolution of complex issues, while expanding the knowledge base within the organisation to ensure that such issues could be handled in-house in the future. I would recommend Roland as a competent, safe pair of hands for any complex project where all the parameters are not yet known.
Angus M Robinson
In recent years, as the Australian electronics industry was working to understand the implications of the European RoHS regulatory regime for ICT manufactures, Roland provided a valued source of knowledge and guidance to the Australian Electrical & Electronic Manufacturers' Association (AEEMA). In his various interactions with the AEEMA Secretariat and member companies (and interaction with the World Electronics Forum), Roland undertook his consultations with a high level of customer service, proving his ability as a 'value add' contributor to the continuing development of the global electronics industry.
Gary Sheedy
Roland was a pleasure to work with as he brings a high level of professionalism and project/engineering management knowhow to the table. Roland delivered on-time, exceeding expectations on information exchange and taking the initiative with the resolution of complex issues, while expanding the knowledge base within the organisation to ensure that such issues could be handled in-house in the future. I would recommend Roland as a competent, safe pair of hands for any complex project where all the parameters are not yet known.
Angus M Robinson
In recent years, as the Australian electronics industry was working to understand the implications of the European RoHS regulatory regime for ICT manufactures, Roland provided a valued source of knowledge and guidance to the Australian Electrical & Electronic Manufacturers' Association (AEEMA). In his various interactions with the AEEMA Secretariat and member companies (and interaction with the World Electronics Forum), Roland undertook his consultations with a high level of customer service, proving his ability as a 'value add' contributor to the continuing development of the global electronics industry.
Gary Sheedy
Roland was a pleasure to work with as he brings a high level of professionalism and project/engineering management knowhow to the table. Roland delivered on-time, exceeding expectations on information exchange and taking the initiative with the resolution of complex issues, while expanding the knowledge base within the organisation to ensure that such issues could be handled in-house in the future. I would recommend Roland as a competent, safe pair of hands for any complex project where all the parameters are not yet known.
Angus M Robinson
In recent years, as the Australian electronics industry was working to understand the implications of the European RoHS regulatory regime for ICT manufactures, Roland provided a valued source of knowledge and guidance to the Australian Electrical & Electronic Manufacturers' Association (AEEMA). In his various interactions with the AEEMA Secretariat and member companies (and interaction with the World Electronics Forum), Roland undertook his consultations with a high level of customer service, proving his ability as a 'value add' contributor to the continuing development of the global electronics industry.
Gary Sheedy
Roland was a pleasure to work with as he brings a high level of professionalism and project/engineering management knowhow to the table. Roland delivered on-time, exceeding expectations on information exchange and taking the initiative with the resolution of complex issues, while expanding the knowledge base within the organisation to ensure that such issues could be handled in-house in the future. I would recommend Roland as a competent, safe pair of hands for any complex project where all the parameters are not yet known.
Angus M Robinson
In recent years, as the Australian electronics industry was working to understand the implications of the European RoHS regulatory regime for ICT manufactures, Roland provided a valued source of knowledge and guidance to the Australian Electrical & Electronic Manufacturers' Association (AEEMA). In his various interactions with the AEEMA Secretariat and member companies (and interaction with the World Electronics Forum), Roland undertook his consultations with a high level of customer service, proving his ability as a 'value add' contributor to the continuing development of the global electronics industry.
Credentials
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MInstD
Institute of Directors in New ZealandApr, 2022- Nov, 2024 -
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Project Management InstituteJun, 2010- Nov, 2024
Experience
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Argus Group
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Industrial Machinery Manufacturing
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1 - 100 Employee
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Interim CEO
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Jun 2022 - Present
Temporary contract as Interim CEO of Argus Group, covering Argus ManuTech, Argus CableTech and Argus Heating. We are a major manufacturer and exporter of industrial heating products under Argus Heating and a specialist cable and harness provider under Argus CableTech. Argus ManuTech is our advanced manufacturing entity that continues to push the boundary in manufacturing excellence. Temporary contract as Interim CEO of Argus Group, covering Argus ManuTech, Argus CableTech and Argus Heating. We are a major manufacturer and exporter of industrial heating products under Argus Heating and a specialist cable and harness provider under Argus CableTech. Argus ManuTech is our advanced manufacturing entity that continues to push the boundary in manufacturing excellence.
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Consultant, Andromeda Consulting Services
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Mar 2022 - Jun 2022
Freelance technical and Project Managment consulting whilst seeking a CEO/GM level role in a high tech engineering or manufacturing company. Freelance technical and Project Managment consulting whilst seeking a CEO/GM level role in a high tech engineering or manufacturing company.
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TE Connectivity
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Switzerland
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Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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General Manager/Plant Manager
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Jun 2011 - Mar 2022
Plant Manager for the Christchurch Plant and General Manager ANZ (from October 2016) for the Industrial Business Unit of TE Connectivity , formerly Tyco Electronics, formerly Hamal Industries. Staff of 100. The main products/capabilities are electronic assemblies (SMT and PTH), cable harnesses and box build. Main services are sub contract manufacture of any electrical product specialising in mission critical and lifesafety products.We have SMT, PTH and flow solder capabilities as well as a competency in encapsulation of electronics, through potting and injection molding. Lean methods, under the TE banner of TEOA (Tyco Electronics Operating Advantage) are well entrenched and fundamental to the business. Our differentiators are quality, flexibility and vertical integration from connectors, through electrical and electronic assembly and wiring harnesses to box build.Due to change in corporate strategic direction the plant in Christchurch was closed in Feb 2022 after unsucessfully trying to sell the business as a going concern. I headed the local part of the sale negotiations and managed all local aspects of the closure as this occured during Covid.
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Group Manager Product Development and Logistics
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Mar 2008 - May 2011
Group Manager Product Development and Logistics for Bremca Industries, New Zealand’s largest manufacturer of electrical switchboards. Responsible for product development, subassembly production, purchasing, stores and logistics. Group Manager Product Development and Logistics for Bremca Industries, New Zealand’s largest manufacturer of electrical switchboards. Responsible for product development, subassembly production, purchasing, stores and logistics.
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RoHS-International
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Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing
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Owner, Managing Director
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Dec 2004 - Mar 2008
Niche consultancy specialising in the EU Restriction of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment legislation. Main activities were training, project management and risk mitigation advice. Published news articles and presented at conferences. Exhibited at tradeshows in NZ and overseas. Clients included Cisco, NEC Broadband, Cray, New Zealand and Australian Governments. Specialised in network infrastructure equipment. Key achievement was addressing the World Electronics Forum in London in 2005
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Dynamic Controls
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New Zealand
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Medical Equipment Manufacturing
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1 - 100 Employee
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Contract Project Manager
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Nov 2003 - Dec 2004
Dynamic Controls is the largest manufacturer of Wheelchair controllers globally. It is owned by Invacare.Undertook a variety of projects including Test Strategy analysis, factory expansion, JDE data cleansing and RoHS Compliance. Dynamic Controls is the largest manufacturer of Wheelchair controllers globally. It is owned by Invacare.Undertook a variety of projects including Test Strategy analysis, factory expansion, JDE data cleansing and RoHS Compliance.
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Swichtec Power Systems Sdn Bhd
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Malaysia
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Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing
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1 - 100 Employee
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General Manager Domestic Business
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Sep 2000 - Sep 2003
Manufacturer of high frequency switchmode power supplies for telecommunications. 10 year career (detailed below) moving from Test Engineering Manager, Systems Production Manager (6 months), to General Manager for Domestic Business - which included the systems application engineering and manufacturing division. This was a commercial as well as technical management role. Diversified the business into integrating telecommunications network infrastructure equipment into roadside cabinets for Telecom, Telstra Saturn and Vodafone.Left to set up my own project management business that developed into RoHS-International Ltd.
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Operations Manager (Power Applications Group)
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Sep 1997 - Sep 2000
Systems Manufacturing, Applications Engineering and Technology Transfer. Responsible for 6 Engineers and between 30 to 60 production assemblers/team leaders/group leader. Responsible for business plan, setting and meeting budget, delivery performance, efficiency, quality. Responsible for support of offshore production and design (19 sites). Responsible for timely manufacture of systems level product and for applications design. Main personal focus areas were technical sales support, implementation of lean principles, production management, business diversification and implementation of new business.
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Systems Production Manager
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Sep 1995 - Sep 1997
Manufacturing operation of 19' rack systems and subassemblies for telecommunications Switchmode power supplies, employing 30 to 60 assemblers/team leaders.
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Test Engineering Manager
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Oct 1992 - Sep 1995
Set up and ran the Test Engineering Department. Developed the Test Strategy for manufacturing. Assisted with factory automation through the introduction of automated test equipment (ATE) , based on Lab View and GPIB control of discrete instruments. Introduced MDA technology. At its peak the department had 5 Test Engineers and two technicians.
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Tait Communications
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New Zealand
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Telecommunications
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400 - 500 Employee
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Production Technical Officer
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Sep 1989 - Sep 1992
Interface between engineering and production - More recently termed an NPI engineer but reported to the production manager. In charge of the production technicians, hiring, training and mentoring in addition to product alignment and component level faultfinding.Key achievements included setting up the technican training program, and assisting with the successful introduction of the T2000 (Tait's first microprocessor controlled radio) to manufacturing. Interface between engineering and production - More recently termed an NPI engineer but reported to the production manager. In charge of the production technicians, hiring, training and mentoring in addition to product alignment and component level faultfinding.Key achievements included setting up the technican training program, and assisting with the successful introduction of the T2000 (Tait's first microprocessor controlled radio) to manufacturing.
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Production Technician
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Jun 1987 - Sep 1989
Factory bench technician, faultfinding to component level on microprocessor controlled mobile radio systems. Factory bench technician, faultfinding to component level on microprocessor controlled mobile radio systems.
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Western Geophysical
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Oil and Gas
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1 - 100 Employee
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Technician
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Jan 1984 - Nov 1987
Field service technician on sesmic survey vessels. Field service technician on sesmic survey vessels.
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Technician
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Jan 1982 - Jan 1983
Factory bench technician, testing and aligning modules for military radar guidance systems. Component level faultfinding. Factory bench technician, testing and aligning modules for military radar guidance systems. Component level faultfinding.
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Education
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2012 - 2016
University of Canterbury
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) -
1981 - 1982
Plymouth Polytechnic, now University of the Southwest, Plymouth, UK
HND Electronics, Marine -
1979 - 1981
South Shields Marine and Technical College
HNC, Radio and Radar; OND Telecommunications
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