CW Products: ALEC MILLARD

Can you share with us how you first got into the window furnishings industry and what initially attracted you to this field? 

I started as a store person in our warehouse. In the beginning, I had no knowledge or experience with window furnishings. I became very interested in the field as I gained knowledge of all the parts that make a roller shutter. 

Who or what were your key influences that guided your early career choices and led you to focus on production management within the industry? 

I have always enjoyed the team environment and working together to achieve a goal. I played a lot of team sport through my childhood and had leadership exposure through that.

I saw first hand how leadership can impact team morale and effectiveness. 

Having my knowledge foundation in warehousing and logistics, I found it a clear next step to understand the production side. 

Working with industry experts really opened my eyes to production flow and how to identify improvements. Through this exposure I really became interested in manufacturing.

As the Production Manager at CW Products, what are your primary responsibilities and what does a typical day look like? 

I’m responsible for overseeing rollforming, powder coating and roller shutter production, as well as maintenance. I like to start early, to prepare and meet with different teams across the business, to ensure we’re on track with any commitments for the day. It’s really important check in with my team, follow up on any queries, address any issues and set up the next day for success. Good communication and pulse checks throughout the day are vital for ensuring smooth production operation on the floor. 

What are some of the most significant achievements or milestones in your career so far, particularly at CW Products?

I’m particularly proud of the strong role I played in making improvements to our Melbourne Trade Centre and Murray Bridge factory layouts. 

Implementing the manufacturing expansion in Murray Bridge and refining our production replenishment processes have been rewarding highlights.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve encountered in your role and how have you overcome them? 

Growing with the business has been a rewarding challenge.The company’s grown a lot since I’ve been here and that evolution has seen many challenges along the way. I’ve taken a leadership role in many changes to processes, role development and physical layout. I overcame the challenges by having a growth mindset, understanding that as the business develops we need to change the way we work to support that and our valued customers.

How have you seen the window furnishings industry evolve since you started? 

Technology and motorisation have really taken off – there is very little demand for manually operated shutters these days.

The modern colour range continues to evolve and we’ve introduced new colours, such as Dune and Surfmist, to keep pace with emerging trends in the building industry.

We are also noticing a trend towards commercial and security products.

Can you share some of the most important lessons you’ve learned throughout your career in this industry? 

It’s important to ask questions and engage with your team. 

My job is to support and grow my team, and communication is the key. Set clear goals and expectations for your team, and keep everyone on the same page.

What are some of the innovative projects or initiatives you have spearheaded that you’re particularly proud of? 

I extremely proud of leading our manufacturing layout changes this year. I was the project manager on this. We developed and revised the layouts, liaised with team members to produce a thorough plan, engaged and organised contractors. I lead two teams, plus contractors, over a full weekend to complete the implementation work – this was time critical as we needed manufacturing operational for production on the Monday.

Where do you see the window furnishings industry heading in the next five to 10 years, and what role do you see production management playing in that future? 

I see many companies moving towards focusing more on retailing and away from fabrication. We will see more and more fabrication centralise to specialty companies like CW Products, due to the cost of inventory, real estate and CWP’s ability to lead the industry with innovative products. 

I see the role of Production Manger becoming more important due to the rising demand on centralised fabrication through specialised companies. 

What advice would you give to someone looking to start a career in the window furnishings industry, particularly in production or a leadership role?

It’s important to develop a deep understanding of manufacturing principles.

Seek advice from your team – team members often have the best answers on how to better do their role.

Scheduled one on ones with your team will develop trust. 

And lead by example. Rolling up your sleeves and working with your team builds respect and provides a deeper understanding of how the work is done.