Stef van Haaren Projectleider

Stef van Haaren proves that young professionals at VDL ETG Almelo are in the right place. As a mechanical engineer he quickly progressed from graduate to project leader, responsible for all disciplines involved in the production of several machines a year. So you see that a can-do mentality and willingness to jump into the deep end can take you far within VDL.

How did you end up at VDL ETG Almelo?

To complete the Master Mechanical Engineering (University of Twente), I did a graduation assignment at the T&D (Technology & Development) department. After successfully completing this assignment, I stayed at VDL ETG Almelo and made the switch to the Systems-2 department. Here I worked for almost three years as a Factory Engineer and then advanced to the position of Project Leader. VDL ETG is a young, ambitious company with a very broad scope. The organization is diverse in terms of technology; from BaMo's for the semiconductor industry to aircraft simulators to medical equipment, but also in terms of development. A customer can come to us with a specific order and work instructions: build to print, but it is also possible to place an issue with specific parameters with us, in which case the entire process from design to production is in our hands: build to spec.

What is your position at VDL ETG Almelo and what does it entail?

Project leader. In my case, this means that I am responsible for a project where we make very specific aluminum frames for our customer. This project involves establishing a stable production process in which we can deliver an agreed number of machines per year. As project leader, I am responsible for the disciplines of Quality, Logistics, Technology and Costs. For this I manage the project team, monitor progress, take care of communication with (internal & external) customers, and more. Right now we are wrapping up the project. That means we are almost at the desired number of deliveries per year. We are also working hard to get our processes stable and optimized. I do not carry out this work myself, but I do decide together with the team what we will work on and how we will approach it.

What qualities should a project leader have?

Leadership, collaboration and proactivity.

What are you most proud of?

I am proud of working on such a complex product and having many responsibilities at a young age within both the project and the department where I work. The first delivery within a project is really a highlight, I already experienced this as a Factory Engineer and after this as a Project Leader again!
 

What do you enjoy most about your work and what are your biggest challenges?

Working with a young, ambitious team. In addition, “jumping into the deep end” and exercising the can-do mentality that prevails at VDL ETG. A big challenge is working with a demanding customer is as a (starting) project leader. In addition, the (delivery) pressure is high and (technical) challenges are great. They don't say for nothing that VDL ETG makes products that are on the edge of manufacturability.

What is VDL ETG Almelo like as an employer?

I think one of VDL's plus points is that if you demonstrate that you can handle responsibility and enjoy it, you can be given a lot of responsibility. This ensures that you can develop very quickly within the organization. I developed quickly within the organization; within three years I went from being a Factory Engineer to Project Leader. There is also a good working atmosphere, partly because the company employs many young colleagues, but also experienced colleagues who have been in the business longer: a strong combination.
 

In addition, fun activities are organized, such as the Cycle Tour, Summer Party and YVE activities. YVE stands for Young VDL Employee and was created to bind and enthuse young professionals in our organization.

What does your future at VDL look like?

I foresee a bright future for my career here, thanks in part to the large number of opportunities within the organization. There are many different departments with many different functions. In addition, VDL ETG will continue to grow in the coming years. If I can keep up with that growth, my future at VDL looks bright.