Valtteri works at Valmet Automotive’s car plant in Uusikaupunki, and has had a great career path in our company. His activeness and determined attitude have taken him from a car painter to a team leader and to his current role, where he works as a project engineer in the paint shop. Alongside his work, he is studying to become an electrical and automation engineer.

A self-described patient, development-oriented and social person, Valtteri enjoys the moments of innovating new and seeing his work for development produce tangible results, helping colleagues, or improving the process. Sustainability and innovation are also important themes in his work.

  • This job is addictive because it’s not easy. When I come up with a good idea, I think about its feasibility, but it’s also important to be able to take it forward and prove its value. For example, I have many ideas in the field of sustainable development, but some of them would require major process changes, Valtteri describes his work.

 

FROM CAR PAINTER TO PROJECT ENGINEER

Valtteri is originally from Uusikaupunki and still enjoys his home region. In addition to his work, he studies at the University of Applied Sciences in Pori.

After high school, Valtteri wasn’t sure where he wanted to go, but he decided to pursue a career in car painting. His childhood days in his grandfather’s car paint shop sparked his interest in the industry. He studied to be a car painter with an apprenticeship, after which a career in this field seemed like the right choice for a long time.

  • For a long time, I was satisfied with my job as a car painter, no two days were ever the same and the work required full concentration.

Valtteri started at Valmet Automotive in 2013, at the same time as the production of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class began, and this year he will be celebrating 12 years of career at the Uusikaupunki car plant. Valtteri’s career began in the paint shop, from where he quickly moved into top-coat spot repairing, utilizing his previous skills as a car painter.

  • I thought that VA could well be my next workplace, the car plant has always been a big part of the city and I’ve wondered what it would be like to work there. Curiosity made me apply and I ended up working here. In addition, my father and uncle had worked here in the paint shop, just like me.

 

CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND NEW RESPONSIBILITIES

With his long experience as a repairer, Valtteri soon noticed areas for improvement in his work, which made him think about how to improve the process in the paint shop. Many repairers were self-taught or had learned the job from others. In Valtteri’s current work, the goal is to promote and develop things, but it also involves the responsibility to justify changes.

  • Even though there is experience from work, not all cause-and-effect relationships in the process are always clear because the professional skills acquired through education are missing. While working in the paint shop, I noticed areas for development and it was natural for me to start looking for improvements. In my current role, sufficient baseline data is needed to make reliable comparisons, without which it is difficult to assess the long-term effects or costs of process changes.

Valtteri went from being a repairer to a team leader and after his title changed to a developer, where his tasks involved function-based development, for example improving lighting and ergonomics in the paint shop. At the same time, he applied for further studies and got in to study electrical and automation technology. Multiform learning allows him to complete his studies while working. Now Valtteri is nearing the end of his studies, and it will be time to start his thesis in the spring. He has planned to choose a thesis topic that can be combined with his current work.

  • The idea of further studies came to me as a repairer, when I noticed areas for improvement in my work and wanted to develop myself. SAMK’s entrance exams in electrical and automation engineering were interesting, as they were conducted in a course format, including remote assignments, tests, and the preparation of a production line plan. I want to choose a thesis topic that is both interesting and useful for the company, and I have been waiting for a suitable topic to tackle because I don’t want it to be anything ordinary.

 

PROCESS DEVELOPMENT AND CONTINUOUS LEARNING

In 2023, Valtteri moved to the ME (Manufacturing Engineering) department, where he currently works as a project engineer responsible for the processes in the paint shop.

  • Even before I started my studies, I had been interested in the job of production engineer and had often discussed it with my current manager, with whom I had developed the processes in the paint shop. When he moved to ME department, he kept me informed of vacancies, which also encouraged me to apply for new positions when the time was right.

The current role has allowed Valtteri to make more independent decisions and develop processes even further. The work emphasizes continuous learning and reflection on how things interact. Valtteri’s working day often starts with a review of unfinished tasks, and new ones are added as the day progresses. Valtteri can also work remotely, but it always depends on the tasks of the day.

  • Planning and meetings can be handled remotely, but many tasks require me to be on site, hands-on in production to see what’s happening. My long experience in a paint shop is a great help because I already know the processes and points of improvement well.

There are also many things to do outside of work, Valtteri appreciates the company benefits offered for leisure time, but he also finds time for family.

  • The company’s bicycle benefit has been a great deal in my free time. I also use the company gym and spent time renovating my detached house. There’s plenty to do with studying, children and sports. The best things in life are my children and the humor that saves the day in many situations. I’m a big fan of the Kummeli TV show, and as its style, you could say: the most important thing in life is not to make mistakes…

Valtteri believes that Valmet Automotive as an employer offers good opportunities for career development if you are willing to make an effort.

  • This is a company where you can get support if you have passion. The most important thing is to be persistent and patient. This is a great place for a trainee, for example, as you quickly get the chance to do and learn hands-on, as long as you have enthusiasm and motivation. Everything depends on your contribution and ability to apply what you’ve learned.

 

Valtteri’s story is an excellent example of how personal input and interest can play a crucial role in developing a career path and opening up new opportunities. Valmet Automotive has room to grow and develop your skills.