50 years of Mifa: interview Gertjan
50 years of innovation: the story of a true Mifa Precision Hero
The heart of technology
With a wealth of experience, Gertjan van Soest began his role as Technology Manager at Mifa Aluminium in 2023. Through contacts with suppliers from around the world – as well as closer to home – Gertjan has acquired a tremendous amount of knowledge over the years, from Lean working processes to project management. Now, he has also been actively involved for some time in further professionalising and developing Mifa, with a particular focus on technological advancement.
Research & Development
Gertjan brought his project management experience to Mifa’s Research and Development department, which now operates quite differently than before. “In every project, we balance three key aspects – it’s a sort of triangle: we manage time, cost, and scope. The scope axis defines what a project will – and more importantly, will not – include. Together with colleagues, we then create a project plan, including clear agreements on who is responsible for what. By starting in this structured way, we’re able to achieve much more, and more importantly, we can utilise everyone’s expertise in the most effective way,” says Gertjan.
The R&D department also works closely with external partners. “This way, we can benefit from the knowledge and expertise of other companies.” These partners are benchmarked for each individual project to ensure the quality requirements meet the standards set by both Mifa and its clients. “It’s all about managing client expectations – and these must be monitored constantly. We critically assess external parties and speak with multiple stakeholders to make proper comparisons. By now, we’ve built up a trusted and reliable pool of partners we collaborate with,” Gertjan adds.
In 2011, while at Canon (formerly Océ), Gertjan developed a patented drum in collaboration with Mifa and other Aalberts companies
In 1993, Gertjan van Soest graduated from the HTS-WTB – the same year as his colleague Geert Sevriens from the Work Preparation department
The division between Technology and Operational Excellence
We recently established a separate department for process engineering, called operational excellence. With the introduction of this department, we’re taking an important step in the continued professionalisation of Mifa.
“You need a technical expert to receive and take over the handover from what R&D develops, so it can be properly translated into production. For example, an R&D engineer sets up a cell, but to actually start serial production of our products, you need a technical team – and that’s where operational excellence comes in. The engineers from the operational excellence team take over what has been developed by R&D. In doing so, they challenge the research and development department to create something that not only fits seamlessly into Mifa’s production, but also aligns with our vision and values,” Gertjan explains.
When we zoom in again on the R&D department, we see a team focused on developing (new) techniques. This specifically includes new technologies, automation, and knowledge development. “It’s a constant process of evaluating whether our techniques need improvement: are we doing it right? Is the machine well-suited to the process? Can we set up the process more efficiently? For instance, can we automate two 3-axis machines instead of using one 5-axis? That would offer the same quality, at lower cost,” Gertjan says of their workflow.
Would you like to make a difference in the Technology department too?
Then apply now for the position of Lead Engineer! Get in touch with Gertjan
Technology Manager