“My interest is clearly in production – that’s at the heart of it. My daily task is to be responsible for the operational activities of the board machine, to make sure that everything works. I make sure that the work is done safely, that the quality is produced and that the quantities ordered by the customer are met. Practical work in a dynamic environment,” board machine operations engineer Sanna Peuralampi summarizes his current job description.
A factory visit to a board machine during the first year of Tampere's forestry studies as a wood user course had opened his eyes to large drying cylinders and the factory environment. Peuralampi switched to process technology and bioproducts in his studies and graduated as a process technology engineer in December 2019.
His career began as a buyer at the procurement service center in Äänekoski. His expertise in procurement tasks and understanding of protocols have strengthened his knowledge of the entire product cycle. Last year, Peuralampi participated in Metsä Group's trainee program, where job descriptions and the broader context were reviewed with other participants and systematically discussed with his own mentor.
“The best thing about the trainee program was the group-level community, where we thought about our own roles and were able to
to share experiences. Of course, we also went through general and common issues of the company, such as safety policy. Once a month I sat down with my own mentor, Jari Konola, who was able to bring a more experienced perspective to my thoughts. The program ended with a visit to another factory or head office and the opportunity for job rotation.”
What do your future career plans look like? Sanna Peuralampi says she is a person who wants to do every job she does properly.
"I would like to understand the process and the factory operations on an even deeper level. I am aware that there is an endless swamp ahead, but I am open and curious about everything. Also about moving forward in my career, if such a moment comes and opportunities open up. And I will definitely still have to get those DI letters in front of that engineering title."
Originally from Hämeenlinna, Sanna Peuralampi says she has settled into the South Karelian way of life perfectly. The commute from Lappeenranta to Simpele takes 45 minutes, and carpooling with colleagues works smoothly. An active dog hobby at home helps keep work matters at work.
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Sanna Peuralampi
Operations Engineer, Metsä Group's Simpele Board Mill
Education: Process Engineering Engineer, Tampere University of Applied Sciences
Besides work: rescue dog activity with a 1,5 year old Australian Shepherd, home renovation
Text: Tuija Holttinen
Photo: Jouni Neuvonen, Metsä Board
