Why did you choose the forest industry?
Back in school, I was interested in forest management, but ended up studying wood processing at Aalto University. I have a Master of Science in wood processing technology, so my job corresponds with my education.
What is your job like?
I work as a Production Engineer at the Renko sawmill and have a wide range of duties. You could say that I am the Mill Manager’s right hand, as well as their deputy. We are a close-knit team in project and investment planning; we share responsibilities and tasks.
Many of my tasks are related to ensuring production runs smoothly. I monitor the production line to ensure it runs well. If I notice something unusual, I examine the cause of the disruption. It is my duty to ensure that there are no interruptions in the production's communications. I am also responsible for the internal communication at the mill.
I help supervisors in the field. For example, we discuss the best ways to organise the user maintenance in production. The people working on the production line carry out minor maintenance tasks to the machinery, and we are developing this project together.
Cooperation with the supervisors is important: it makes it possible for me to understand what is happening at the sawmill and what needs to be monitored.
With the supervisors, we further improve occupational safety and productivity through the 5S method. The supervisors and production employees are very committed to the method and continuously provide new ideas.
In practice, I am responsible for making sure that everything runs as planned at the sawmill. It is my duty to see that everyone can do their work as well as possible and to create favourable conditions for this.
What are you proud of in your work?
I am proud of the sawn timber we produce. Our quality control is effective, and our customers are satisfied. Production runs smoothly, without major interruptions. We are always able to complete projects of all sizes.
We always know the origin of the wood we use. It is important to me that the wood for the sawmill comes from well-managed forests. We are a genuinely sustainable operator on a global scale, and I am proud to be working for Metsä Fibre.
Reliable deliveries are our strongest point. All Metsä Fibre sawmills have the same Nordic quality standards. We are always able to deliver the right kind of high-quality sawn timber. Our customers can always trust us: they get exactly what has been agreed.
What is the best thing about your work?
Our team is close-knit and truly wonderful. We have fun together and we laugh a lot during our coffee breaks. We also talk about things other than work.
As a relatively new employee, I do not know everything yet. In our workplace, you can ask your colleagues anything and will always get help when you need it. We have a strong team spirit and we discuss work-related matters directly and honestly.
I appreciate fairness and equality, which in practice means that in the projects the tasks are divided fairly and evenly.
What are your professional ambitions?
I used to dream about working in production. I achieved my goal, and now I want to develop the operations at Renko. There is a lot to be done, because the sawmills have never had the position of a Production Engineer.
In my work, I have had the opportunity to think about what the detailed tasks can be, and what the job role can entail.
This article was originally published in Timber Magazine issue 2020–2021. Take a look at the magazine.