Since Shapeways is on the journey of ‘coming dwelling’, we needed to get to know the those who make the magic occur right here in Eindhoven. Each couple of weeks we’ll be chatting with one of many group throughout the enterprise. Some have been right here for a few years, others are fairly new however all of them share a ardour for making, bettering and supporting one another. This week we caught up with Tistou Geenen, our ‘Steady Enchancment Engineer’ to seek out out what he does, what motivates him and what he thinks makes for an amazing Shapie!
“There’s no such factor as a typical day,” says Tistou, Steady Enchancment Engineer at Shapeways’ Eindhoven facility. “Daily begins with a team-wide assembly… if one thing fascinating is occurring, then that might be my focus for that day.”
Tistou (or as everybody calls him, Ties) performs a singular position at Shapeways. Formally, he’s a group of 1. Unofficially, you’ll discover him anyplace and in every single place.
“I’ve the liberty to prioritise the place to check out a course of or see if we are able to make one thing extra environment friendly or automate one thing,” he explains. “However as quickly as that call is made, I’ve to work along with the group that’s already doing that course of… so in follow, there’s a number of teamwork.”
Defining steady enchancment
At its coronary heart, his position is about ensuring the processes within the manufacturing unit run as effectively as attainable. Which may imply automation, information visualization, or high quality assurance — and infrequently all three in the identical day. “The top product that we produce is the results of the product going by a set of processes,” he says. “So making these processes go quicker, extra effectively, or ensuring that they’re extra constant or extra prime quality will all immediately impression the tip product.”
However what stands out in dialog with Tistou isn’t simply what he does, nevertheless it’s how he does it. His technical mindset is matched by a transparent respect for the individuals round him. “In my expertise, the group normally is aware of greatest,” he says. “We’ve had a number of cases that data-wise one thing appeared like a good suggestion, however then as quickly as you speak with the group… they’ve no less than 10 the explanation why it’s not a good suggestion!”
These interactions are usually not roadblocks, as an alternative Tistou sees them as the trail to raised options. “Ultimately you come to a course of enchancment or an automation that actually works. So it’s tremendous priceless to incorporate the group within the course of as effectively.”
Observe makes progress
Tistou began at Shapeways whereas nonetheless in class, working in manufacturing. After ending his research in utilized arithmetic, he returned full-time and was provided the prospect to strive one thing new. “I didn’t actually acknowledge the chance that was right here for me. It was actually the administration that reached out and mentioned, ‘hey, we predict you’d be a extremely good match for this’… I had no thought what being a steady enchancment engineer would entail or how that may look. So I wanted a number of steering at first. However I positively acquired it.”
Since then, he’s grown into the position and made it his personal. “I believe you actually need to be versatile. Since we’re working within the additive trade, each day is totally different. Daily you might have totally different fashions for various prospects that pose totally different challenges. That may be tremendous thrilling, and that additionally signifies that you actually need to be in your toes.”
He thrives on it. “I’ve slightly little bit of a aggressive nature,” he says. “So I can be aggressive towards the method. I actually like if a quantity goes up… actually seeing that impression, and having the info to see if that is truly working — that’s actually a giant driver for me.”
Certainly one of his proudest examples? “Now we have some processes that we began work on three years in the past… that had been performed each day by 4 individuals. It was additionally possibly not essentially the most enjoyable work. In the event you have a look at it proper now, the identical course of is completed by one particular person in half a day, and it’s pretty pleasing. And people 4 individuals can now give attention to one thing else that actually drives us ahead.”
Progress have to be aligned with individuals
It’s straightforward to imagine steady enchancment is all about pace and effectivity, however Tistou’s strategy can also be about tradition and expertise. “It’s a driver for me, however I believe it’s a driver for the group as effectively. There’s a lot of days that I’ll simply placed on my work footwear and go and work in manufacturing… to get sense and understanding of what’s working effectively, what just isn’t working effectively.”
“There’s no one telling anyone, ‘hey, that is the way it’s performed and there’s no room to have an opinion’. It’s principally the opposite method round… we would like the individuals which might be within the course of each day to face up and say, hey, I believe we are able to do that higher.”
That sense of shared function runs all through the Eindhoven web site. “We share this huge accountability of getting the product out to the client each day,” he says. “So regardless that you is likely to be a small piece of the puzzle… if push involves shove, and we’d like you to do one thing else for a day to be sure that we meet our promise to the client, then we now have to work as a group and be sure that we alter issues up.”
So what sort of particular person thrives at Shapeways?
“I believe it’s good to be very enthusiastic and pushed to wish to be taught as a lot as you may,” says Tistou. “In fact your position is essential… however the individuals that actually thrive are the those who additionally suppose ‘what’s adjoining to my position, and the way can I study these processes as effectively?’”
Daily may look totally different for Tistou, however the purpose stays the identical: assist the group ship higher elements, quicker, whereas making the method extra rewarding for everybody concerned. “If you’ll find one thing that delivers a greater product to the client quicker, but in addition makes the entire manufacturing course of extra pleasing… then the group might be absolutely behind you.”
You possibly can comply with together with the Shapeways Group Highlight sequence to seek out out extra in regards to the group behind the scenes.
