First name: Jim
Time at EDAG / year hired: 2000
Title: Product Development Engineer
Growing up in a small town where almost everyone knew each other gave you a family feeling and a place where you belonged. During a time before food allergies, computers, cell phones, the fear of getting infected, a more simple and friendly time. Greatly impacted by the values of my father, who served in WWII, who instilled in me his old school values.
Developed a love of Asian food especially Indian. Remember my first car, Mini mark 1, when you could repair it yourself with just a screwdriver, hammer and pliers. Much more simpler times.
Born and grew up in the small town of Tettenhall England. Established as a village in 725AD during the Anglo-Saxon period and was mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086. Now incorporated into the city of Wolverhampton.
After graduating had the opportunity to work in seven European countries for most of the major car companies, with Portugal being my favorite.
Started of in the local parish school then to senior school (high school), Wulfrun college then University of Wolverhampton, where the only calculating aid was a slide-rule.
Hope I am liked by the people that you work with, trying to put the experience that you have to good use. But, that sometimes that is difficult and sometimes it does not work. To work with people who have a blinkered look on both life and work is frustrating, but the main thing is to try to understand their point of view even when you know it’s not the right one is challenging. There is always something new to learn even in an obstructive environment. In this field and in life no one is 100% right of wrong. Tolerance is the key.
Finally on this point 2022 for me and my family have not been a year that was very hard. But the help and support that my work colleagues gave us proves that people do care and are genuinely concerned about others well being.
Never to old to learn something. There is always something new, something that you didn’t know before. Hopefully able to pass something on to someone else. To be tolerant and understanding to other people’s views and needs and never too quick to judge.
Remember starting at Rolls-Royce Aero-engines, turbine blade division, most difficult job I ever had, in the days before CAD everything was done manually, that started the passion for engineering.
After reading the book by Adrian Newey, a few years ago, F1 chief designer for Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull F1 racing teams, changed the way I looked at engineering and made it simpler and more structured which, I hope, I still carry today. Other than that, anything from fiction to ancient history to high tech books and everything in between. Reading is a passion. Sadly its becoming a lost art. To immerse yourself in something that can take your mind to another place is both amazing and ore inspiring.
Have worked for EDAG for along time. Started when it was Eckard Design in Wolfsburg Germany then changed to EDAG been through the major restructuring at VW, moved to Portugal, in total 13yrs for EDAG in Europe. The major move to EDAG in 2000 helped put my son through college here in the US. Have seen a great number of CEO’s pass through. Each one had their on their own twist on running EDAG. Never a dull moment.
Remember, ‘never give up on your wishes and dreams’.