Apostolos Christos Tafsanidis
** ***** ******, *******, *** 7XT
Email: ***********@*****.***, Mobile: +44-792*******
EDUCATION
Sep 2010- The University of Manchester, School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering
Dec 2011 MSc Engineering Project Management with Merit
• Developed excellent knowledge in key concepts of Project Management, especially in the areas of Project Planning & Control, People & Organisation and Management of Projects
• Mastered Project Management tools such as CPM, CCPM, WBS, RA and methodologies such as Lean and Agile
• Led and coordinated a 10 member multi-language/disciplinary team, during the elective module ‘’Project Managing Humanitarian Aid’’, that was assessed in real life scenarios of rehabilitation and reconstruction projects e.g. Haiti earthquake and Indonesian tsunami
• Recommended specific tasks to each member and motivated them in order to realize the importance of their task and the commitment towards each other and the team’s targets
• Encouraged everyone to participate in dialogues and feel free to express their ideas while managing potential conflicts and misunderstandings with good communication and resolution techniques, before they became serious
• The result was a successful and healthy team both in performance (merit level) and in the relationships between the members
• Took the APM introductory exam in Project Management and the Prince2 foundation exam, in which I scored 100% and 87% respectively
• Dissertation title ‘’Decision Support Systems’’
Oct 2003- Technical University of Crete - MEng Production Engineering and Management
Oct 2009 (grade:7.59/10.00 very good - among the top 5%), (last 2 years average 8.82/10.00 excellent)
• Developed excellent background knowledge both in engineering (Mechanical/Manufacturing) and Management (Human Resource, Supply Chain, Logistics, Marketing, Quality Control and Financial Management)
• Improved technical, analytical and research skills through assessment in different kind of projects e.g.:
• Developed a real case study of an irrigation pumping station during the module ‘’Hydrodynamic & Thermal Machines’’
• Designed a dynamic model with Matlab/Simulink for calculating the depreciation of oscillations in 2 floor buildings during the module ‘’Dynamics, Oscillations and Control of Structures’’
• Researched about Global Logistics during the module ‘’Supply Chain Design and Optimization’’
• Assessed, among others in modules such as: Fluid Mechanics; Thermodynamics; Materials Science; Production Systems; Systems Reliability-Maintenance-Replacement; Production Networks (CAM); Computer-aided Design (CAD); Robotics; Mechatronics; Electric Circuits; Ergonomics and Renewable Energy Resources
• Introduced in continuous improvement techniques such as Lean Thinking, Six-Sigma, JIT, Kaizen and DMAIC
• Dissertation title ‘’Nanotechnology application for creating nanofibers via electrospinning method’’
Scholarships Two scholarships from the Technical University of Crete in reward for the performance of studies during the academic years 2005-2006 and 2006-2007
WORK EXPERIENCE
Jan 2012- Efficio Limited, International Management Consultancy Firm, London, United Kingdom
Present Procurement Specialist – Thames Water Managed Services
Thames Water has outsourced their Procurement function to Efficio. My role as a member of the core Managed Procurement Services (MPS) team is to assist in the optimisation of the supply chain by deploying specific sourcing strategies which will deliver substantial savings and value to the business. Responsibilities and skills developed:
• Business Analyst, providing support and analysis in commercial projects such as Pumps and Tankers
• Prepared and raised Project Charters, RFP, CSR, IDR, RFI and presentations for the senior stakeholders
• Developed great analytical skills as I conducted Spend/Cost, Market, SWOT and PEST analysis. Furthermore I conducted internal opportunity assessments and took part in negotiation meetings with the business’s suppliers
• Strengthened my knowledge in Supplier Relationship Management, Asset Management, Flow Management, Total Cost of Ownership and in the Operations of the Clean and Waste Water Industry
Sept 2008- Hellenic Aerospace Industry S.A. (Internship), Tanagra, Schimatari, Greece
Jan 2009 Production/Manufacturing Engineer
• Successfully completed the training scheme in the following departments. Firstly in the Department of Composites Materials with regard to Planning Configuration; Quality Control; Lay up; NDT and Final Inspection. Secondly in the Department of Engineering Support of the Aero-structures Factory with regard to Project Planning and Monitoring; Programming of CNC Machines and Fabrication - Assembly of Machine Parts
• Developed planning and scheduling skills during my placement in the Production Planning, Scheduling and Control office, where I was assisting in planning configuration, while applying continuous improvement methodologies such as Six Sigma and its individual tools, Benchmarking, Lean Action Workout and 5S
• Attended a week long seminar about Industrial Safety from the Training Department, that provided me a great insight of the importance of safety in the working environment
July- Oct Adamidis Nikolaos, Civil Engineering Firm, (Summer Placement) Egaleo, Greece
2007 Mechanical Engineer
• On-site Supervisor Engineer
• Mechanical Engineering Support in construction studies
• Developed creative problem-solving and negotiation skills. In one case, I reorganised and reallocated the stairs and kitchen area when more living room space was demanded by the customer. In other cases, I negotiated with the client and contractor when transformation or re-design of the structure was not feasible
July- Aug Hellenic Telecommunications Organization S.A., (Internship), Chania, Greece
2006 Mechanical Engineer
• Developed teamwork skills as a member of an engineering team in the Technical Department dealing with network maintenance, repairs and installations
POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Nov 2010- The University of Manchester Swimming Club, Manchester, United Kingdom
June 2011 Volunteered Head Coach
• Employed and enhanced skills such as leadership through the motivation, empowerment and encouragement of the athletes. For example, I organised intra-team relay races which proved to be more motivating than simple individual sprints. Furthermore, I scheduled regular meetings with each athlete to discuss about their goals, expectations and improvement out of the training
• Coordinated and planned a schedule of training for each member according to their swimming level
• My feedback stated that ’’the individual and the team's overall performance was improved’’ and in the following areas I had excellent performance ’’session planning, timekeeping, conduct, enjoyable sessions and safety’’
Feb 2009- Military Service, Greece
Jan 2010
• Performed efficiently as part of a military team while being committed and responsible towards the other members and the team’s targets
• Developed communication and negotiation skills, as I was responsible for identifying infrastructure problems in the military camps facilities in Aegean islands, after communicating daily with the local administrators
ADDITIONAL SKILLS / QUALIFICATIONS
Qualifications
• Recorded in the book of qualified senior technical colleges as a specialist mechanical engineer
• Electrical installation certificate for all Hellenic disciplines and categories
• Lean Six-Sigma White Belt
IT
• Excellent use of computer in Windows environment, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, Project), Internet, Primavera, Catia, Pro-engineer, C, C++, Matlab/Simulink and SAP.
• Demonstrated the ability to learn quickly and efficiently of any software package
Certificates
• Certificate that covers with full proficiency in the subject of Management and Computer Science, from the Technical University of Crete and the Department of Production Engineering and Management
• First Aid Certificate
Driving
• Full clean EU driving licence
Languages
• English (fluently), French (adequate), Greek (mother tongue)
INTERESTS & ACTIVITIES
Memberships Student membership of RICS, member of Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) and member of Hellenic Association of Production Engineering & Management
Sports Over 10 years of professional swimming, yachting, football, hiking and mountaineering
Reference available on request