Congratulations to Melanie Routledge, UK Materials Operations Planner Team Leader, who is celebrating her 25 years long service with our company.
Melanie (Mel) joined RMC in 1998 in the office in Langley Moor Durham as Customer Service Coordinator, dealing with sales enquiries and queries. Then in 2000 she took on a new role in Readymix although her then Line Manager, Terry Mason, worried about how she would find my way around as this was before the days of Satnavs! Mel says: “This was an amazing role covering sales and technical for four sites, it gave me more on the job knowledge of concrete, got me face to face with customers, selling and also giving technical advice. I also had to take cubes daily, do slump tests, match mortar colours etc. The only part of this job I didn’t like was stripping the cubes! It was in this role I met my husband, David, who was an IHC at one of the plants I covered, and we have now been married for 19 years!”
In 2002 Mel then went on to become an External Sales Rep covering five sites based at our Newcastle office. She formed some excellent relationships with both Site Managers and main buyers. Mel explains: “The technical knowledge I had gained in the previous role was invaluable and gained me respect in what was then a very male dominated industry.”
In 2014 an Operations Planner role came up. Mel was grateful to John Parker who gave her the opportunity to gain more knowledge in Cemex operations, where she got to deal more with the Operations Managers, vendors, learning about budgets and statutory inspections.
Finally, two years ago Mel was given the opportunity to become the Operations Planners Team leader, working for Rob Sims, which is where she is today. Mel says: “I am very lucky that I have an amazing team!”
Rob Sims, General Manager, shared the following message for Mel: “I have known Mel for the last few years, and she is great! She is extremely well respected in her role, interacting with operational staff daily, ensuring orders for equipment are raised in a timely manner. If anyone has a question about SAP, PACS control or orders they always go to Mel! 25 years is a fantastic achievement and Mel continues to be an asset to Cemex. Thank you and many congratulations on achieving this special milestone!”