Mark Powell

Experienced Deputy Production Manager, Team Leader and Senior Printing Professional with over 40 years' experience in commercial printing and manufacturing, including almost 22 years with Precision Colour Printing Ltd. Proven in leading large production teams, maximising output, minimising downtime and maintaining exceptional quality, safety and delivery performance. Experienced managing shifts of 60+ employees and agency staff, coordinating workflow, allocating resources, troubleshooting machinery and producing accurate KPI, output and downtime reports.

Calm, decisive and highly effective when communicating with senior management, customers and shop-floor teams.

Deputy Production Manager / Team Leader / Number 1 Printer at PRECISION COLOUR PRINTING LTD (2004-10 – 2026-09)

Progressed into a senior leadership position within a high-volume commercial printing environment, combining hands-on technical expertise with responsibility for production, people, quality, health & safety and operational performance.

• Deputised for the Production Manager, ensuring efficient plant operation and maximum productivity.
• Led production teams, prioritising workflow and coordinating resources to achieve demanding production targets.
• Managed and supported teams of over 60 employees and agency staff across multiple departments.
• Operated Man Roland high-speed printing presses, completing complex make-readies, changeovers and fault diagnosis.
• Monitored production performance and prepared accurate output, downtime and KPI reports.
• Liaised with customers, senior management and account teams to resolve production and quality issues.
• Worked alongside maintenance engineers to prioritise breakdowns and minimise downtime.
• Trained, coached and mentored new and existing employees, improving capability across the workforce.
• Promoted safe working practices through risk assessments and continuous health & safety improvements.
• Maintained exceptional quality standards whilst consistently meeting customer specifications.
• Established and maintain ISO 9001/14001 quality standards.
• Set up and implemented FSC & PEFC accreditation.
• Became the company's first Health & Safety Representative.
• Introduced Lean Manufacturing principles and KPI monitoring.
• Implemented time-stamp and alarm systems to improve quality control.
• Developed visual whiteboards to improve communication and performance awareness.
• Introduced shadow boards to improve workplace organisation and efficiency.
• One of only three employees to achieve BPIF Team Leader accreditation.

Shift Supervisor / Number 1 Printer at TPL PRINTERS UK LTD (1990-10 – 2004-04)

• Supervised shifts involving over 90 employees across printing, bindery and despatch.
• Managed production schedules, quality inspections and customer liaison.
• Prepared shift reports and updated the Operations Director on production performance.
• Attended specialist training in France and Austria before training colleagues on return.

Floating Number 1 Printer at CRADLEY PRINT LTD (2004-05 – 2004-10)

• Operated Heidelberg M600 and Komori System 38 presses.
• Provided holiday and absence cover for Number 1 Operators while maintaining high commercial printing standards.

Number 1 Printer – Sheetfed at HARTLEBURY PRINTERS LTD (PRESSCRAFT) (1985-03 – 1990-07)

• Became the company's youngest Number 1 Press Operator.
• Operated multi-unit Heidelberg Speedmaster presses to demanding commercial standards.

Apprentice Printer at GT CHESHIRE & SONS (1981-09 – 1985-03)

Completed apprenticeship and developed comprehensive commercial printing expertise.

City & Guilds Machine Printing (1982 – 1984)