Meet a Spreader: Jürgen – Global Production Manager

Meet a Spreader is back for another round of questions and answers – this time with our Global Production Manager Jürgen Gauger. Phil suggested we get to know him a little better in his Meet a Spreader video interview back in February. We took Phil up on his idea.
 
So, let me introduce you to Jürgen. Best to let him tell you what a Global Production Manager actually does and what such a long title actually means. You’ll also find out where Jürgen has found his own little paradise and how he can still show up to work early morning despite long hours, late-night emergency calls and little sleep.
 
How long have you been working here at Spreadshirt and what exactly do you do?
 
I’ve been at Spreadshirt for about one and a half years now as the Global Production Manager. What exactly that is – very good question. I am responsible for the entire operation of our three production locations: Leipzig, Legnica and Greensburg. Everything that has to do with production, its employees and the equipment falls under my responsibility.
 
Production in the US is relatively independent due to its distance and I am mostly involved in the administrative tasks behind the scenes: personnel planning and development, helping find replacement parts and developing the location’s technology and equipment to match the continuing growth in production volume. If there are some small repairs to make, I might jump in on a video conference to try and help figure out the problem as quickly as possible and help solve it.
 
In general, I make sure that we have the smoothest production process possible, that we have enough employees available during the seasonal peaks and that the quality remains high. Spreadshirt’s production is seasonal, which means we need a lot more people during the pre-Christmas rush than in the spring. That’s something you have to plan ahead for so we have enough time to find the right people and train them before things really take off.

My office is here in Leipzig, but I travel often to Poland and make the trip to the US about three times a year to have a look for myself. I think it’s really important to visit the production sites as much as possible to see how they are developing. Problems in production can either be solved through experiences at the other sites or making sure that that an issue at one site simply doesn’t show up at the others.

So, a typical day of yours is pretty packed with meetings if you are responsible for production in three countries. What’s the first thing you do when you get to your office in the morning?

The first thing I do is check the numbers for all three production sites. What was achieved yesterday? Perhaps some orders were left to be completed today that have to be dealt with first thing. How many orders came in last night? Then I can make a phone call to Legnica or write an email to Greensburg if anything catches my eye or has to be changed according to the numbers. That’s how I get a pretty good overview of the day ahead.

Does your day continue according to this plan? What’s your typical routine?

Every day is different. There really isn’t a typical workflow to follow. Some days go by smoothly without a single problem and then in the evening I get a call and everything has to be done quickly. Due to the time difference, they are starting work in the US when we are just about to finish up for the day here. So, that means that I sometimes have to make some calls from home because earlier just isn’t possible in Greensburg. I am basically in constant telephone contact with all production sites.

How did you find your way to Spreadshirt?

I came to Spreadshirt via a headhunter. The Global Production Manager position was to be filled and Spreadshirt hired someone to do the search. I hadn’t heard of the organization before that, but was soon very excited about the idea. Before I came here, I worked at Kodak for seven years and was responsible for similar things. Since the new technology wasn’t too complicated, there wasn’t much of a problem there. I also saw a lot of potential in this new job. Spreadshirt grew very quickly in the years before and the production was left behind a little. And I think that setting up structure is one of my strengths. For example, before I came to Spreadshirt, products shipped within Germany were still sent out in boxes. When I went to visit Greensburg, I saw that everything was packed in bags. That saves money, storage, time – and means less packaging for the customer. So, that’s why we introduced bags in Europe.

How do you measure success in Production?

There are three important factors that you always should keep an eye on and that I base my work on: costs, quality, delivery. My goal is to keep costs as low as possible while improving or maintaining quality. Even with our quality goals, the orders should get to the customers as quickly as possible.

What music are you listening to at the moment in your car?

Currently, I’m listening to Aswad. They’re a British Reggae group. They aren’t my favorite band, but their music has such a great summer feeling to it.

Where would one find you if you aren’t at Spreadshirt?

Actually, I love to travel a lot. Things like my backpack trip through Asia for three months to balance out my routine. But, there’s not much time now for things like that. Most of my free time is spent with my 2 year old son and my partner. Other than that I go for a jog every once in a while and play some sports.

In all your travels, have you ever come across a place that you would go back to at a right away?

(Without hesitation) Ko Phangan in Thailand. I have a picture on my desk that I look at whenever things get a little crazy or I need a break. Then I imagine myself lying in a hammock reading a book and everything is just right again. I would go back there at the drop of a hat.

While we’re on the topic, what book are you reading at the moment?

I’m not. I really don’t have time for reading these days. That only works on vacation in the hammock.

If you could switch desks with anyone at Spreadshirt, who would it be?

With no one, not even for loads of money. Everyone has preferences when choosing a job and mine are right here where I am. I love working with people and technology and only want to sit at my desk. Since my desk is in the production hall, I am right in the middle of the action and can work a lot more effectively. I need a personal connection when working with people. I’ve found that here in my job.

Okay, last question: we want to vote on the next team that gets to spill their beans. Which three departments do you nominate?

• First, the Apparel Team. It’s a really small department, but they are that much more important because they end up choosing the products that our customers buy.
• Then the Bulk Team, because most people don’t really know who they are and what they really do there.
• And lastly the Controlling Team, who do such an awesome job clearly laying out all of those numbers for us.

You’ve heard him – let us know which team you think we should interview next! We’ll find someone on that team and ask them all sorts of fun questions!