Michael Wendling
ENGINEERING DIRECTOR | VP ENGINEERING | DIRECTOR OF CONTROLS & AUTOMATION
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About
Engineering executive with more than 20 years of experience leading global automation, controls, manufacturing engineering, and capital project initiatives across the brewing & distilling, food & beverage, pharmaceutical, specialty chemical, OEM, automotive, and industrial manufacturing industries. Proven record of building engineering organizations, leading multidisciplinary teams, delivering complex turnkey automation solutions, and partnering with executive stakeholders to drive operational excellence, manufacturing efficiency, and long-term business growth. Recognized for successfully managing projects from concept through commissioning, developing automation strategies for multinational organizations, and cultivating lasting client relationships through technical expertise, commercial leadership, and consistent project delivery.
Experience
OWNER & MANAGING DIRECTOR at MW Control Solutions Ltd. (2003-01 – Present)
Founded and continue to lead a specialist industrial automation and controls engineering consultancy delivering turnkey manufacturing solutions to multinational organizations throughout Europe. Founded and successfully grew an engineering consultancy specializing in automation, controls, MES integration, and turnkey manufacturing solutions. Direct all business operations including engineering strategy, project execution, client development, budgeting, staffing, and commercial management.
- Lead multidisciplinary engineering teams through system design, programming, factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), commissioning, and long-term customer support.
- Deliver complete automation solutions utilizing Siemens PCS7, Allen-Bradley, WinCC, Wonderware, TIA Portal, and advanced industrial networking technologies.
- Designed and developed custom HMI applications using VB.NET and C# to improve production visibility and operator efficiency.
- Established long-term service agreements and strategic partnerships with breweries, distilleries, and manufacturing facilities across Europe.
- Successfully managed multiple concurrent automation projects while maintaining exceptional customer satisfaction and project performance.
- Representative Clients: Waterford Distillery, Teelings Distillery, Rye River Brewing
GLOBAL AUTOMATION LEAD / CONTROL & INSTRUMENTATION ENGINEER at SPX Ireland (2007-01 – 2013-12)
Provided technical leadership for large-scale industrial automation projects supporting pharmaceutical, food, beverage, and specialty manufacturing clients worldwide.
- Led full lifecycle automation projects from engineering design through startup and global commissioning.
- Designed ISA-88 compliant batch control systems utilizing Siemens PCS7, WinCC, Wonderware, Allen Bradley, and RSBatch platforms.
- Served as the primary automation specialist for complex international manufacturing projects.
- Collaborated directly with executive leadership, operations teams, and customers to ensure successful project delivery.
- Delivered automation solutions for globally recognized manufacturers including: Diageo, Coca-Cola, Pfizer, Glanbia, Dairygold.
- Supported global commissioning efforts while improving system reliability, production efficiency, and manufacturing performance.
SENIOR CONTROL SYSTEMS ENGINEER at Tomra Sorting (2013-01 – 2013-12)
- Supported research and development initiatives focused on advanced optical sorting technologies.
- Developed embedded software integration for QVision Analyzer systems utilizing C++ and C#
- Collaborated with engineering teams to improve product functionality and system performance.
CONTROLS ENGINEER | SENIOR CONTROLS ENGINEER at Peugeot | Juhl GmbH | Herrenknecht | Xtratherm | Tyco (1997-01 – 2007-12)
Progressed through increasingly senior engineering positions supporting industrial manufacturing and automotive organizations across Europe.
- Designed, programmed, commissioned, and maintained automated manufacturing systems.
- Developed PLC, HMI, and industrial networking solutions supporting high-volume production environments.
- Supported machine integration, process optimization, and manufacturing modernization initiatives.
- Built extensive expertise in industrial automation, controls engineering, and commissioning that established the foundation for future executive leadership.
Education
Bachelor of Technology in Mechatronics
Four-Year Control Engineering Apprenticeship
