Will Elkiki – McKEON’s production planning and logistics manager.
Will serves as the liaison between the McKEON production department and its’ distributor network. His daily challenge is coordinating with McKEON’s production management team, its’ shipping department and McKEON’s distributors. His primary responsibility is to ensure products are finished and delivered as efficiently as possible to best accommodate the client’s project deadlines.
Will has been working at McKEON for ten years. He was born in Egypt, attended university in his home country, and earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration. He received his master’s degree in computer science at The University of Leeds in England.
Will noted the most impactful lessons he has learned from his schooling were not just in the classroom but through meeting new people and developing his people skills.
Will is the connection between the factory and the office. “If [a distributor tells an engineer] ‘we have a problem, we’re changing the size of this door, and we need it to be done in two weeks instead of five weeks,'” Will said, “[the engineer] is not going to go to the factory; they are going to come to me, and I have to go speak to [the vice president of production].”
Will is always communicating with V.P. of Production Oscar Escobar about speeding up the completion of projects to accommodate unexpected rushes and the needs of a distributor. If a change to a project is made, it is Will’s job to notify the factory so the proper steps are taken to finish the project without affecting the time it takes for the client to receive the finished product.
“I try to see if I can save the day,” Will said. “Sometimes you can. Sometimes it’s going to be late three or four days.”
Sorting out and restructuring the shipping schedule is an aspect of Will’s job that requires the majority of his attention. He noted that he is in constant communication with several distributors at a time and has to work hard to accommodate individual deadlines and requests.
With the amount Will interacts with individuals inside and outside of McKEON, he stressed the importance of developing cordial, personal relationships with everyone he works with.
“[I have developed] personal relationships with distributors and personal relationships with people in the factory,” Will said. “I think it’s the human touch … now there is a mutual trust between me and the distributors.”
A fun fact about Will is that he is an avid traveler, having been to France, Hawaii, and Italy. Will said his trip to Italy was his favorite. He spent time in Rome, Florence, Milan, Pisa, and Venice. He enjoyed hiking, the picturesque beaches, and the food.
Will also has a fascination with history. While studying in Leeds, he made frequent trips to London to visit the city’s many museums and immerse himself in the culture. On his trip to France, Will said he spent two days in the Louvre. Will’s appreciation for the classics led to his many trips to the opera or to see a ballet while on vacation. It also spawned his love for classical music, which he listens to frequently while working.