James Cullen

Hatmill gives me the opportunity to apply what I have learnt to help other companies, but also expand my knowledge of other industries.

My main interest is in the design, implementation and ramp up of warehouse automation projects, with a particular focus on helping operational teams through hyper-care and post-implementation change management. I have a unique perspective of having managed the operation of a warehouse automation solution that I was also involved in the design and implementation of; so know first hand the implications on operators of decisions made at the design stage.

My career with ASDA started as a warehouse line manager, which gave me a great appreciation for the importance of engaging shop floor colleagues, understanding the challenges they face, and helping them overcome them to improve productivity. I held various other operational roles at all levels from line manager up to Operations Manager in Transport and Warehouse and across ambient, chill and e-commerce operations. I ended my career as General Manager of an ambient DC.

My project roles include new depot start ups and automation design and implementation, from full scale automated warehouse solutions to smaller AMR and AGV projects.

My career highlight is the work I did on a fully automated warehouse. I was involved with the project in various roles from the initial design requirements phase, through supplier selection, contract negotiation, detailed design, construction, testing and implementation. I then secured the role of Warehouse Systems Operations Manager before the site went live and saw it through migration and ramp up and the first 18 months of operation. This included overseeing the creation of all operational processes and training material, as well as the implementation of a Process Flow team to manage the live automation system.