How IT Supports Manufacturing: Meet Dan Johnson

I’m Daniel Johnson, the IT Manager at Oadby Plastics. I joined the company in 2012 as an IT Apprentice, so I’ve been fortunate enough to build my entire career here. Looking back over the last 14 years, it’s hard to believe how much has changed. I started out learning the basics of IT, and today I have the privilege of leading the department. It’s been a journey full of opportunities, challenges and continuous learning, and I’m incredibly grateful for the support I’ve received along the way.

I’ve always been fascinated by technology and how it can make everyday life easier. What attracted me to Oadby Plastics was the chance to gain real hands-on experience in a business that believed in developing young people. From my very first day, I was encouraged to learn, take on responsibility and push myself outside my comfort zone. As my confidence grew, so did the opportunities, and I’ve never stopped learning.

These days, my role is about much more than managing technology. I enjoy working with people across the business to understand the challenges they face and finding ways technology can genuinely help. Whether that’s introducing new systems, improving processes, strengthening cybersecurity or exploring how AI can support everyday tasks, I love seeing ideas become real solutions that make a difference to people’s working day.

One of the things I enjoy most is that no two days are ever the same. One day I might be discussing a major infrastructure project, the next I could be working with another department to solve a problem or helping shape the next phase of our digital transformation. That variety is one of the reasons I enjoy coming to work every day.

What makes Oadby Plastics special to me, though, isn’t just the technology, it’s the people. As a family-run business, there’s a genuine culture of support, trust and teamwork. Having spent my entire career here, I’ve always felt encouraged to develop professionally and take on new opportunities. That belief in people has had a huge impact on my own career.

I’m also incredibly lucky to work with such a fantastic IT team. While I lead the department, everything we achieve is down to how we work together. Everyone brings different strengths, and one of the most rewarding parts of my role is seeing the team grow in confidence, develop new skills and progress in their own careers. Seeing others succeed is just as rewarding as delivering a successful project.

Looking ahead, I’m excited about what’s next. Technology is evolving faster than ever, particularly in areas like AI, automation and cybersecurity, and I can’t wait to see how we continue to use it to support our colleagues and improve the business. After starting as an apprentice all those years ago, I’m incredibly proud of the journey I’ve been on, and I’m excited to see where the next chapter takes both me and Oadby Plastics.