Production Manager Alessandro: learning and leadership go hand in hand
My name is Alessandro, and I work as a Production Manager at Adven’s facility in Nynäshamn. Seven years ago, energy issues were not even on my radar, but today, they occupy most of my waking hours. It is amazing to find something that feels so right it hardly even seems like work.
An era before and after Adven
Once I started studying, everything clicked into place. “This is exactly who I am,” I remember thinking. During my first year, I completed my first internship at Adven. It was rewarding from day one, and I quickly built strong connections with my colleagues.
That positive experience gave me the confidence to apply for a position as a Process Technician, even though I was still in school. I was pleasantly surprised when I got the job, but the then-Operations Manager was fully aware of my situation and offered great support to make it work. My studies also improved significantly as I was able to put theory into practice every day.
Development in the heat of the moment
The most exciting part of working as a Process Technician was being on-call. You are right in the thick of things, learning something new with every shift—always with solid support by your side. Each alarm made me more knowledgeable and confident in handling similar situations on my own the next time. We had a great team of seven back then, and I quickly became part of the tight knit “shift” team.
By the end of 2020, I took on the role of Operations Manager, but the merger between Adven and Värmevärden soon shifted my role to Operations and Maintenance Manager. Around the same time, I also became a father. There was a lot happening in my life all at once.
Always three years ahead
When I returned from parental leave, the job I have today was waiting for me. As Production Manager, my responsibility is more long-term. I am no longer involved in the day-to-day operations; my focus is on the next 1 to 3 years. The fuel market is undergoing significant changes, which presents both challenges and opportunities for us. My work includes deciding what fuels we will burn in the future, which production units we need, and whether we should refurbish an existing boiler or build a new one.
One of the more long-term ongoing projects underway at the facility is the construction of a new sludge pocket.
My focus: solving problems the right way
Another crucial part of my job is leading and developing the managers, who in turn develop the technicians. We have a management structure in place to support this, with daily meetings every morning, a weekly meeting, and a monthly meeting. In all these meetings, the focus is on reviewing how well our processes are functioning.
As a manager, it can be difficult not to get involved in the day-to-day operations, especially since I used to be a technician myself. In the short term, it is tempting to “just fix the problem,” but in the long term, we can be sure the issue will return if it is not addressed properly. So instead of asking, “How do we get the turbine running again?” we ask, “How could we have followed this process better to prevent the turbine from shutting down in the first place?”.
Looking forward to further growth
After holding several different roles in a short period, I now want to settle into my current position and see the results of what we have implemented over the past few years to improve operations. What still energizes me is the variety. That’s been true both as a Process Technician and now as a Production Manager. Plus, I am surrounded by incredibly knowledgeable people in various fields who are very generous with their expertise. That makes work even more enjoyable!
Are you interested in a career in Operations and Maintenance?
Check out our job openings or contact us to learn more about the opportunities available!
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