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A project manager is constantly on the move

Employeneurs at NPI (New Product Introduction) work for many different clients. Companies in the high-tech sector, the automotive industry and the process industry experience the added value of TMC professionals every day. Eddy Wielders works as a project manager at a company that makes high-tech measuring systems.

Employeneurs at NPI (New Product Introduction) work for many different clients. Companies in the high-tech sector, the automotive industry and the process industry experience the added value of TMC professionals every day. Eddy Wielders works as a project manager at a company that makes high-tech measuring systems. His job requires flexibility and constant alertness. "The more things can go wrong, the more interesting the work is to me."

"About 80 percent of the machines are roughly the same. The variation lies in the other 20 percent. They are very complex measuring systems and it is exactly those deviating systems that are the biggest challenge", says Eddy. “When a non-standard request comes in, my job is to screen it at the machine level and see if what a customer is asking for is possible. That can be something rather simple, like a module that has to be delivered without a particular part. But usually it is very complex: for example, a customer who wants to have a part that is not yet fully developed built into his system, a kind of beta version. Then it is up to me to assess the risks, any problems that arise. and help the customer with an interim solution."

As a project manager it is important that you do not dwell in detail too much and that you continue to focus on the project overview.

Sudden changes

During the construction of the measuring systems, minor problems may arise, for example work instructions that are incorrect. We will immediately get to work on that. But design errors can also emerge causing a project to be delayed. My role as a project manager is to anticipate this adequately and as early as possible by coming up with an alternative for the customer, setting out actions and informing all stakeholders about this. You can compare this with the work of a fire chief: I keep a close watch on all actions, with the aim that we can still achieve the quality and delivery date. I continuously keep up with what is happening at that moment."

Zooming in and out

Eddy constantly keeps his technical knowledge up to date. "Sometimes you are building a system in which different techniques occur. Then I gain a lot from my experience from previous assignments and projects. It also happens that new technology is involved, which I really need to delve into. In those cases, I can talk to someone in the production department for a few hours to see how it works. It is nice to have specialized colleagues around you who help you with this. As a project manager it is important that you do not dwell in detail too much and that you continue to focus on the project overview. Zooming in to understand the technique to a certain extent is very important. But then it is just as important to be able to zoom out again to get back to the big picture."

Structure versus chaos

"There are project managers who work very structured and precisely, and who lead their projects by the book. And there are types more like me who are slightly more dominant and a bit more chaotic in nature. If you let me do a very structured project, I quickly lose my interest. When things can go wrong all the time, I find that interesting. In such an environment I also come into my own, especially if I get the space to use my creativity to get things done."

Developing as a Project Manager

Eddy has completed a number of additional training courses via TMC, including IPMA-C. "This was absolutely necessary for me. I studied physics, but never really studied business administration. I gained my first experience with IPMA. I will still want to do an MBA or business administration course." In addition, he gradually learned how to approach different people in certain situations. "Letting go of something completely and trusting that people are doing it right, that is still a challenge for me. I am a busybody and that has many advantages, but sometimes you have to let go."

Maarten Guns

Director New Product Introduction, Netherlands

Tel: +31 (0)6 54 23 51 31

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