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From carpenter to manager in the metal industry: Lars learnt mainly through hands-on experience. After years on the shop floor in various technical roles, he progressed to his current position at VDL Technics. There, he manages a team and ensures that planning, engineering and execution are all aligned.
How did you end up in engineering and, ultimately, at VDL Technics?
“My career path hasn’t been a straight one. I started out as a carpenter and did that until I was 22. After that, I moved into the metalworking industry through a local company that approached me. I worked there for about ten years and worked my way up from the ground up: from laser cutting to working on the press brake. At first, you’re mainly figuring out what you’re doing, but over time you really start to understand what’s happening and how the processes work. I developed that interest quite quickly, and from there I continued to grow, moving towards a more managerial role.
I eventually ended up at VDL Technics through a recruiter. I deliberately started out close to the shop floor again and progressed fairly quickly from there to my current role.”
What exactly does your role as a manager involve?
“It’s a combination of planning, management and technical expertise. You look at what needs to be produced, how that’s going and where adjustments are needed. If there are backlogs or something isn’t going well, you have to respond immediately.
I also spend a lot of time on the shop floor. You’re involved in how products are made, checking that everything’s correct and identifying areas for improvement. If, for example, there’s a quality issue or something’s returned by a customer, you deal with that too. So you’re right in the thick of it, but with a broader overview and greater responsibility.”
What makes your work challenging?
“Mainly the fact that something always comes up that doesn’t go to plan. Think of customers who need something at the last minute, or a process that doesn’t go as expected. Then you have to decide quickly: can we handle this, and what does that mean for the rest?
That requires quite a bit of technical insight. You need to be able to assess what’s feasible and how much time something will take. Sometimes you really have to rack your brains to get it done.”
What sort of work do you do at VDL Technics?
“It’s very varied. We manufacture parts for other VDL companies, but also for external customers. This ranges from larger production runs to small batches or even one-off items, for example via our online platform for laser cutting and bending: OrderOn.
The variety is what makes it enjoyable. There’s repetitive work, but also plenty of variety. You don’t always see what we make straight away, but it ends up in trailers or structures, for example.”
What makes working at VDL Technics enjoyable for you?
“The atmosphere and teamwork. It’s quite an open and approachable environment here; people pop into each other’s offices easily and work together a lot. Everyone is focused on the same goal: ensuring the work runs smoothly.
What’s more, there are plenty of opportunities for personal development. If you want to learn something new or take the next step in your career, the space is there. That’s what makes it a great place for me to work.”
What would you say to someone who’s unsure about coming to work here?
“If you’re technically minded and enjoy understanding and improving things, then you’ll be in the right place here. You’ll be given the space to contribute ideas and develop yourself.
That’s how it all started for me too: just getting on with it, learning on the job and growing from there.”