Inside service mechanic
Sebastiaan Huijpen
Working with attention and trust
Sebastiaan comes from an agricultural mechanisation background and has been working at SMT for four years now as an indoor service mechanic. Whereas he used to be on the road a lot in field service, he consciously chose the workshop. "More rest, more rhythm," he says. "Every day, Sebastiaan works on large Volvo and Sennebogen machines. Not small jobs, but complex breakdowns up to full maintenance jobs. "These are complex machines that you really have to sit down for. That makes the work challenging and varied."
The interview with Sebastiaan
What do you think is typical of SMT in the way problems are solved?
When we asked Sebastiaan this question, he did not start talking about speed or targets, but about thinking. "You don't start tinkering here right away because it has to be fast. You first think together: what is really going on?" he says the difference is in time and trust. "You get the space here to figure out a problem. Together with colleagues, you make a well-thought-out plan and execute it safely. Because safety really comes first here too, which is much more important than solving something quickly." That also means: no pressure to improvise. "It just has to be right. You feel that here."
What makes working with these machines so much fun?
Sebastiaan sounds as enthusiastic as ever when he talks about this. "Sometimes you stand next to a machine and the wheels are bigger than you are." That size makes the work impressive, but also serious. ''Toys for boys,'' he says with a smile. Sebastiaan says there is also plenty of development in the work field. "Machines are becoming more and more complex. Electric, different drives, new systems." This is precisely why keeping up to date is important. He says: "Via SMT and via Volvo, we regularly attend training and courses. You grow with the technology. And that is exactly what keeps this work interesting."
What does working together in the workshop look like?
According to Sebastiaan, you never work alone here. You really are one team. "That cooperation is in little things: a quick look, a quick consultation, a quick plan together. The facilities also help. "The workshop is well equipped and we have a tool library. From special tools to everyday tools: so you have everything at hand to do your job safely and well. That sounds simple, but it just makes your work better."
Why he feels at home at SMT
Sebastiaan is not only in the workplace, but also on the works council. "Because I think it's important that you can have your say and think along here. That way, you also get a real insight into the business operations, not just your work." To him, that says it all about SMT. "It's not just about machines here, no matter how big they are. Above all, it's about how you work together."
