An interview with Andy McLaughlan

Andy McLaughlan, Engineering & Innovation Director, takes us through his career path and time with RWG.

What has changed for you over the years of working at RWG?

There has been a lot of change over the years, the most significant for me has occurred in the last few years. The investment in equipment and infrastructure is the highest it has ever been, as is the commitment to trying to improve every aspect of the business. When you see the new, state-of-the-art equipment going into ARB, the investment in the test cell and the collaboration with Siemens on the A20 DLE, methanol testing and hydrogen testing, it is an exciting time to be a part of this company.

How will these investments benefit the customer over time?

These investments primarily focus on two main elements. Firstly, improving the quality and turn times of our customers component repair and manufacturing requirements, and second, developing and supporting fuel flexibility to allow our customers to lower their carbon emissions and optimise their operations by taking advantage of various alternative low carbon fuels.

What is the most enjoyable part of your role?

I get more time to focus on what I have always enjoyed about working here, the technical engineering. I’m lucky that I get to spend time looking at new technology and exploring how it may help improve our process’. I also have the privilege to work with a highly talented group of people that aspire to make the best product and processes possible.

Is there one technical engineering project you’re enthusiastic about?

There are a lot of fantastic projects currently in progress, but I think the standout must be developing RWG’s remanufacturing capability for the dry low emission variant of the A35. This project has a lot of challenging and exciting elements. In order to develop this, we are bringing online more innovative process’ at any single time than we have every done in the past. As well as this, we are also working with some of the best manufacturing companies in the world who will be supplying RWG with state-of-the-art equipment.

Critically for us, our main objective is to ensure our customers who rely on this technology to produce emission compliant power can continue doing so, with no interruptions.

What was your first ever job?

In 2009, after I graduated, I joined Wood Group’s Gas Turbine Services (GTS) division as a Graduate Mechanical/Rotating Equipment Engineer and spent the next 2 years doing multi month placements in Dubai, Connecticut, Oman, Dundee, Houston and finally 2-year placement in Aberdeen with RWG. When my two years were complete, I joined RWG permanently in the Core Engineering Group as a Rotating Equipment Engineer.

Since then, I’ve been exposed to most areas of the company. I took over what was the Olympus Business Unit at the tail end of its life and along with a great group of people, we rebuilt it into what was previously known as the Marine Group developing and executing overhauls on Spey and WR-21 programs for various global navies.

More recently, I had the pleasure of managing all aspects of ARB. During that time, we saw some fantastic investment and innovative solutions to customers component repair requirements.

And finally, 9 months ago, I was asked to become Director of Engineering and Innovation for the company. I am now responsible for all engineering elements of the Business including Core, ARB Engineering and the Metallurgy Group in our in-house laboratory. The primary focus of this job is to ensure a consistent and cohesive approach to engineering support to the main business groups and evaluate new technology and processes to understand how they might benefit RWG.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Probably two pieces; “Don’t let perfection get in the way of progress” and “Life is too short to worry too much. You had better enjoy it today because tomorrow promises nothing.” The common theme in both is to make the most of what you have. If you are constantly reaching for perfectionism or comparing yourself to others at the expense of doing things that actually make you a little better or happier, you’ll waste a lot of your life not doing anything!

What advice would you give to today’s engineering graduates?

Be curious, ask questions and don’t be afraid to push yourself and make mistakes. Mistakes allow you to gain alternative perspectives and to develop new skills that would be extremely difficult to obtain otherwise.

In addition, I’d also say it is important to never stop learning. Technology and its applications never stop evolving. So even if you are a mechanical engineering, take some time to learn electrical or software engineering. This learning approach will open your mind to different ways to solve problems and make you a more rounded engineer.