About Jim Moss
Hi, I'm Jim Moss, welcome to my website and thanks for taking the time to visit
On this page you will find a summary of my work experience over 40 plus years associated with ceramic product manufacturing, along with some biodata on who I am.
Information relating to my industrial employment prior to commencement of my present career as an independent consultant is provided on this page whilst Examples of my consulting activities are to be found on a separate webpage here
For enquiries regarding contracting of my services, detailed information of any part of my background, or to enquire if I can help you in an area not listed in the activities posted on this website, please email me using the contact form provided
Curriculum and Biodata Overview:
Born in the UK in 1950, I received a high school education to 16 years of age following which I entered full-time employment in the UK ceramic manufacturing industry to train initially as an industrial ceramist in the area of stoneware tableware, cookware and giftware production
For the next 22 years I continued working in the UK in tableware, cookware, giftware, sanitaryware and tiles manufacturing sectors of the ceramic industry following which I accepted an offer of work overseas which in turn lead to my relocation to Mexico where I am now a permanent resident and from where I base my business as an independent international consultant ceramist / ceramic engineer.
My academic background is centred on part-time studies from 1966-1974 and 1984-1986 at the North Staffordshire College of Ceramic Technology and at the North Staffordshire (Winton House) Management Center, in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, where I qualified in the Associateship of the Institute of Ceramics (A.I.Ceram), the Diploma in Management Studies (DMS) and the Diploma in Marketing (D.Mktg)
Employment History:
1966 – 1988: Employed initially as a trainee ceramist by a leading stoneware tableware and cookware manufacture, as my career progressed I held a number and variety of senior technical and managerial positions with leading UK tableware and cookware, sanitaryware and tiles manufacturing companies – see details
1988: I accepted a 1 year contract offer in Mexico to work as technical director for a North American owned tableware manufacturer. After the contract finished I stayed on in Mexico to continue working within the local ceramics industry - see details
1993: Following granting of permanent residency in Mexico, I launched my career as an independent international consultant to the ceramic industry
1993 – to date: Additional to consulting in Mexico, I have spent almost 50% of the past 17 years working overseas, predominantly in developing countries such as Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Venezuela on a variety of assignments ranging 3 months to 18 months duration – see sector examples of consultant assignments
Craft ceramics related experience: Outside of my industrial-based career I have always practiced studio ceramics as a craft hobby and have a long association of working with craft and artisan potters to assist in developing their operations. I possess practical skills and in-depth knowledge of a wide range of handcrafted techniques and the processes associated with the forming, decoration and firing of this type of production
Non-ceramics related work: When in Mexico I often work outside of the ceramics industry as a general purpose industrial consultant, in which area I have designed, built and commissioned, processing ovens for the rotomolding of polypropylene water storage products, and small furnaces for the tempering of metals and smelting of metal hardening pastes. Additionally, I advise on the design and implementation of factory administrative and control procedures and associated documentation.
I also work on an on-demand basis as a bilingual technical translator (English-Spanish) for local companies and educational and government establishments. I also offer my services
Communicative and practical skills: I have very good communicative skills at both shop floor and senior management levels. I am a practical hands-on ceramist/ceramic engineer able to demonstrate and teach by example on an extensive range of industry standard ceramic processes. I am a competent, self taught, mechanical engineer and possess the basic engineering skills to design plant processing equipment, diagnose equipment problems and carry out basic maintenance repairs or modifications
Computer skills: I have an above average level of computer literacy and usage familiarity of office standard administrative software and industry standard illustrating, graphic design and video editing software. I am an accomplished user of Solidworks parametric modelling CAD software, which I frequently use as a design aid for project work and plant improvements. More recently I have entered into the area of website design and have ongoing commissions in this field with companies in my home town
Personal details: I am a married and have 4 adult children from a previous marriage and a 6 year old son from my present marriage. My wife is a Mexican national who for the past 10 years has worked in a senior administrative positions in the English language departmen tat the local state university where she also teaches English. Prior to this role she frequently accompanied me on overseas assignments. We live in the town of Pachuca, Hidalgo state, situated 90 km, north of Mexico City
My hobbies and interests cover a wide range of creative activities including carpentry, D.I.Y and home improvement work, gardening, photography and learning computer software. I am an avid music collector with a wide ranging taste in music genres. I enjoy travelling and experiencing new places and cultures
1966 -1988: Details of Full-Time Employment, UK.
- 1966/76 - Denby Tableware Ltd., Denby, Derbyshire; (stoneware ovenware and tableware) Employed initially as a trainee works ceramist working on stoneware body and glaze development as my training and knowledge increased I was given technical control of body and glaze processing operations. In 1974 I was transfered to Langley Pottery Ltd (sister company) in the position of works technical manager were my part of my responsibilities included the control of the works control and development laboratory, body and glaze processing sections, decorating color and silk screen preparation. At Langley I also worked extensively with in-house designers to develop glazes and decorative techniques as part of new product development
- 1976/81 - Pearsons of Chesterfield Ltd., Chesterfield, Derbyshire; (stoneware ovenware, kitchenware and tableware). Employed as works technical manager to control all technical aspects of the production processes from body and glaze preparation to kiln firing. Extensively involved in the development of new processes and products
- 1981/84 - Royal Bathrooms Ltd. (a division of the french based Allia sanitaryware group), Queenborough, Kent; (vitreous china sanitaryware). Employed as works technical manager responsible for the works laboratory, body and glaze preparation, quality control testing procedures and maintenance of colour standards between the group divisions. Alongside French and German counterparts from companies within the Allia group I regularly represented the UK based companies at group level product and process development committee meetings
- 1984/88 - Woolliscroft Tiles Ltd., Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire; (vitreous glazed and unglazed cladding and floor tiles). Employed initally as assistant production manager I was subsequently seconded as production systems administrator and personnel assistant to the chief executive to work alongside a contracted systems analysis tasked to design and implement a factory wide control documentation package and to recruit and train the associated factory personnel. After successful implementation of the package I left the company to take up an overseas contract assignment
1988-1993: Details of Full-Time Employment, Mexico
- 1988/89 - Prima Ceramica S.A de C.V., Pachuca, Hidalgo, (vitreous earthenware tableware). Employed as a technical director to control all technical aspects of the production operation and assist in raising quality standards throughout the operation in order that the company met standards for exportable product for the US market
- 1989/91 - Loza Fina S.A de C.V., Guadalajara, Jalisco; (earthenware tableware and porcelain laboratoryware and giftware). Employed as technical manager. Instrumental in developing the production of a high volume 'crockpot/grill' product for the US market to substitute dwindling tableware sales in the local market. I left the company after its forced closure due to an industrial dispute between the owner and local trade unions
- 1992/94 - Terrajal Products S.A de C.V., Guadalajara, Jalisco; (red body hand crafted glazed decorative floor and wall tiles). Employed as technical manager to develop an craft based manufacturing operation into a semi automatic industrial unit whilst maintaining a hand-crafted feel and appearance in the finished product. During extensive plant modifications over a short time period I was responsible for successful design modifications and commissioning of an in-house built roller hearth kiln and the design of an intermittent kiln to replace traditional craft-based units. I also introduced a wide range of glazes and direct silkscreen printing techniques to enhance the product range and improve productivity. I eventually left the company to launch my career as an independent consultant