Experience and knowledge
Our vision is to create an application that
establishes the current condition of a manufacturing operation, sets aspirations and accelerates the
improvement process
As senior executives and particularly as a result of our interim assignments, we have amassed a great deal of knowledge and experience in how to accelerate the financial, operational and cultural performance of a manufacturing business. Having had success leading; growth, transformation, transition and turn around we have identified recurring traits that if left unchallenged, disconnect operations from their obligations to the financial performance of the business. The Operations function is responsible for both converting sales orders into revenue and controlling over 60% of business costs meaning that any disconnection is damaging. Linking operational performance to the financial wellbeing of the business is the foundation of our assessments. They have been designed to help you understand and improve aspects of your operation that have a significant influence on performance but can be difficult to monitor.
Steven Leahey
MBA, BA Engineering Science
Founder and Director at OAG Operations Assessment Group
A manufacturing career with over 45 years’ experience from tool room to boardroom. The last 15 years as a successful Interim Manager. My leadership and commitment to aligning manufacturing activity with the P&L has consistently delivered sustainable operational improvement with quantifiable financial benefits. My knowledge and experience has been applied within the major manufacturing sectors encompassing small, medium and large, single and multi-site organisations
Greg Simpson
MBA, BSc (Hons) in Manufacturing, MIoD, FCIM
Founder and Director at OAG Operations Assessment Group
Working life began as an electronics technician with a passion for manufacturing, then joined
Ford Motor Company as a Manufacturing Management Undergraduate and now after 35 years
in manufacturing industry now a Consultant, Interim MD and Operations Director. Successful
over this period in reducing investment risk through operations due diligence assessment
and by leading improvement via P&L Management and Strategic Lean Deployment. Adept at
restructuring operations to deliver growth and profitability across a spectrum of industries and
a range of organisations.
Awards:- CBI Manufacturing Council commendation, Nissan’s Best Improved Supplier,
Investor in People in 3 plants, CIPD People Management (BMW), QS9001, TS16949, ISO14001,
OHSAS18001, BRC AA, Britain’s Best Engineering Factory award
Michael Kent
BSc (Hons) Industrial Sociology
Michael is an international, results-driven GM and Operations Director with over 25 years of success across Automotive, Aerospace, Technology, Heavy Processing, Oil & Gas, and Retail Manufacturing. He has led single and multi-site operations in the UK, USA, China, India, Germany, and Sweden.
Skilled in Lean and Six Sigma, Michael has delivered transformation programmes in both high-volume and bespoke manufacturing environments. He excels in driving Continuous Improvement and cultural change, particularly within complex electro-mechanical and software-integrated product businesses.
With a blend of consultative and permanent leadership experience, he has led MBOs, worked in private equity, and consistently delivered results under pressure.
Richard Leese
BA (Hons) HR Management
A results-driven, DiSC-certified leader, Richard has a strong track record in driving efficiency, business turnaround, and sustainable growth across industrial sectors. He specialises in post-acquisition integration, organisational change, and aligning people, processes, and strategy for lasting impact.
His people-centric leadership style focuses on coaching and development, leading to cost reductions, improved safety, and enhanced customer experience. Known for stabilising underperforming businesses and fostering team engagement, Richard combines commercial acumen with empathetic decision-making. He also serves in voluntary roles, including as a trustee board member and adult scout leader.
Alan John Robson
MBA, BA Mechanical Engineering
Managing Director with over 35 years of experience across manufacturing, including 15+ years in the automotive sector. Industry background spans oil and metal processing, injection moulding, electronics, procurement, and outsourcing. A motivational leader with a track record in both large enterprises and SMEs, including two successful start-ups.
A Lean-trained practitioner and Toyota award winner, known for building high-performing teams and driving business transformation.
Expertise includes general management, P&L, operations, sales, design, project management, QMS/ISO9001, external investment, and business acquisition.
Sara Andrews
BEng - Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering
MSc - Manufacturing Engineering & Management
Over 30 years of global, cross-functional experience spanning strategic planning, operations, programme delivery, and HR, with multisector expertise. Worked with leading organisations such as Jaguar Cars, Johnson Controls, Mettis Aerospace, and Mattioli Woods.
As Chief Business Officer at Mattioli Woods, she led core business support functions including People, Technology, Marketing, and Compliance.
A Chartered Fellow of CIPD, ILM, and CMI, she has spoken at the House of Lords and received multiple industry awards.
Ian Nolan
BSc (Hons) European Business with Technology
With over 35 years of operations experience, beginning in Industrial Engineering and progressing through Plant Management to the role of Managing Director at a Tier 1 automotive manufacturer. Has consistently driven improvements in operational efficiency across the globe. Expertise has been applied in countries including India, Italy, Tunisia, France, and ultimately the UK. In recent years, has leveraged this extensive experience to lead several business transformations in both permanent and interim roles.
Alison Poole
BA (Hons), CIPD
Founder and MD of ASP Executive Search Group and Kendall Poole Consulting Ltd, with additional roles as Commercial Network Partner for Operations Assessment Group (OAG) and ChairX. Passionate about Manufacturing and Engineering, with deep expertise in manufacturing operations and a hands-on, customer-facing approach. Proudly supports clients and candidates through both growth and challenging times, building long-term partnerships grounded in transparency, collaboration, and integrity.
Works with a diverse global client base across sectors such as Automotive, Aerospace, Automation, FMCG, and Tech Start-ups. The group offers permanent and interim executive search solutions, and through a high-performing project team, delivers cultural change and transformation programmes. Services span leadership coaching, succession planning, psychometric profiling, and organisational development—guided by a boutique ethos and the belief that "we do difficult things well through Understanding, Knowledge and Experience."
Andrew Noakes
BSc Manufacturing Engineering
Results-driven Manufacturing Consultant with 30 years of experience improving efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness in manufacturing, particularly within the automotive and battery technology sectors. Expert in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and process optimisation, consistently delivering solutions that enhance productivity and profitability.
Combines deep knowledge of ISO standards with hands-on leadership in quality management and operational excellence. Internationally experienced, with a strong cross-cultural skillset gained from working across Europe, China, and India. Committed to creating environments where success is inevitable.
Matt Gascoigne
MBA (UCL), BA (Hons) Economics
Experienced executive and trusted advisor to CEOs across professional services, consulting, and public sectors. Successfully supported a business scale-up from 10 to 120 staff over four years, maintaining £2m EBIT, while leading innovative people strategies and keeping attrition below 14%. Oversaw board and governance restructures, organisational redesigns, and values-led cultural change with full adoption.
Led talent acquisition across executive, interim, and high-volume hiring, while heading businesses generating over £5m EBITDA annually. Drove alignment through OKRs, revamped performance processes, and co-developed a competency framework with 96% of employees in active review cycles. Delivered a full HR tech transformation, including a NetSuite ERP rollout.
Matthew Mardle
Results-driven Managing Director with over 20 years of experience revitalising and scaling businesses across automotive, manufacturing, and 3PL sectors. Skilled in P&L management, business development, and operational transformation, with a strong track record of improving EBITDA, driving revenue growth, and delivering shareholder value.
Proven leader in steering companies through growth, restructuring, and international expansion. Now seeking a senior leadership role within a group or private structure to leverage this experience and drive long-term, sustainable success through strategic transformation.
Ian Memmott
BSc (Hons) Metallurgy, CEng MIM
Starting off as a Metallurgist, qualified to Chartered Engineer level after spells in the MoD, power generation and heavy vehicles manufacture. Moved to 1st tier Automotive and following a successful first project, was asked, “Have you heard of Kaizen?” What then followed was a career of Lean/CI leader positions interspersed with operational roles in manufacturing and engineering. Led Lean Six Sigma programmes for both Novelis and Rolls-Royce and whilst at Rolls-Royce, was also a Master facilitator in a major cultural change programme.
For the last 10 years, I have been providing consultancy services in Oil and Gas, Aerospace, Defence and FMCG, either assisting factory turnarounds or simply driving bottom line results through coaching senior leadership and teams in implementing sustainable Operational Excellence through behavioural change.
Originally designed for single-site manufacturers, investors and consultants, it soon became apparent that multi-site manufacturers, recruiters and membership organisations could also benefit from a multi-site, multi-layer version. There are currently 3 types of OAG assessments available, all of which establish current state and aspirations for manufacturing site or sites based on the 7 key components. They produce a report highlighting areas for improvement and detailed actions to enable you to achieve your aspiration
There are 3 main methods assessments designed for single-site and multi-site operations. Each has a reporting package included, a secure online dashboard, analysis, financial benefits and actions for improvement.
Pioneer is a self-assessment for single-site operations where aspiration and current state data is entered consecutively producing a report in under 90 minutes.
Spearhead is a coordinated assessment for a single-site operation where the assessor can establish the current state and aspirations via input from selected individuals.
Vanguard is a coordinated assessment for multi-site operations to establish aspiration and current state for individual and cross-site performance analysis.
Contact us on our contact page for more information.