22 November 2023
Daring to face challenges and customers as a junior with starting experience; Jeroen did it! Jeroen, now Production Engineer at AAE, shares his journey of 13 years full of independence, responsibility and growth.
''Looking back on those 13 years, my experience has been very positive. I have always been able to find my niche in both the things I liked and the things that are part of the job. I started in the Engineering department as a Mechanical Engineer. Which for me meant working for a high-tech customer of AAE. Within this position, I was not designing machines, but was mainly involved in setting up production processes.''
In 13 years, Jeroen has gained a wealth of experience at AAE. This is how Jeroen took his chance as a project manager to discover if that was something for him. By discovering, Jeroen has found out over the past few years where his ambitions lie, but also what he needed to say goodbye to. "As a project leader, I found the distance with my colleagues within AAE too far, I was mainly focused on our customer. In addition, I spent more time in a consulting room, than among our manufacturing processes. As a result, I lost sight of technology and I didn't feel comfortable with that." And precisely in that technology is where Jeroen's heart lies.
Connection and renewal
In all these years at AAE, many changes have naturally taken place for Jeroen. One of the biggest changes came about when AAE opened its second location. Precisely because Jeroen always liked to make a walk around the floor, to keep abreast of all the projects. "That has now become much less, being able to hook up everywhere has just become more difficult. Also because of this expansion," Jeroen adds.
Nevertheless, Jeroen has found a way to keep that important connection with his colleagues. For instance, he works with different departments on a project. This is where the 'human' factor comes in very nicely, one of the four pillars within our unique corporate culture. And precisely that human factor is so incredibly important to Jeroen. "I deal with data, make analyses and try to explain things on that basis. In that search, I talk to a Milling Specialist, for example, about which fixtures have been used or determine together with a Metrology Specialist which measurement strategy is required. That way, together you are able to simplify and solve the most complex problems!", Jeroen shares with a broad smile on his face.
Back for a moment to where it all started. You won't believe it, but Jeroen joined AAE at the time as part of his graduation project. During his assignment "designing a flexible assembly line", he also came into contact with the machining department. Jeroen soon found out that this was where he had discovered his passion. And he got that right! Because now, some 13 years on, Jeroen still derives satisfaction and challenge from his work. "AAE puts the mark somewhere, and we ourselves are given the freedom to grow towards it in a way that suits us. This sometimes makes me ask myself how we are going to solve this again, but that puzzle actually provides the necessary dynamism!", Jeroen says.
Freedom and responsibility and growth
Jeroen describes his years at AAE very clearly; "A high level of responsibility that goes hand in hand with freedom and the opportunity to grow in your career." According to Jeroen, there are more than enough opportunities. He naturally takes the initiatives himself, but AAE also thinks along with him about opportunities. "What I personally experience at AAE is that people sometimes get a push in the right direction. For example, I myself never expressed that I wanted to become a project manager at the time, but because AAE is looking and thinking along, that role came about for me after all!"
Has this story inspired you? Then take a quick look at our vacancies and who knows, you might soon be working with Jeroen at AAE in Helmond.
