Whilst studying Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Auckland, as part of the curriculum 2010-2013 we visited New Zealand Steel for a day as we studied the theory behind Steelmaking at New Zealand Steel. This enlightened me to the site and I thoroughly enjoyed the visit, from there I wanted to work there! Applied and here I am almost 9 years later.
Initially, graduates are partnered with a senior leader within the business to mentor their development, as they rotate on a 9-month schedule in different areas of the business. During the programme, the company offers Professional Development courses for further learning as well as various forums, such as Diversity and Inclusion committee, Risk Reduction committees (Gas and Confined Space, Process Safety, falls to name a few) and meetings with the Senior Lead Team or Executive Lead Team from Bluescope.
My mentor outlined career progression and the skills/qualifications/experiences to be in the best position to progress through to Production Engineer, Shift Supervisor and finally Operations Superintendent.
Being part of a global organisation there is the opportunity to travel and learn about other opportunities to optimise our operations, getting the latest technology for New Zealand Steel and Bluescope to strive.
My day-to-day is to maintain safe, high-quality products to ensure customers receive premium Colorsteel® products at the right time. This includes regular engagement with operators, engineers, technical, supply chain/scheduling and maintenance peers through review sessions of the previous 24 hours plus strategic sessions planning our opportunities for the future. These engagements include continuous improvement, quality control and new opportunities.