A role on the cutting edge
From the time she was a student at Uppsala University, Sandra Arman has been intrigued by Sweden’s role in the steel industry. “I was intrigued by the fact that, even as a very small country, Sweden could have such a long tradition with stainless steel and yet be on the cutting edge of the industry,” she says. “It seemed to me to be an excellent combination.”
Today she finds herself squarely on that cutting edge, working as Product Manager for Outokumpu’s Nyby mill. Supporting sales teams in the U.S., Nordic countries and India, Sandra keeps an eye on profitability, customer relations, price negotiations and technical support. “I am the link between the mill and our sales offices,” she says.
Communicating and networking
To deal with the unpredictable nature of her work, Sandra puts a priority on strong organizational skills. “It’s all about communicating and networking, and understanding what our customer is really asking for,” she says. “Language can be an obstacle, and at those times, I become the translator.”
Periodic visits to customer production sites help her better understand customer needs. “Travel is a very important part of my work,” she says. “If I was not able to visit our customers, see their production sites and discuss our material, I could not be an effective facilitator.”
As the link between customers and the mill, Sandra routinely fields questions on products and specifications. “Some questions can be answered immediately,” she says. “For others, it may take an hour, or even three weeks, collaborating with people in Quality, Production or Logistics. Each day is different.”
Uniquely positioned between commercial and technical interests, Sandra is energized by the people she works with. “There are so many skilled people in the mill, in the sales force and among our customers,” she says. “It is a pleasure to work with people who have so much passion for what they do. It really rubs off on me!”
Sandra Arman, 36, has a master’s degree in chemical engineering with a focus on material science from Uppsala University in Sweden. Currently Product Manager at the Nyby mill, she has worked at Outokumpu since 2008. In her free time, she enjoys sports climbing, an activity she’s incorporated into leisure travel to the U.S., France, Italy and Greece.
Communicating and networking
To deal with the unpredictable nature of her work, Sandra puts a priority on strong organizational skills. “It’s all about communicating and networking, and understanding what our customer is really asking for,” she says. “Language can be an obstacle, and at those times, I become the translator.”
Periodic visits to customer production sites help her better understand customer needs. “Travel is a very important part of my work,” she says. “If I was not able to visit our customers, see their production sites and discuss our material, I could not be an effective facilitator.”
As the link between customers and the mill, Sandra routinely fields questions on products and specifications. “Some questions can be answered immediately,” she says. “For others, it may take an hour, or even three weeks, collaborating with people in Quality, Production or Logistics. Each day is different.”
Uniquely positioned between commercial and technical interests, Sandra is energized by the people she works with. “There are so many skilled people in the mill, in the sales force and among our customers,” she says. “It is a pleasure to work with people who have so much passion for what they do. It really rubs off on me!”
Sandra Arman, 36, has a master’s degree in chemical engineering with a focus on material science from Uppsala University in Sweden. Currently Product Manager at the Nyby mill, she has worked at Outokumpu since 2008. In her free time, she enjoys sports climbing, an activity she’s incorporated into leisure travel to the U.S., France, Italy and Greece.
Pubblicato lug 31, 2015