Jussi Minkkinen is Fumex’s new Production Manager – “I am driven by continous improvement”

It’s only been six months since Jussi Minkkinen joined Fumex as Production Manager, but despite the short time he’s been here, he already feels at home and is starting to see the impact of his work on the rest of the organization. In this interview, he tells us more about his first time here, his role as Production Manager and what makes Fumex so special.

Even though Jussi is new to Fumex, Fumex is far from new to him. Already in the second half of the 2000s, he took the step into Skellefteå’s growing industrial world, then as a self-employed powder coater. One of his customers was Fumex, for whom he painted filters.

– I have worked in industry in Skellefteå all my life, so of course I knew about Fumex and that it is a long-established company. However, I must admit that I was not aware that it is also a world-leading company in its niche. So I’m very excited to be part of the journey ahead, says Jussi.

Now that Jussi is starting as a Production Manager, he does so with both experience and knowledge behind him. He comes most recently from Northvolt, where he was the first Shift Manager at the second factory that was built. From being just an empty room, Jussi ensured that it was filled with machines, employees, and clear processes and working methods.

– I had a very instructive time at Northvolt. We worked extensively according to the LEAN method, streamlining workflows by standardizing the different work steps. It’s based on clear communication and constant knowledge transfer – it shouldn’t matter who performs a particular step, Jussi explains.

Continuous improvement and personal development have always been a driving force for Jussi. And although Fumex already has well-established structures and processes, he only sees opportunities to refine them further. At the same time, he is humble about the knowledge that exists within the company, and emphasizes the importance of involving employees in the continued development work.

– My six months are nothing compared to many of my colleagues. They know Fumex inside out, and if I listen to their thoughts and understand their reality, together we can find improvement in both big and small ways. At the end of the day, it’s about the team, and how we can make everyone’s job a little better one day at a time.

But despite only six months into his employment, Jussi already feels at home at Fumex, where a family atmosphere and high standards are the hallmarks of the culture.

– I have gotten a very positive impression of Fumex, so much that it actually feels like a second home. We stand up for each other and show appreciation when someone has done something good. Then, of course, we have several other benefits, and the company genuinely cares about its employees, which also significantly contributes to the culture, Jussi explains.