Interviews

Cihan Chevahir: "I like to see smiling faces"

The plan for the Beko factory in Kirzhach has been increased by 27% this year, almost a third. Impressive! The new Head of Production Planning, Cihan Chevahir, will help bring this plan to life. He has recently moved to Russia but has been with Beko/Arçelik for over 15 years. He told us about his career path, shared his first impressions of Russia and plans for this year.

- Could you please tell us how your career in Beko started and developed?
– I have been working for Arçelik for over 15 years. I have always been in the Production Planning Department, so I got a lot of experience in this field. I am an Engineer-technologist by education, I have a master's degree in this specialty. I got a job at Arçelik right after graduation and still enjoy my job. In the company, I feel great and happy, because I have been provided with many development opportunities. For example, I supported colleagues at our factory in China for a month and a half. I was also involved in the opening of a new factory in Romania. For two and a half years I worked between Romania and my homeland, Turkey. And I have always been in close contact with the Russian factory. Prior to my assignment to the Beko factory in Kirzhach, I was the Lead Manager of the Arçelik washing machine factory in Istanbul.

- And when did you first come to Russia?
– Just a little while ago, in December 2022, I took part in the final inventory. In mid-February, I again came to Russia for a permanent job as the head of the Production Planning Department.

– What did you expect from your work and life in Russia?
– I was happy because this appointment meant a promotion for me. And I knew that there is a great team here, because I had already worked with some Russian colleagues from the Production Planning Department.

But I have never been to Russia, so I began to collect feedback from my Turkish colleagues who worked at the factory.

I had questions about the political situation, weather and distance from Turkey. But my friends and colleagues unanimously assured me that everyday life here is wonderful. In general, all feedbacks about Russia, the factory and the team were very positive. So my doubts dissipated before they appeared.

And so far everything has been confirmed. The people here are very helpful and supportive. Of course, it is colder here than in Turkey, the weather conditions are different, but I quickly got used to. And there are also very beautiful wilds, big cities, so life promises to be interesting. Sure, it takes time to get used to everything. For example, now I'm just looking for a comfortable apartment for rent. Once I take it off, my life will become more stable and comfortable.

– How does it look like to leave Istanbul, where you have lived most of your life, to little Kirzhach?
– Istanbul is a big interesting city, which has many difficulties at the same time – traffic jams, throngs of people, high level of stress. In Kirzhach, the work pace is similar to Istanbul, not much difference. But the nature is beautiful, the air is cleaner, there are no traffic jams, there is less stress. On weekends I go to nearby towns, to Moscow for sightseeing.

– Previously, you worked with the Russian Beko factory as a supplier. How has your job changed since moving to Russia? What new did you learn? Have you ever had to change something at work?
– I have always assisted Planning Departments in our factories around the world, but I have never had any specific managerial responsibilities. Now I am in charge of the Production Planning Department. The work processes are similar, but now I have a bigger team to work with. I participate in budgetary control, authorized to approve certain transactions and make decisions for the entire department. I also represent my department and sometimes the entire factory or company in various situations. But the essence of the work, production planning, remains the same.
In Kirzhach, the work pace is similar to Istanbul, not much difference. But the nature is beautiful, the air is cleaner, there are no traffic jams, there is less stress. On weekends I go to nearby towns, to Moscow for sightseeing.
- How big is your team? Are there enough employees for development? Are you satisfied with your team? What results do you expect from them?
- Currently, more than 50 people work in the Production Planning Department. I am in touch not only with the team that I see every day in the office, but also with people from the warehouse. I have to be aware of what iss going on there and the problems they face. I am pleased with my team, now they take care of all needs.

- Is the reorganization of the planning department expected, increase or decrease in staffing?
– Yes, due to the growing demand of production, we may need to hire more employees. I also want to provide my current employees with opportunities for growth and career advancement.

What criteria do you put forward for hiring employees?
- First of all, I see if they work for the good of the department and if they are good team players. I also like people who have a positive attitude towards difficulties. This is very important to keep the team motivated. Therefore, I like to see smiling faces in my daily life. I'm looking for someone who can quickly adapt to work within the team. And, of course, I check knowledge for a specific position.
– What do you consider the most important for effective planning? How to achieve this?
- Anticipate everything, check the facts that may affect planning: changes in demand, customer requests. It is very important to launch new products in a timely manner to meet consumer demand in order to satisfy the quality standards and quantity requirements for a particular model. When making a forecast, we also take into account past data and seasonal fluctuations in demand.

– Have you ever face any production problem when you came to Russia?
– Yes, we did with the supply of spare parts for a couple of weeks. But we actively cooperated with other departments: procurement, service, production, development, quality department and found alternative solutions. When looking for new suppliers in Russia, Turkish suppliers temporarily helped us with spare parts. Now the situation has improved.

– What is being produced in Russia now?
– Plastic, metal parts and counterweights are mainly produced in Russia. We have to supply electronics and some raw materials from abroad. Of course, it is more convenient for us to work with Russian manufacturers - they are closer, we speak the same language. Now more than 80 domestic contractors supply us with more than 1000 different types of materials. The goal of our Production Planning Department is to prevent risks. We report any potential danger to relevant departments in order to take joint action and minimize risks in a timely manner.
Production will grow. We are at the beginning of the year, so the plan can be adjusted based on sales results. At the moment, we plan to produce 650,000 washing machines and 440,000 refrigerators and freezers. Thus, this year we plan to produce more than 1 million units, which means an annual increase in production by 27%.
– What are your department’s development plans for 2023 and beyond?
– Production will grow. We are at the beginning of the year, so the plan can be adjusted based on sales results. At the moment, we plan to produce 650,000 washing machines and 440,000 refrigerators and freezers. Thus, this year we plan to produce more than 1 million units, which means an annual increase in production by 27%.

- Wow, that's a lot! Is this a consequence of our products taking market share from other manufacturers that have left the market due to sanctions?
Yes, but not only because of this. We have plans to launch new products in response to growing customer demand. We are expanding into new niche segments by launching washer dryers in the middle of the year to attract new customers. We also plan to increase Grundig's production to further improve customer satisfaction.

– How does doing business in Russia differ from doing business in Turkey?
– During my career path in Turkey, I have helped washing machine manufacturers around the world – in Thailand, Romania, Russia and other countries. Right now I'm mostly focused on Russian factories. We are facing some difficulties due to the current situation in the world, so we try to anticipate and prevent in order to avoid their impact. There were no such problems in Turkey, but we, of course, dealt with many other issues. But day-to-day work is not much different.

– How would you describe your ideal day?
– My ideal working day is when we find solutions to the problems we face. I believe that it is impossible to completely avoid problems in work. Then I would like my people to go home smiling. If it was a day off, I would go to some new place: park, museum, meet the locals and learn more about Russian culture. I also love good food, so my perfect day can end with a pleasant conversation with friends over dinner.
Do you have time for any of this list right now?

– I'm new here, so I have a lot to learn in the first few months. But soon I will have more time for myself. I have already been to Moscow, visited some parks, Red Square. I will try to keep a work-life balance.

Which of your achivements work are you most proud?
– I am very proud of my support project in China. I taught people how to do their job, talked about the Arçelik culture, answered their questions. The factory launch in Romania was also very interesting. I was involved in the project before the factory was built, helping to start production, and also introducing people to our culture and systems. It seems to me that my experience and knowledge are important and valuable. And the best reward is when management is given a new challenge and I am kept in mind as someone to turn to.
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