A passion for an energetic lifestyle
Logistics manager Tomas Toth has been working at Tervakoski Film’s headquarters in Slovakia for eight years. In his role as a jack of all trades, Tomas ensures that the right material is at the right place at the right time; and sent to the right customer. We asked him to tell us a little bit about his job.
Tomas Toth, the Logistics Manager of Tervakoski Film often has a to-do list with him when going to work in the morning. But almost every time, he ends up doing something totally different from what was planned. “Flexibility is the most important quality in my work,” says Tomas, who is responsible for the entire service chain of Tervakoski, from planning to production, shipping, organisation, and transportation. “Basically, we are all customer service agents, and in online times, customers need prompt answers. Throughout the day I help to solve the problems of the people around me by coordination, price comparison, scheduling, and organising,” he says.
The work of a logistic manager can be fast-paced from time to time, especially when it comes to managing each production line and stock capacity. Tomas’ days are also filled with meetings of customers and transportation companies, sampling for research and development as well as production work. “We have a good work tempo here at Tervakoski Film, and that is why I have never been bored with my job. As a matter of fact, I like hectic times, because then I know business is flourishing. It’s almost the same as small children – if it’s too quiet, something is terribly wrong,” Tomas laughs.
I like hectic times because then I know business is flourishing.
THE TERVAKOSKI WAY OF WORKING
During its almost 100-year history, Tervakoski Film has become the market leader in technically demanding polypropylene capacitor film solutions. This position was achieved by the continuous desire for improvement of the company. “We want to continuously develop. For example, we have just visited Finland, the capital of automation technology, to learn how we can boost our production by digitalisation. So, now we have digital scanners for the material data reading,” Tomas explains.
Tervakoski’s position as market leader has been achieved as a result of the company’s continuous desire for improvement.
As always been interested in technology, Tomas sees the current digitalisation trend as very fruitful. He previously worked for Google and describes the period as an exciting experience, not only because of the business sector of Google but also because working there was like being given a blank page to write on. “At Google, I got the space to create my own way of working, and I am glad that there is a similar work culture here at Tervakoski Film. In my current position, I can show my abilities and bring out my own ideas.”
Through honest and open communication, I always try to be as helpful as possible for our customers and my colleagues.
Tervakoski Film is an international company that operates all over the world. Despite the different cultures and distances between the production units, Tomas knows that the company operations smoothly. This is due to the close cooperation between the employees of Tervakoski Film. “The Slovakian and the Finnish way of working are very different. We, Slovaks are sometimes tempted to make things more complicated than they need to be. I have a unique collaboration with our Sales Director Jari Nurminen. I am happy that I can always call him when needed and I want him to feel the same way. The worst-case scenario in my job would be if a customer calls and I don’t know what’s happening. To avoid this situation, we need honest and open communication, and just as I keep Jari up-to-date with events in our unit, I want my colleagues to do the same for me. This way we can help our customers as much as possible.”
A SPORTY BASS PLAYER
Although Tomas is known as an active jack of all trades, at the end of the workday he still has energy left. In his spare time, Tomas goes in for sports and plays bass in a rock band named Head & Heel. As a leopard cannot change its spots, a logistic manager cannot give up his work routines. Tomas takes care of the daily tasks of the band from concert and recording arrangements to competition entries. “I like to fill my days with different activities. After a long day at the office, I need a place to switch off from work. For me, the best way to relax is through music and sport. For 13 years I was a football player, spending the majority of my career playing at FK Poprad in Slovakia. I also spent a few months as a professional in Belgium. Now I am more of a recreational athlete. I go to the gym four to five times a week. We are quite sporty people here at Tervakoski Film. We enjoy meeting each other outside work, training together and sharing a passion for an energetic lifestyle.”