Having fun is having quality: the CSi project team

Having fun is having quality: the CSi project team

CSi’s project manager Ard Swikker: «having fun is having quality»

Projects are carried out by project teams, but what exactly do they do? Project manager Ard Swikker takes us into the world of the project teams at CSi.

Hi Ard, could you introduce yourself?

«I’m Ard Swikker, 59 years old. This year marks my 27th year at CSi. I started as a project manager and still hold that position. With a background in controls, I was able to seamlessly transition into the role of project manager, and over the years, the role has evolved with me.»

And what does being a project manager entail?

«As a project manager, I oversee the project to ensure the successful completion, and I focus on the personal side of the operation. It is important that people are satisfied with their work and that they are also proud of their accomplishments. Seeing tangible results brings satisfaction, so that’s what I try to do as often as possible. It’s also the project manager’s responsibility to maintain motivation, not only for the people at the office but also for the people working on site. They’re often the first point of contact for customers, which can be challenging and demanding at times. I work closely with the site supervisor to ensure everyone is happy and satisfied. Furthermore, team-building contributes to a positive atmosphere and motivation. Having fun is having quality: a happy individual does a better job. Additionally, we have monthly meetings with the eight project managers to learn from past projects and streamline our way of working.»

What is the purpose of a project team?

«The purpose of a project team is to navigate through your project in a controlled manner while ensuring quality. This is why we operate with the gate system. Of course, satisfying customers is also important, but that goes without saying: everything we do ultimately serves the client. The gate system revolves around 10 deliverables, designed to ensure quality and timely completion within the allocated budget.»

How does the project team operate?

«The project team kicks off during the sales phase, post gate 2. Gates 1 and 2 fall under the responsibility of the sales team and system sales engineers. After gate 2, as the system becomes more defined and reaches a certain level of complexity, we get involved. At this stage, the project manager, system integration engineer, layout engineer and product manager get on board.

After gate 4 (the order placement) the definition phase commences, involving the system integration engineer, layout engineer and site supervisor. As the project becomes more technically demanding, the lead mechanical, lead hardware and lead software engineers join the team to finalise the project plan.

The project team is only complete with the support of the project support officer, multi-project planner and project purchaser. Together, we ensure that the schedules of various projects align with each other and with our production schedule in Romania. In collaboration with our Romanian transport coordinator we ensure that the materials arrive at the location on time. With this support we ensure that everyone in the project team has what they need.»

What are you proud of about your project team?

«I’m proud when everyone finds enjoyment in their work and when we can celebrate successes. It’s about the joy that everyone should experience in their work, alongside achieving project completion within the designated time, budget and quality standards. Having fun is having quality!»