Providing excellent training and a wholesome company culture, a career at Grundfos (Singapore) Pte Ltd will ensure that your time is well-spent.

By Azhar Jalil

When talking about pumps, the only name that should come to mind is Grundfos, a Denmark-based company established in 1945...

As a corporate entity, Grundfos is committed to being more than just a manufacturer of pumps. The company sums up its values with the words “Be responsible”, “Think ahead”, and “Innovate”. Its responsibility, foresight and focus on creating ground-breaking solutions and ideas have made it one of the world’s leading pump manufacturers.

The success of such a policy is easily observed. With close to 16 million pumps produced annually and the capability to manufacture the control systems and electric motors that run these machines, the company has emerged as an industry leader.

Besides, as the world’s largest maker of circulator pumps and with about 50% of the world’s market share, Grundfos’ global presence has been firmly established. This presence was what drew Wong Shao Feng to a career at Grundfos.

“By chance, a friend had already been working here in this company. She told me that as a Multi-National Company (MNC), Grundfos is a very prestigious and famous company in the pump business,” says Shao Feng, recalling his early days in 2001 as a fresh Electrical Engineering graduate from Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

Learning and Working
After seven years, the Senior Sales Engineer still finds the job “exciting” due to the fast pace of today’s market. In his role, Shao Feng also attends to urgent calls from clients.

“When you suddenly have no water, it will always be the pump supplier who gets called first,” exclaims Shao Feng with a laugh, “even when the pumps work perfectly fine!”

While Shao Feng attends to clients’ needs, Viknash Balakirshnan looks after his colleagues’. Coming from a background in fire and safety, he was looking to broaden his perspectives a year ago with a career in facilities management.

“When I read up on Grundfos, I found that the company had set very good goals and directions. Also, a career here has the potential to be a very wholesome learning and working experience,” explains Viknash.

As a Facilities Engineer, Viknash is responsible for the maintenance of Grundfos’ local base of operations which serves as the Asia Pacific Regional Distribution Centre and Headquarters. The two-floored structure is well-equipped, housing assembly operations, testing facilities, a warehouse, and offices that coordinate the company’s regional activities.

With business expanding, Grundfos is currently building another facility nearby to harness the fast-growing Asian market. Involved in laying the groundwork is Viknash, who aims to take on the additional role of Safety Officer for the new building upon its completion in 2010.

Beneficial, professional and personal
In its quest to become the world’s leading pump manufacturer, Grundfos knows that it’s simply not enough to expand and keep up with the latest technology. Its people also need to be updated and well-trained to remain relevant and effective.

To equip staff with the necessary skills, Grundfos employees are given a wide latitude and freedom to choose from courses that benefit them professionally as well as personally through the Employee Development Dialogue held twice a year.

Furthermore, Grundfos runs its own training institute in Bjerringbro, Denmark. Named after the company’s founder, the Poul Due Jensen Academy exists as a tool to keep its staff constantly at the forefront of market demands and development. Grundfos employees worldwide are regularly flown over for training; Shao Feng himself has been sent thrice.

“At the Academy, the trainers help us increase our product knowledge and improve our sales processes so that we can gain a bigger market share. Once, they even engaged a guest professor to give an analysis of the market outlook,” says Shao Feng.

All this training comes in useful when dealing with daily challenges on the job. For Shao Feng, his greatest test is a continuous juggling act between money and time to give the customer the greatest satisfaction.

“We need to put in a lot of effort in securing job contracts, and then meeting the customer’s deadlines. Also, we need to balance budgets to keep costs reasonable,” explains Shao Feng. “For me, the customer always comes first.”

Not just about the bottom line
While many companies are only concerned with their profits, Grundfos goes beyond to ensure that employees and the environment aren’t left out.

Recently, Grundfos responded to Employer Alliance initiatives to introduce a better work-life balance. Staff gave feedback on what they thought should be incorporated and amongst the schemes being looked into are flexible work arrangements and flexi-benefits.

And while transport to and from Boon Lay Interchange is the norm for companies operating in Tuas, Grundfos takes this service a level higher.

“When my friends find out I work in Tuas, they always ask how I get to work. I never fail to surprise them when they hear that the company drops me off almost at my doorstep,” explains Viknash with a chuckle.

Where possible, Grundfos companies give handicapped persons employment opportunities. The company is also engaged in community projects. Most recently, a donation drive was organised for victims of the Sichuan earthquake with Grundfos Singapore matching its staff’s donations dollar-for-dollar.

Moreover, Grundfos is currently in the process of being OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14000 certified. By meeting these two standards, the company will be able to provide a safe working environment that conforms to strict occupational health and safety benchmarks as well as minimise its environmental footprint.

Wanted: A good attitude
For Shao Feng, “sustainability” is what defines Grundfos.

“To me, Grundfos is not just a company but more of a foundation. The company’s resources make it self-sufficient,” he explains.

Agreeing, Viknash elaborates, “We care for the environment, our customers’ needs are met right down to every single detail, the welfare of employees is also well taken care of.”

With such robust company values, employees need to match up with “a good attitude”. According to Shao Feng, “You can be fresh from school, with no experience or any sales contacts. But if you have the attitude to learn and pick yourself up even after failing, you will succeed here.”

Viknash adds, “You have to see the world and go for it, be part of a big organisation like Grundfos. Working here at an MNC has been an experience no classroom can ever provide.”

Click here for jobs in Chemical Engineering!

Click here for jobs in Electrical Engineering!

Click here for jobs in Electronics Engineering!

Click here for jobs in Mechanical Engineering!

Click here for jobs in Engineering – others!