As the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Timo Heimola steers CH-Polymers’ production plant in Kaipiainen with experience and dedication. He appreciates the company’s empowering work culture and the familial atmosphere.
Heimola’s professional trajectory at the production plant in Kaipiainen began in 2007 when he joined as an engineering student. His capabilities quickly caught the company’s attention, Over the years, Heimola has gained a comprehensive understanding of the plant, its tight-knit staff, and the whole polymer industry around it.
In his current role as COO, Heimola oversees the Kaipiainen production facility, ensuring its overall functionality and production quality. His responsibilities extend to purchasing main raw materials from global markets.
– Navigating the market requires an understanding of global dynamics and insight into the production plant’s operational capacity. It has been helpful to be able to draw from my hands-on background in production, logistics, and budgeting. We also have long standing relationships with our suppliers, which is a true asset for procurement, he explains.
Empowering work culture
Dealing with the global market is not a simple task. Heimola, in his procurement role for about a year and a half, witnessed the petrochemical industry’s post-COVID challenges.
– After COVID, there was a rapid drop in production volumes as consumer behavior shifted from home activities to travel and other forms of consumption. The subsequent energy crisis in Europe further impacted manufacturing processes dependent on natural gas. We were able to manage these major situations quite well.
Heimola enjoys the versatility of his job, underlining the driving force of empowerment and autonomy within CH-Polymers.
– Something I’ve always liked at CH-Polymers is that here you can express yourself and take on responsibilities. You can do things the way you see fit, working for the benefit of the company. To me, it is a driving force, he adds.
The Kaipiainen mentality
Heimola sheds light on the unique dynamics within CH-Polymers, emphasizing the familial atmosphere fostered by the company’s smaller size. The human-centric work culture, learning from mistakes, and collaborative problem-solving define the ethos of CH-Polymers.
– While our organization is tight-knit, with long careers often spanning over 20 years, it has been rewarding to welcome new individuals into our fold. Their fresh perspectives have allowed us to reconsider some aspects, such as meeting protocols, information sharing practices, and safety guidelines, Heimola shares.
– I hope that the unique Kaipiainen mentality can continue into the future. We aim for unique transitions where new employees enter through internships and summer jobs, and get to learn their craft on the job, and at the same time provide the possibility for flexible retirement transitions for those who eventually leave.