Heikki Kreku, Project Manager

As a Project Manager I'm responsible for making sure that the project is on time, on schedule and on budget. As a Project Manager working for Konecranes ports, we only handle large projects. Typical project duration is from 12 months to 24 months, depending on the size of the equipment and how many we need to provide to the customer. 

What my work primarily involves is maintaining project schedules, maintaining customer relationship and customer communication. We also look into the cost forecasts and report monthly to our superiors to make sure that everything is kept on track and the company is confident that the project is maintained well. 

My first contact with cranes was when I was working as a factory worker in a paper mill. I was operating an overhead traveling crane during reel shifts on a paper mill. My next contact with cranes was when I was searching for a subject for my final thesis for my University degree. I noticed on the University billboards that Konecranes is searching for a Masters degree graduate So I applied and got an assignment from Konecranes R&D.  

After completing my thesis for Konecranes research and development, I joined Konecranes Service Finland to work as a Structural Engineer in crane modernizations. A couple of years later, I was transferred to Konecranes UK to work as an Engineering Manager for  local crane modernizations support.  After my expatriate period expired 2 years later, I returned to the modernizations support in Finland to work as a Sales Manager. But shortly after I was further transferred to Port Cranes division to work as a Project Manager which I've been doing ever since. 

During my career at Konecranes I've noticed that the work environment provides a chance to daily learn something new, and continually evolve and improve your skills. And you combine that with good team spirit and good coworkers; now that's something you want to return to every day.