What does a…If you look at our job landscape, you will see special functions. A field service engineer, a lab technician or an assembly worker: we obviously need them badly, but for what and why? In this series, each week someone tells about his or her profession. Today: Wolf Freeve (30) is a department manager in an Essity factory where, among other things, incontinence products are made.
What exactly do you do?
,,I work in one of the Essity factories, the parent company of brands such as Tempo, Tork, but also Tena and Libresse. I am a manager and I manage a team of 24 men and women. My work is very diverse. I have a coaching role and I am responsible for the end result of the machines. Together with the team I ensure that all product lines and machines continue to run smoothly. I am also regularly on the phone to support the team at work. I’m a manager who doesn’t just watch from a distance. I also immediately pick up tools to help if something goes wrong with the machines.”
How do others react when you talk about your work?
“People are often surprised when I tell them where I work. I sometimes get the question if I work in a diaper factory. But it is much more than that. Essity does indeed make diapers for babies, but also products that will help your grandmother.”
How did you come to this job?
“I have been involved in technology from an early age. I took Gameboys apart to see how they work exactly and later I was busy tinkering with my moped. After high school I went to study mechanical engineering. While I was still a student, I started working at Essity as an operator. I thought it was fantastic to see how products are made at high speed from large rolls of material. I eventually progressed to this job from that position.”
What makes it so much fun?
“Most consumers have no idea how something they buy in the store is made, and how fast such a factory process actually goes. The two product lines for which I am responsible together make more than 90,000 per hour. I’m still amazed at the techniques we use here. In fact, the speed at which the machines rotate is so high that you can’t even see it with the naked eye. I really enjoy working with these modern techniques every day.
But what is also great about this work is that with the incontinence products we produce we can really make a difference for people. It’s really rewarding work. Because with our products, people can continue to do what they want, without having to worry about ‘accidents’.”
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The two product lines for which I am responsible together make more than 90,000 per hour. I’m still amazed by these techniques
Work can’t be fun every day. At what times do you experience stress?
,, Every morning it is a surprise how the production was done that night. I can’t always be there of course, so you also have to learn to let it go as soon as you go home. There can always be a flaw in the product line. As a manager, you should not be afraid to make decisions in such a situation. If a machine part is broken, you look at how you can solve it together. That is the advantage of machines, they either work or they don’t.
With people it is often a bit more complicated. Motivating someone to stay motivated at work is not always easy. It may also be that there are problems at home that make things difficult at work. As a manager you have to point that out. That’s why I regularly ask how someone is really doing. In this industry you come across very hard workers who do not always indicate when things are not going so well. You have to be alert to that.”
It will take a while, but do you want to continue doing this work until you retire?
“You never know what the future will bring. At Essity there are many career opportunities and there is a lot of attention for personal development, so who knows what else there is for me. But I haven’t been in this position for very long and I still find working with this team and this technique challenging and interesting enough.”
Become a production employee
Would you like to get started with technology, just like Wolf? Then you can, for example, work as a production employee. There are vacancies at various companies, from caravan builders to sawmills and packers. On the National Vacancy Bank you will find relevant vacancies in your region.
At Essity they are also looking for new employees, click here for all current vacancies at the company.
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