Mrs Schofield
Q: What were you hoping for when you agreed to do Boss Swap?
A:
I wanted to let everyone know we make the best high-speed doors in the world.
Q: How did you find doing the Swap?
A: I wasn't looking forward to it. I was really apprehensive. But it was fantastic, really energising.
Q: What was the best bit of the Swap?
A: We'd worked all weekend to rearrange the factory. Then on the Monday we broke all the factory production records. Then on Tuesday and Wednesday we broke them again and again.
Q: What was the worst bit of the Swap?
A: On the Wednesday I realised that I had alienated Barney. He wanted to change everything back to the way it was done before. I should have been less aggressive and more subtle. It's a real pity because I showed the staff a better way of working, but it has been snatched away from them.
Q: How did you get a feel for your new firm?
A: Manufacturing principles are the same everywhere. The only difference is ours is a bespoke factory and theirs is mass production. Julie took me round and explained what they did. As soon as I walked in the factory I felt at home. It was like Union Industries was 30 years ago. Everyone working really hard, but chasing their own tails. It needs proper management to sort out all the processes.
Q: What were the firm's strengths?
A: The people are their greatest asset and the management don't realise it. I never got that dumb insolence you often get in British manufacturing.
Dave is great. He's very intelligent. He's a one-man ideas factory. But because he knows how to operate the machines he can't leave the factory behind. He should put Julie in charge of running the factory and he should concentrate on pushing the business forward: sorting out credit control, pricing, marketing.
Q: What were the firm's weaknesses?
A: Dave acts like a Victorian boss. He doesn't encourage independent thought from any of his keen and loyal staff. His autocratic, despotic management will finish them off he doesn't change.
Q: Did you learn anything from doing the swap?
A: I learnt a lot. I learnt that I could still do it. I hadn't forgotten the things I learnt when I was younger. I learnt that I've still got passion in my soul: passion to do things better.
Q: What would you have done if you had had more time?
A: I'd have loved to be there longer. I could have made them the second best manufacturing company in Britain (after Union Industries, of course).
I would move the sales team to the factory. There's a perfect building for them: overlooking the two factories and the dispatch area. At the moment the sales team will be selling stuff when a problem at the factory means they can't deliver anything.
Then I would look at credit control, marketing strategy and they way they cost products. All that can be done quickly, especially once they are all under one roof, and it will make a big difference to their business.
 Union Industries website
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Dave O'Grady
Q: What were you hoping for when you agreed to do Boss Swap?
A:
I wanted to see how another company works. We've built Barneyz up from scratch; I thought it would be interesting to see another firm. Of course, there is the publicity, but that was in the back of my mind.
Q: How did you find doing the Swap?
A:
It was strange. Union Industries didn't want to play the game. They wanted the publicity from Boss Swap but they weren't prepared to let me be boss. I was eager to let someone into my firm, to see what I could learn. But at Union Industries they wouldn't let me change a thing.
Q: What was the best bit of the Swap?
A:
There were a few characters up there. It was fun seeing how they reacted to the changes. It was fun seeing them squirm.
Q: What was the worst bit of the Swap?
A:
The angriest I got was when I tried to put the internet in. They were scared stiff. The chairman intervened off camera to try to stop me.
They are all a bit paranoid. There's a machine in Mrs. S's office scanning for bugging equipment.
Q: How did you get a feel for your new firm?
A:
I went round and talked to everyone. I found it hard to get my head round Union Industries. They are comfortable. They are on good wages. They don't have to rush or struggle. It is a very different environment.
Q: What were the firm's strengths?
A:
They've got an excellent product. Their quality is fantastic.
They've got a good marketing structure. They treat their customers well. They take them to the rugby and make sure they have a good time.
Q: What were the firm's weaknesses?
A:
Because they are so convinced they are the best, if someone did come and challenge them, I don't think they could react.
Q: Did you learn anything from doing the swap?
A:
I really didn't learnt a lot. We need to stay as we are. We've haven't got the luxury of a product we can rely on. We've got to keep working hard and be flexible.
Q: What do you think you could have achieved if you had more time?
A:
I'd like to see them making more different products. They have got a first class design team. They should expand the factory and make new products.
Barneyz website
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