Mike Williams, as principal of Maxell Consulting, provides innovative business solutions to the process industry through the deployment of business planning, process industry expertise and project management. Maxell Consulting specialises in delivering support & services in the areas of market research, product & process development, strategic planning, project management and process analysis.

Mike brings together over fourteen years industrial process experience with tertiary qualifications in industrial chemistry and business management. He has worked with both small and large organisations including David Mitchell Ltd, Tasmanian Alkaloids and PaperLinX. He has had management responsibility in leading plant operations, technical experience investigating industrial processes and project management responsibility.

More recently Mike has been involved in the market development and strategic review of a mobile waste treatment service for a national waste management company and is currently working with Street Ryan & Associates in conducting a regional economic and business opportunity analysis for the Yarram District. Other work includes assisting Tilbury Steele & Farley Australia complete a strategic plan for David Mitchell Ltd - Tasmania, using the Profit & Growth planning process.

Education:
B. Applied Science - Industrial Chemistry University Tasmania 1987
Master Business Administration Deakin University 2000

Specialist Skills

Strategic Planning Mike has been involved in the development of strategic plans within the process industry, most recently completing a strategic plan for David Mitchell Ltd - Tasmania with Owen Tilbury using the Profit & Growth Plans. He has had extensive experience facilitating capital development and process improvement plans within the chemical processing industry, focused on achieving business and departmental objectives.

Industrial Process Analysis & Design With over 10 years of industrial experience with most chemical and mineral processes Mike understands the business impact of process efficiency, plant reliability, quality control and performance

Mike has extensive experience in process improvement, process design & analysis, pilot plant design & operation and cost reduction plans

Systems Development Mike has developed spreadsheet-based production scheduling and tracking systems for chemical processing departments, as well as cost tracking systems that are linked with process efficiency models. He has also been involved in the development of environmental, safety and quality management systems within a heavy industrial environment.

Financial Analysis Mike has experience and training in finance and cost management within a process industry environment. Budget responsibility has ranged from $4 - 13 million pa. He has completed numerous cost and investment analysis projects to determine returns on investment and identify cost drivers and cost reduction opportunities. He has also undertaken financial ratio, cash flow and break-even analysis and been responsible for budget formulation and cost management reporting.

Project Management Extensive experience managing projects within both production environment and as stand-alone projects. Projects have ranged from process upgrades, process analysis and plant installation to maintenance shutdowns and manning reductions. Project capital budgets have ranged from $50,000 to $3 million.

Industry Experience includes:

• Manufacturing Mike has had operational, technical and project management roles throughout his 13 year manufacturing experience. He has conducted numerous process investigations focused on increasing production capacity, process efficiency and product quality. During his career with Australian Paper he has completed process efficiency studies and operator training programs for caustic and lime manufacture, increased evaporation capacity through process modelling and increased water supply through control system optimisation.
  
  Mike has utilised a systems approach to production management, developing and implementing several systems to predict and track department production levels, cost and process performance and department safety performance. He has also completed a review of information system requirements for the Power/ Recovery department of Australian Paper Maryvale Mill, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing information systems in supporting management decision making.
  
  Cost reduction and business improvement has been a feature of Mike's career, with experience in tender management to deliver cost savings and lock in long term supply contracts for industrial scale removal and chemicals supply. Other cost reduction projects have included limekiln fuel usage reduction, soda loss reduction using TQM problem solving process and water treatment chemical usage reduction. Budget responsibility
  
  His project management roles have included both business redesign and process improvement projects. These have included:
  
  
• Manning reduction projects for Australian Paper Burnie Mill
• Lime kiln shell rebuild for Australian Paper Burnie Mill
• Scoping and definition studies on Dilute NC Gas collection & Causticising plant automation projects for Australian Paper Maryvale Mill Industry experience has included
• Minerals processing, caustic manufacture, energy production
• Pharmaceuticals manufacture within a batch process environment
• High temperature processing including rotary and vertical shaft kilns, high-pressure boilers and fluid bed furnaces.
• Environmental management including water and wastewater treatment and solid waste management
  
  
• Quality/Environment/OH & S More recently Mike has had experience within the environmental industry including
  
  
• Investigation into colour removal of industrial waste treatment using mobile waste treatment service for Barry Bros. Pty Ltd.
• Design, construction and operation of Secondary Treatment System Pilot Plant for Australian Paper Maryvale Mill
• Development of Wastewater treatment plant upgrade program to resolve environmental performance deficiencies for Australian Paper Maryvale Mill
• Qualitative risk assessment of power plant, causticising plant and wastewater treatment plant for Australian Paper Maryvale Mill.
• Manual handling assessment within the wastewater treatment facility for Australian Paper Maryvale Mill.
• Development and implementation of information systems for area safety task tracking
• Detailed understanding of ISO9000(Quality standard), ISO14001(Environmental standard) & SafetyMAP accreditation
  
  
• Strategic Planning Mike has conducted strategy development and planning within process industry, including:
  
  
• Business planning with David Mitchell Ltd Tasmania
• Strategic market development of mobile waste treatment service for Barry Bros. Pty Ltd.
• Strategic economic assessment of Australian Fine Papers market
  
  
• Regional Development Mike's business analysis skills have been utilised recently in a Business Opportunity Study for Yarram District of Wellington Shire (in conjunction with Street Ryan & Associates). The project involves developing business opportunities that match the inherent community strengths and opportunities, and then develop detailed market and investment analysis to facilitate implementation of the selected opportunities. The project includes community consultation, market and investment analysis to identify opportunities that deliver the best result for the community for both social and economic development.
  
  
• Forestry & Forest Products Mike has over 10 years experience within the Forestry and Forest Products industry, including timber processing, pulp & paper manufacture and paper converting operations. This experience has included operational and technical roles with both chemical and semi-chemical pulping processes; wood processing; site services supply including chemical recovery, power/steam and air supply and waste treatment; and paper production scheduling.
  
  With the high capital requirements, low product margins and intense price competition, the forest and forest products industry must maximise equipment availability, reduce product wastage and maintain low operating costs. The Forestry and Forest Products Team of TOTAL Business Consultants have the experience and skills to offer a total range services across the entire value chain.