IT was the toughest team talk of Graeme Waddell's life but it helped avert a major jobs disaster.

He bluntly told hundreds of craftsmen they had to change traditional work practices or run the risk of losing their livelihoods.

It was a hard-hitting message and was delivered to the 1200 workers at the Rolls-Royce repair and maintenance factory in East Kilbride. Boss retires after going from shop floor to boardroom

HE'S acknowledged as the saviour of the East Kilbride facility and now Graeme Waddell is about to walk away with his head held high.

The engineer, who worked his way from the shop floor to the boardroom, is taking early retirement at the age of 57.

He said: "I've had the privilege of leading the team-based-working programme at East Kilbride for a decade and it's to the credit of the staff that they embraced the concept and, to be frank, ensured the firm's half-century association with the town continues in good heart. Now, though, it's time for me to move on and do other things."

Graeme has been with the firm for the past 33 years and is expected to pursue other business interests while the Nerston site will be run by David Ayton. He's the head of production but is to take on the newly created title of managing director.

David, 42, is a ex-pupil of East Kilbride's Hunter High and a product of the Rolls-Royce management development scheme.

Graeme added: "David knows the operation inside out and with him at the helm we ensure continuity of approach and remain well positioned to face the challenges of the marketplace."

Staff listened, talked it over among themselves and then embraced a new way of working alien to them.

Today, the Nerston site boasts of being the biggest and best of its kind in the whole of Europe.

But 10 years ago it was a different story.

Mr Waddell, 57, says major repair work was constantly delayed. Poor workmanship and repeated mistakes meant orders were late.

At stake was the site's reputation among the international aviation community and a world-renowned brand Rolls-Royce. Customers were paying millions of pounds for a service they were not getting.

Mr Waddell had just been put in charge of the factory after being promoted to business director, but he recognised the future looked bleak for himself and his staff.

He believed a radical change had to be introduced.

Workers were put into groups and told they would be held accountable for the tasks allocated to them. Team working meant shared responsibility.

Everyone had an opinion on how the business should be run. The unions wielded enormous power and there was deep suspicion between them and senior managers.

"There was a lot of mistrust between employees and management. We seemed more concerned about blaming each other. We faced massive problems," recalls Mr Waddell.

"We were letting our customers down and letting ourselves down. The quality of the product was suffering.

We were not doing the job right first time.

"I would suggest Rolls-Royce would not have stood by East Kilbride and our customers would not have stood by East Kilbride. They would have walked away."

Rolls-Royce spends £50million every year on a network of suppliers across Scotland and a large percentage is generated by the Nerston site. Closure would have hit the economy of East Kilbride and west Scotland extremely hard.

Instead, managers and workers forged a partnership.

Engine inspector Jim Nimmo, 47, from Airdrie, said: "It is the only way to go because we are more flexible and can do different jobs."

Jim Downie, a 30-year-old fitter from Uddingston, said: "The difference is like night and day. It's not a case of turning up and doing a job. The guys now feel as though they have more involvement."

Even apprentices recognise the benefits. Scott Lennox, of East Kilbride, a third-year trainee, said: "Ownership within the teams has resulted in an innovative environment, where the norm can be challenged at team level."

The changes made a decade ago have borne fruit and, once the exchange rates settle, Rolls-Royce will confirm its intention to build a new £85million repair and maintenance facility in the town.

The company's association with East Kilbride began in 1953 when a manufacturing facility was launched in the town. It handled work on the Avon engine.

Importantly, it was also given the task of repairing and overhauling the Derwent jet engines.

In the 1960s, there was a slump in engine orders and RR brought in US consultants to advise on the best way forward. They recommended dedicated work and product centres responsible for a specific range of activities and products. It led to East Kilbride becoming the overall work centre for Scotland.

Over the years the Lanarkshire site has repaired and maintained engines from military and civilian fleets that read like a Who's Who of the aviation industry: from the Harrier jump jet to the Viscount and from the Phantom to the current Tornado fighter jet. HEADING GOES HERE Engineer Jim Downie says the changes mean workers are more involved Jim Nimmo and Scott Lennox Apprentice Scott Lennox Graeme Waddell