Two decades ago, Jouni Suominen’s enthusiasm for machines and technology led him to a career in the construction industry. Today, the maintenance manager’s love for the field is still going strong even though his perspective and scope of work have expanded.
Jouni who has 17 years of experience in Ramirent is responsible for the maintenance of lifts in Southern and Western Finland. He also works at the Turku service center as a foreman and manages a team of eight in-house installers and few temporary employees.
– My father was the manager of Monivuokraus Commandite company in Salo, where I did all my internships as a young boy. In 2000, I started working there before I moved to A-builder. After working a few other jobs during that period, I returned to Ramirent in 2007. I moved from Salo to Turku as an installer, and since then, my work tasks have been expanding, Jouni says.
The most meaningful and unique part of the job for Jouni is the freedom it offers.
– It’s not in every company that one can plan and implement one´s own ideas. Of course, my interest in machines has not disappeared anywhere and still motivates me. With machines and the world evolving, it is always nice to see and learn something new.
From the office to the construction warehouse
As a maintenance manager, Jouni handles important background support for maintenance, not only at his own workplace, but also for the whole of Finland. He manages the order backlog, guides and mentors the installers, and provides them with all the resources they need to do their jobs.
– In the morning, I greet and exchange a few words with my installers before immersing myself in the work. I delegate orders to them and take care of all their paperwork. Between my work at the computer and running between the office and the warehouse, my day goes by.
As a manager, his long and varied experience in various roles and functions helps him understand the needs of each department.
– Sometimes you hear a harmless joke about the ease of management roles. I have always said that everything looks easy when you are a good worker, Jouni quips. – I do admit that sometimes I miss having tools in my hands and working in the construction area.
Every co-worker has something to teach
Every working day reflects Ramirent’s values — the service is fast and is always done with a smile. Jouni says that he is proud of his team which always puts the customer first.
– When you work on big projects, you experience a great sense of success, for instance, getting to work with the Meyer shipyard and understanding the shipping industry. It is admirable that Ramirent is strongly involved in that.
Jouni feels he has learned something new about the construction industry from just about every person he has encountered in his career. The greatest teacher however, has been his father, from whom he gets his uncompromising work ethic.
– My father used to tell me at a young age to talk less and do more. He had many sayings, the meanings of which I began to understand only later.