From Engineer to Production Director

Jeroen first came into contact with Prodrive during his side job at a company maintaining the grass and sprinklers on our campus. He took a good look at Prodrive, liked what he saw, and applied for a graduation internship. He had been studying mechatronics and started as an Automation and Robotics Engineer. He soon figured out that his interests lay with assembly instead of mechatronics. This led him to the assembly "factory" of Prodrive, and apart from a short stint at another company, he’s been there ever since.

A couple of years ago, you left Prodrive and returned somewhat later. What made you come back?

“During the corona pandemic, I was offered a similar job at another company, and I thought, why not? However, I soon discovered how important personal and professional growth were to me. The freedom and options at Prodrive to develop and advance were lacking at the other company.” Jeroen began to explore the market and got in touch with his former Manager, Sietze. At the time, Prodrive was undergoing changes. “Hal Investments had just acquired Prodrive, and the organization was being restructured and professionalized.” This convinced Jeroen to interview for the position of Manager Assembly. “I asked myself the question: When do I feel fulfilled? It’s when I witness products being built from scratch and when I work with people.” He landed the job and quickly rose to Production Director Assembly, responsible for 450 employees.

What does a typical day look like to you?

“Busy. All jokes aside, I usually start between half past 7 and half past 8. I print out the output of the previous day. It’s basically a check-up on all teams. At eleven, I meet up with all Department Managers during a ‘pitstop’. Pitstops are used to discuss all aspects of production, like safety, quality, costs, delivery, and people. The afternoon is used for what we call ‘improving the business'. This could entail anything from introducing new products to de-escalation.” Jeroen relies heavily on his team and facilitates them to the best of his abilities.

At the end of the day, what has brought you the most fulfillment?

“Achieving your milestones in other parts of the organization can take a long time. Here in the factory, we ‘win’ on a daily, weekly, or even hourly basis. Cutting costs and overperforming on output is very gratifying.” Jeroen has a special analogy to describe different types of specialists within Prodrive. “You’ve got what I call thumbtacks and nails. A nail has deep theoretical knowledge, while a thumbtack maintains an overview.” It’s the latter that suits Jeroen best. In his role as a ‘thumbtack', he enjoys watching and helping people develop. He emphasizes that you need both roles in your team to succeed.

As a manager dealing with many people, what advice would you give a new employee at Prodrive?

“Personal and professional growth start with yourself. It won’t just be handed to you. It takes effort and hard work. Growth opportunities and openings will be presented to you, but you have to seize them. And even if you don’t want to switch jobs, you can still move forward.”

Are there other tips you would give future Prodrivers?

“Difficult to say, we offer lots of different opportunities. There’s always something to develop or improve.”

What kind of mentality would make a good fit with Prodrive?

“Open-minded and energized. Use your common sense, and don’t be afraid to make choices.”

Any last thoughts you’d like to share with current and future Prodrivers?

“Prodrive is expanding and constantly changing. This should suit you. It’s not the same as it used to be. Some might find this challenging, while others see it as a pro. The professionalization certainly brings about many new opportunities. We’re a renowned company, working in many different markets, having an actual impact on the world. What I find most important is to stay competitive in the Netherlands with my entire team. In the end, that’s what we’re all doing it for.”