Paul Dunn, European Finishing Planner, England

Paul Dunn, European Finishing Planner, England
Years with AD
17
Attribute
Twin Dad
Character
Loyal

 

What attracted you to your chosen work?  

 

Simply put, the brand and reputation of Avery Dennison were the first things that attracted me. Avery Dennison Cramlington is a long-standing, well-known company in the North East of England with a reputation for being a great place to work. Once I had visited the site and chatted with different staff members, it was clear that the AD values were aligned, and there was a significant focus on people development. Furthermore, the impressive length of service from some of the team on site spoke for itself.

 

What skills did you develop early that are still useful today?

 

Effective communication – working as an operator within Finishing, communication was key to ensuring we achieved the maximum output and best product quality.
Teamwork – there are many moving parts within manufacturing, without teamwork, the final product would not be achieved.

 

How have you grown in your career at Avery Dennison?

 

This year, I will be celebrating 17 years of service with Avery Dennison. In February 2008, I joined the company as a Finishing Operator. This helped me understand the production end process and the priorities for the Cramlington site, and I gained vital experience across different functions within the department.

 

In 2017, I was successful in earning a place at the Leadership Academy. During this time, I enhanced my knowledge of people management and project planning while also working on my own self-development.

 

 

Paul Dunn, European Finishing Planner, England
Paul Dunn, European Finishing Planner, England

 

Following the Leadership Academy, I was promoted to Finishing Team Leader in 2017. In this role, I experienced valuable insight into people and performance management, leading a team under the pressure of tight deadlines and reacting in unpredictable situations to ensure that we still meet customer demands.

 

In 2021, the opportunity arose to join Supply Chain as a Finishing planner – although this was a little daunting coming solely from a production role background – I was excited to accept this challenge and experience a new area of the business. Since joining the Supply Chain team, I have progressed to European Finishing Planner, planning for Dublin, Copenhagen, and Cramlington. I particularly enjoy interacting with different nationalities and cultures within my current role and expanding my network within the company. In recent months, I have also begun covering during the European Finishing Manager's absence, further enhancing my knowledge and exposing me to new situations and teams within Avery Dennison.

 

 

I particularly enjoy interacting with different nationalities and cultures within my current role and expanding my network within the company.

 

What's the biggest stretch opportunity you've taken on?

 

Participating in the Leadership Academy was the biggest opportunity I have had during my time at AD and was pivotal in allowing me to gain insight into the company's opportunities. I am also extremely grateful that the company supported me in undertaking an external People Management qualification.

 

What role has mentorship played in your career?

 

Throughout my career with Avery Dennison, I have been lucky to draw knowledge from a number of my peers, which has helped me significantly with my development. It is key to acknowledge areas where you lack expertise and actively seek support to develop those areas.

What’s the best career decision you’ve ever made?

 

Moving from operations to supply chain was a big decision, but I'm certainly glad I made it. I took the knowledge and experience from my operations roles into my new supply chain role, allowing me to see situations from different perspectives more holistically. In the four years I have been in Supply Chain, I have grown within my role and see great progression opportunities for the future.

 

Paul Dunn, European Finishing Planner, England

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