Tom Hughes

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT TOM HUGHES

Driven engineering leader with a global background in automotive, supply chain, and software development.Originally from Magherafelt, Northern Ireland, I started my journey studying engineering in Birmingham, followed by 10 years working across Europe in Quality, Purchasing, and Continuous Improvement within the Tier 1 automotive supply chain. Along the way, I mastered French and German, working with industry leaders like Toyota, Nissan, and other major European OEMs at a world-class level.I transitioned out of automotive as the Sourcing Engineering Director for a division of Alstom, where I led the transformation of purchasing into a strategic function, driving improvements in Quality, Cost, Delivery, and innovation during new product introductions.In 2003, I returned to Ireland, completed an MBA at Trinity College Dublin, and joined Olaer, a global leader in hydraulics. After completing a private equity-backed MBO, we grew the business to over $200M globally. I later transitioned from Supply Chain Director to Commercial Director, successfully uniting a collection of companies into a cohesive global organization.Post-Olaer, I took a leap into software development, founding 3rd Digital in Ahmedabad, India, before returning to my engineering roots at Lumen Electronics. There, we provide high-level product development services from concept to production, and I\'ve implemented Lean methodologies across multiple organizations.I also authored the book \"Improvement Starts With I\", now read by thousands. Currently, my main focus is GEMBADOCS, a software solution for streamlining SOP creation and editing. Seeing companies around the world embrace it has been incredibly rewarding, and we\'re growing exponentially.Feel free to connect—I\'m always eager to meet new people and explore exciting opportunities.