28 March 2024
Jeroen, 25 years old, began his journey at AAE 8 years ago as a miller. He entered through a work-based learning program in allround Machining. The rest is history. The rest is history. Jeroen works in our Key Technologies department, where he, along with his colleagues, processes highly complex parts and welding assemblies. Striving for precision, accuracy, and tackling challenging projects are at the core of their daily work. His down-to-earth character makes him a valuad colleague who excels in his field. Together with the team, Jeroen strives for daily progress, where cooperation is paramount.
One of the challenging tasks that Jeroen and his colleagues face is milling products without using coolant. This is a unique process where the product is glued together and then dry milled, requiring a high level of precision. Jeroen, along with his colleagues, is responsible for this innovative technique. Jeroen explains: "We use this unique method to avoid material stress. It takes more time, but ultimately leads to a more accurate result. And that accuracy is crucial."
Jeroen continues: "In recent years, we have significantly increased our production speed. The arrival of our robot has also contributed to this. We used to produce 2 products per week. Currently, it's 5, and we’re even aiming for 6! We continue to innovate and speed up to maintain our position as a top player."
Robotization
Over the years, Jeroen has worked with a project team on various projects. The highlight for him is the introduction of robotics into the highly precise production process. This development has not only increased efficiency but also opened up new possibilities in automation. Jeroen: "We already had several robots in machining, but only recently started working with them in our department. With the robots, we can run the machines unmanned, even at night. Additionally, products can be prepared outside the machine, freeing us from being tied to the machine constantly. This allows us to prepare products while the machine continues to produce, significantly increasing our production speed."
Achieving success together
Jeroen often collaborates with a project group. In this group, they find new projects that can later be integrated into the robot. "Within the project group, we set new goals for the robot," Jeroen explains. "An example of such a project is improving clamping fixtures. One of our engineers designed new fixtures, and I implemented the products accordingly. Now, each product has its own clamping fixture. We work closely as a team, which is crucial to achieving our goals, such as aiming for a production speed of 6 products per week. We strive to make the seemingly impossible possible."
Culture of collaboration
In the 8 years that Jeroen has been with AAE, he has seen many colleagues join but very few leave. Jeroen: "It's important that we all continue to collaborate. Through collaboration, we can achieve a lot and continue to share our knowledge. With the arrival of the robot, we have made significant strides in automating our work. The team keeps growing, but the collaboration continues to work well," he concludes.
Want to read more about working at AAE? Read the blogs of Jeroen's colleagues here.
