Projects
Complex assignments. Clear, practical thinking.
Connectioneering applies lessons earned through major turnarounds, expansions and project delivery. The record below reflects Andrew Talling’s career experience; client engagements are presented separately.
Selected career outcomes
A record of measurable delivery.
Achievements delivered by Andrew in senior roles before founding Connectioneering Sdn. Bhd.
RM56.4m loss → profit
Building materials turnaround
Hap Seng reported an RM56.4 million operating loss for its quarry, asphalt and brick operations in 2018. The operation returned to profit in 2019—and, after the exceptional disruption and restructuring charges of 2020, returned to profit again in 2021.
8 → 25 Mtpa
Restructuring and expansion
Restructured Stevin Rock in the UAE from insolvency to annual profitability of US$25 million while completing seven production lines and more than tripling output. Contemporary industry coverage placed the Al Ghail site alone at 7.5 Mtpa during the expansion.
US$500m
Greenfield project recovery
Built the operations team for Pertama Ferroalloys’ major Sarawak smelting development, assumed additional project leadership during construction challenges and brought production onstream in June 2016; its first export followed in August.
3 → 6 Mtpa
Network growth in Malaysia
Doubled quarry output through two acquisitions and four greenfield sites, established six asphalt plants, and expanded monthly brick capacity fivefold.
The turnaround in reported figures
A recovery sustained beyond the immediate turnaround.
Following the initial return to profit, the operation absorbed the effects of the pandemic while closing non-viable assets and rationalising its footprint. Hap Seng attributed the 2021 recovery to better margins and lower operating costs arising from that rationalisation. Quarry operating profit subsequently reached RM22.2 million in 2024 and remained positive at RM17.9 million in 2025, Andrew’s final year in the role.
Reported basis changed as brick and asphalt activities were discontinued and the Peninsular Malaysia quarry footprint was exited; figures are therefore presented as a performance progression, not a like-for-like calculation.
Representative mandates
Where experience creates value.
These profiles describe the types of new Connectioneering engagement available to clients. They are deliberately separate from Andrew’s prior-employer achievements above.
Operational performance review
End-to-end assessment of extraction, load and haul, processing, maintenance and cost drivers to establish a practical improvement agenda.
Business strategy & portfolio evaluation
Independent challenge and structured analysis to help leadership align market opportunity, operational capability and capital priorities.
Plant and network optimisation
Review of asset configuration, utilisation, product mix and service model to improve reliability and commercial performance.
Technical & operational due diligence
Experienced scrutiny of assets, operating assumptions, risks and opportunities to support better-informed investment decisions.
Concept and design review
Early-stage operational input that tests whether a proposed design is safe, maintainable, cost-effective and fit for its intended market.
Management capability development
Practical coaching and support for operational leaders responsible for performance, people, safety and change.
Our approach
Independent when it matters. Embedded when it helps.
Understand the real issue
Focus on practical options
Support decisive action
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