Steady Enchancment is a Crew Sport: Tistou Geenen

Since Shapeways is on the journey of ‘coming house’, we needed to get to know the folks that make the magic occur right here in Eindhoven. Each couple of weeks we’ll be chatting with one of many group throughout the enterprise. Some have been right here for a few years, others are fairly new however all of them share a ardour for making, enhancing and supporting one another. This week we caught up with Tistou Geenen, our ‘Steady Enchancment Engineer’ to seek out out what he does, what motivates him and what he thinks makes for a fantastic Shapie!

Tistou (or as everybody calls him, Ties) performs a singular position at Shapeways. Formally, he’s a group of 1. Unofficially, you’ll discover him wherever and in all places.

“I’ve the liberty to prioritise the place to check out a course of or see if we will make one thing extra environment friendly or automate one thing,” he explains. “However as quickly as that call is made, I’ve to work along with the group that’s already doing that course of… so in apply, there’s numerous teamwork.”

Defining steady enchancment

At its coronary heart, his position is about ensuring the processes within the manufacturing facility run as effectively as attainable. Which may imply automation, knowledge visualization, or high quality assurance — and infrequently all three in the identical day. “The top product that we produce is the results of the product going by way of a set of processes,” he says. “So making these processes go quicker, extra effectively, or ensuring that they’re extra constant or extra top quality will all instantly impression the tip product.”

However what stands out in dialog with Tistou isn’t simply what he does, nevertheless it’s how he does it. His technical mindset is matched by a transparent respect for the individuals round him. “In my expertise, the group often is aware of finest,” he says. “We’ve had a number of cases that data-wise one thing appeared like a good suggestion, however then as quickly as you speak with the group… they’ve at the least 10 the explanation why it’s not a good suggestion!”

These interactions are usually not roadblocks, as a substitute Tistou sees them as the trail to higher options. “Ultimately you come to a course of enchancment or an automation that basically works. So it’s tremendous helpful to incorporate the group within the course of as effectively.”

Apply makes progress

Tistou began at Shapeways whereas nonetheless in class, working in manufacturing. After ending his research in utilized arithmetic, he returned full-time and was supplied the prospect to attempt one thing new. “I didn’t actually acknowledge the chance that was right here for me. It was actually the administration that reached out and stated, ‘hey, we predict you’d be a extremely good match for this’… I had no concept what being a steady enchancment engineer would entail or how that might look. So I wanted numerous steerage firstly. However I positively bought it.”

Since then, he’s grown into the position and made it his personal. “I feel you actually should be versatile. Since we’re working within the additive business, every single day is completely different. Each day you may have completely different fashions for various prospects that pose completely different challenges. That may be tremendous thrilling, and that additionally signifies that you actually should be in your toes.”

He thrives on it. “I’ve slightly little bit of a aggressive nature,” he says. “So I will also be aggressive in opposition to the method. I actually like if a quantity goes up… actually seeing that impression, and having the information to see if that is truly working — that’s actually a giant driver for me.”

One among his proudest examples? “We have now some processes that we began work on three years in the past… that have been accomplished every single day by 4 individuals. It was additionally perhaps not essentially the most enjoyable work. In the event you take a look at it proper now, the identical course of is completed by one individual in half a day, and it’s pretty pleasant. And people 4 individuals can now concentrate on one thing else that basically drives us ahead.”

Progress have to be aligned with individuals

It’s simple to imagine steady enchancment is all about velocity and effectivity, however Tistou’s strategy can also be about tradition and expertise. “It’s a driver for me, however I feel it’s a driver for the group as effectively. There’s a lot of days that I’ll simply placed on my work footwear and go and work in manufacturing… to get a great sense and a great understanding of what’s working effectively, what shouldn’t be working effectively.”

“There’s no one telling anyone, ‘hey, that is the way it’s accomplished and there’s no room to have an opinion’. It’s principally the opposite approach round… we wish the individuals which might be within the course of every single day to face up and say, hey, I feel we will do that higher.”

That sense of shared function runs all through the Eindhoven website. “We share this huge duty of getting the product out to the shopper every single day,” he says. “So despite the fact that you may be a small piece of the puzzle… if push involves shove, and we want you to do one thing else for a day to ensure that we meet our promise to the shopper, then now we have to work as a group and ensure that we alter issues up.”

So what sort of individual thrives at Shapeways?

“I feel it’s essential to be very enthusiastic and pushed to wish to be taught as a lot as you may,” says Tistou. “After all your position is vital… however the individuals that basically thrive are the folks that additionally assume ‘what’s adjoining to my position, and the way can I study these processes as effectively?’”

Each day would possibly look completely different for Tistou, however the aim stays the identical: assist the group ship higher elements, quicker, whereas making the method extra rewarding for everybody concerned. “If you could find one thing that delivers a greater product to the shopper quicker, but additionally makes the entire manufacturing course of extra pleasant… then the group will probably be totally behind you.”

You may observe together with the Shapeways Crew Highlight sequence to seek out out extra in regards to the group behind the scenes.