New plant managers in Jintan and Bardejov
In the last six months, new plant managers have started at both the new Chinese plant and in Slovakia. We asked them about their first impressions and about their plans.
How was your start? What is your impression from the first few weeks?
VLADIMÍR LENART
Plant manager OP-BAR (Slovakia)
Vladimír Lenart During my initial entry into the production during the interview process, I was genuinely impressed by the operators' naturalness and ease of communication. Their ability to convey information and interact with one another showcased a high level of professionalism and teamwork. Additionally, the facility itself was striking – a modern plant that had enough space to put additional machines. This abundance of space hinted at the company's commitment to optimizing its potential through investments in cutting-edge technology and expansion, making it an exciting prospect for the future.
PING ZHANG
Plant Manager OP-JIN (China)
Ping Zhang Due to my previous work experience in the WUJ Factory, although the JIN Factory is new, I was able to quickly enter the role, integrate into the team, and carry out multiple responsibilities smoothly. At the same time, I can also share some of my experiences and lessons with my colleagues and provide them with corresponding help. During the first few weeks, JIN factory still gave me a very deep impression of our actual status.
First of all, the design of the entire factory, including plant layout, etc., has further improved and optimized compared with the WUJ factory. For example, the plant here has implemented solar power generation, which is the embodiment of energy saving and environmental protection. In the workshop, the AGV concept is designed to carry out the moving of materials, and the project is currently in progress. Secondly, my colleagues here also left a deep impression on me. They have a positive working attitude, are not afraid of difficulties and challenges, and are willing to expand their knowledge. At the same time, they have received a lot of help from colleagues in WUJ Factory, this solidarity and cooperation is a very positive factor.
What do you see as the biggest challenges for your location?
Vladimír Lenart One of my primary goals within the company is to form the perfect team, one where each individual's unique talents and strengths are used to their fullest potential. I firmly believe that everyone has a special role to play in our organization, and by empowering our team members, we can collectively achieve greatness. Moreover, I am committed to supporting the self-development of local talent, and contributing to the growth and prosperity of the region while maintaining stable employment opportunities. Additionally, it's crucial for me to uphold the company's tradition of offering great benefits to our employees, ensuring that we maintain our high standards of support and well-being.
Ping Zhang The biggest challenge comes from the personnel side because most of the JINT factory employees are new employees. So they need time to learn and familiarize themselves with the company's procedures, processes, products, technologies, machines, and other skills.
Secondly, the competition is fierce. We need to continuously improve our efficiency and reduce the costs in production and operation, to gain an advantage and defeat our competitors.
Third, in the face of the increasingly high requirements of customers, we need to do our best to respond quickly and help them solve problems from a professional perspective. We must meet the flexible demands of our customers and provide them with unique services to meet their needs.
What goals do you want to achieve with the plant in the next year?
Vladimír Lenart The fascinating aspect of this plant is the way all our assumptions and strategies for future profitability can be transformed into reality. Our careful planning and dedicated efforts are on the edge of paying off, and it's a thrilling prospect to see our financial goals coming into focus. With a committed team and a passion for innovation, we're well on our way to turning these assumptions into measurable success and leading the plant to a prosperous and sustainable future.
Ping Zhang First of all, we need to improve our efficiency. As mentioned above, most of our colleagues are new. We need to increase the training and improve the skill level of our employees to improve our production efficiency. At the same time, we should improve the utilization rate of equipment, including further carrying out autonomous maintenance, planned maintenance, and other activities. That is necessary to reduce the downtime rate, in order to ensure and increase our production efficiency.
Secondly, there is a need for continuous cost reduction, increased output as well as a reduced scrap rate in production and quality. We also have to reduce the consumption of production auxiliary materials, and improve the lifetime of cold heading and thread rolling tools and dies. Continuously reducing inventory is the focus of the supply chain. In terms of equipment and facilities, the cost of spare parts should also be continuously reduced.
Last but not least, to successfully develop and produce new products such as ultra-high strength bolts under the leadership of the TEC department, needs our full and continuous cooperation. Implementation of digitization and automation projects in the plant, including the implementation of AGV projects and SMF projects are also important to me.
What do you do when you're not working?
Vladimír Lenart During the summer months, you'll often find me out on the water, paddle boarding across serene lakes. It's a sport that grants me a tremendous sense of freedom, allowing me to explore at my own pace. When winter arrives, I swap my paddleboard for cross-country skis, gliding through snow-covered landscapes with a similar sense of joyful freedom. These sports activities don't have strictly defined rules, which is precisely what I love about them; they offer a canvas for personal expression and exploration. As a special annual treat, I indulge in a big rock concert, where the music and energy of the crowd provide another unique form of liberation.
KXpress
