The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Operations Analyst (L2)
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Independent execution of standard analyses, robust data cleaning and validation, initial stakeholder communication, basic model building in Python/SQL.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivers accurate and insightful analyses without heavy supervision.
- Proactively identifies data quality issues and proposes solutions.
- Successfully takes ownership of routine analytical processes.
- Starts to informally help and guide new joiners.
- 2
Data Analyst (from other departments)
3-4 yearsSkills to master
- Deep dive into operational processes and terminology, understanding the physical reality behind the data, translating analytical skills to operational problem-solving.
You're ready to move on when
- Demonstrates a strong understanding of our core operational metrics (e.g., OEE, FPY).
- Can articulate how their previous analytical experience applies to operational challenges.
- Shows a genuine curiosity about how our factories and supply chains actually work.
- Has completed personal projects or courses focused on operations research or supply chain analytics.
- 3
Process Engineer / Industrial Engineer
4-5 yearsSkills to master
- Developing advanced coding skills (Python/SQL), building predictive and optimisation models, translating engineering insights into data-driven solutions, advanced data visualisation.
You're ready to move on when
- Has a strong foundation in process improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma).
- Demonstrates a keen interest in using advanced data techniques beyond traditional engineering tools.
- Can show examples of using data to drive process design or improvement.
- Has taken courses or built projects in machine learning or statistical modelling.