Working with chemistry in various industries
After graduation, one of my biggest dreams was to be able to take advantage of the gained knowledge to work in some big production plant. This is how I found myself in the Stora Enso paper mill, where I had the opportunity to work on the implementation of various types of chemicals that supports paper production. After 5 years, I decided it was time to change something and gain some new experience. I moved to the Kross company, which is the largest manufacturer of bicycles in Poland. As an avid cyclist, I was able to combine my passion for bikes with the possibility of gaining experience in optimizing paintshop processes. Unfortunately, after a while, I realized that working for a bicycle company was a simple way of hating bicycles. As the part of my job that I liked the most was production problem-solving and product quality improvement, I decided that I would like to develop in this direction. Therefore, I decided to change jobs and that is how I found myself in Kingfisher.
I look after the quality of our products
My current position is Sourcing Quality Engineer and I'm a member of the Kingfisher Warsaw office team. The main task of my job is to ensure that the implemented products comply with all legal requirements, Kingfisher specifications, and customer expectations. My day-to-day duties are very varied, which I personally consider a great advantage; it involves a lot of working with the product itself, but it also requires dealing with different types of documentation and traveling to our current and potential vendors. That last part is probably my favorite one. As a quality engineer, I am responsible for auditing the production facility and verifying if it meets Kingfisher's requirements. During such audits, I have the opportunity to see first-hand what the production processes look like for the various product categories beginning from artificial Christmas trees to emulsion paints or mirrors.
Direct impact on product quality and customer satisfaction
What motivates me most is the inner feeling that what I do has a deeper meaning and is useful.
While working in the quality department, I have the certainty that my work directly translates into the satisfaction of the client to whom the product goes, that the product is safe, and will be free of obvious defects or flaws.
I also like when I have a specific goal to achieve and enough time to build a strategy to do it. An atmosphere of trust and relationships between co-workers is also important to me in my day-to-day work. Working at KF, I can always count on the support of my colleagues and I know that I can speak my mind openly and my voice will be heard.
Don't forget about teamwork and collaboration
There are better and worse days in my job, but each of them can be considered a success when you work in a close-knit team with people who know what to do. Working in a purchasing office involves a lot of dynamics and decision-making under time pressure. In such a situation, teamwork is the key to success. I see my daily work as a quality engineer as a challenge - new experiences, new people, and unusual problems. There are days when achieving new goals is easy, but there are also moments when every step is bought with a lot of effort. My most important advice for 'beginners': Work with people you can rely on. Set yourself goals that you are capable of achieving. Build good relationships with suppliers.
