“It is rewarding to look at a finished mill” Jukka Kiuru joined Metsä Fibre more than a decade ago. His job has taught him a lot and taken him halfway round the globe.
RASMUS ARIKKA, photo VESA TYNI
Jukka Kiuru works as a project manager for mill pro- jects. He first joined Metsä Fibre in 1999.
It is incredibly rewarding to look at a finished mill that is about to start up, when you know how much work has been put in to it. The sense of success is undeniably gratifying, but still, it is the people who are the best of all. I have had the chance to meet and work with some great people; for example, we had a fantastic local crew working for the Uruguay pulp mill project about 10 years ago. The same applies to Kemi today – we have a great working atmosphere, an open discussion culture and a dynamic way of working. A common goal encourages everyone, and we have a clear idea of what to do and how to do it. You can also have fun at work. Our goal is always to cre- ate a working environment that is pleasant for everyone. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT IN YOUR WORK? I came to the business straight from school, back in the day, and knew nothing. Now I know how to make pulp and pulp mills! I have worked in a number of large-scale mill projects, the first one of them in Uruguay. The conditions there were challenging, and I came to understand how impor- tant it is to trust what you do. We knew what we were doing and were able to demonstrate this to everyone else as well once the mill was finished. Large-scale projects involve a countless number of de- tails, so mistakes are also bound to happen. Luckily, you can learn from them. I always try to think that things will work out, and that even big issues become small ones over time. The best thing of all is that I am still on a learning curve. I learn something new about technology and about working with people every day, and in every pro- ject. I can look back on – and forward to – what I believe is a genuinely rewarding and good career. •
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE FOREST INDUSTRY? When I was a child, my family moved from one town to the next, following pulp mill projects. The mills were a big presence in my everyday life, which is probably why I ended up in the business myself. WHAT IS YOUR JOB LIKE? At the moment, I am working as a project manager for the Kemi bioproduct mill project. The mill’s construction is a multi-year project, aiming for a perfectly functioning pulp mill. It begins with planning and progresses through the procurement phase to con- struction and, ultimately, commissioning. When the mill is handed over to its users, the project team’s work is done. The new potential bioproduct mill in Kemi is in its planning and procurement phase, meaning that my days include a lot of meetings and planning. During the construction phase, my duties include coordinating the progress in my own area of responsibility. Project work is scheduled, and we are certain to en- counter some surprises. The work requires commitment as well as an ability to cope with pressure and to pri- oritise. In my experience, people seeking project work usually live up to its exacting requirements. WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR WORK? The fact that each day is different and the job is challeng- ing. The work is largely comprised of planning different things and phases, and eventually all those pieces fit together. This job provides opportunities to solve prob- lems and each challenge takes us a step forwards. Creating new things is fascinating in itself. It feels good to know that something is being done better than before.
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