Without wind, the mill cannot turn, and without functioning machines, Simons Halal Food cannot produce. Downtime has significant consequences for both production and costs, making the Technical Services Department an indispensable link in the company. Curious about what it's like to work in Technical Services at Simons Halal Food? This blog tells you all about it.
The saviors in times of trouble and the technicians who keep everything running smoothly. The Technical Services Department is responsible for ensuring that all technical aspects of the company operate seamlessly and that the entire production process runs like clockwork.
With a professional team, they perform daily inspections and preventive maintenance on existing installations, top up oil where needed, replace filters, and resolve unexpected malfunctions. Before the production process begins, the Technical Services team ensures that the environment is properly prepared. A unique requirement for a specific product? No problem—Technical Services knows exactly which adjustments to make to existing machinery to produce the desired product.
In a complex process like food processing, it is crucial that all departments and machines operate at peak performance and are perfectly aligned. This inevitably brings technical challenges, ensuring that working in the Technical Services Department is never dull.
Our products come in a variety of weight units, packed in different vacuum bags, and tailored to customer specifications. Naturally, this demands adjustments to our machines, and our technicians ensure these are implemented promptly. Despite thorough preparation and preventive maintenance, occasional machine breakdowns due to malfunctions or other technical issues can occur. When these situations arise, the team’s critical thinking, adaptability, and flexibility are put to the test. These challenges not only make the work exciting but also provide a healthy dose of pressure to get production back on track as quickly as possible.
One of the team members is Lukas Grabowski, who has been a key figure in the Technical Services Department at Simons Halal Food for 16 years. He enjoys the daily challenges that come with the job and appreciates the opportunities Simons Halal Food provides for personal development.
"Challenges and variety make our work enjoyable! Plus, working with colleagues of different nationalities and expertise allows me to learn something new every day," - Lukas Grabowski.
Working in the food industry is not for everyone. Maintaining high-quality standards and hygiene requirements adds extra pressure and scrutiny, demanding a high level of discipline from employees. For Lukas, however, there’s no desire to switch careers. Working at Simons Halal Food has not only honed his discipline but also contributed to his personal growth.
The demand for food will never disappear, but the types of food and the demands on machinery are constantly evolving. This ensures that working in Technical Services remains dynamic and full of opportunities for development.
The department proudly reflects on the significant growth achieved with the current machinery over the past years. With ongoing technological advancements, especially within Industry 4.0, many innovations await in their production processes.
Industry 4.0, also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, involves integrating digital technologies into production. This includes the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and robotics. For the Technical Services Department, this means machines and systems will become increasingly automated and interconnected, enabling maintenance and repairs to be performed more efficiently. It allows the team to respond proactively to issues, minimizing downtime.
The integration of new machines into the production process—such as the sausage production line and emulsification machine introduced last year—continues to bring variety and new responsibilities.
The team looks forward to the future with confidence, continually learning, developing, and ensuring minimal downtime and maximum quality.
