At our site in Kecskemét, 400 to 500 people work every day to achieve more and more success. Our colleagues all contribute to making our company the second-largest trailer parts manufacturer in Europe, which ensures a stable livelihood for countless Hungarian families. In the next period, we would like to show our followers the human side of Autóflex-KNOTT in Kecskemét. We are interviewing our employees to give you a better insight into our company and the atmosphere in which they work. The following interview was made with István Palkovits, one of the IT specialists of Autóflex-KNOTT, please enjoy.
How long have you been part of the Autóflex-KNOTT Ltd team?
I.P.: I came here in 2016.
Is this your first job? If not, how did you start your career?
I.P.: I came here as system administrator number two of the Infor system, which was supplemented by a variety of other tasks, including full hardware management. My important tasks include expanding and improving the computer network, coordination with external partners for some of the tasks. My job is to make the industrial machines see our systems. All printing that takes place in the company. Operation and installation of individual computers. Both hardware and software. Support for the company, as an internal standalone department.
What are your personal motivations? How do you see your future at the company?
I.P.: We are motivated by the opportunity to continuously improve ourselves and the company’s equipment and technology. There is no limit to what we can’t thinker with and what we can.
What do you consider your greatest success at the company?
I.P.: Print management has been brought together in one tool, in a single program. Moreover, we are finally getting IT to work in an enterprise environment. This will be the greatest success, the results of which we will shortly see. This is the joint success of our team of three and an external colleague.
What do you consider the biggest challenge in your work?
I.P.: IT is the process behind the scenes. It’s good if you aren’t really noticed. As I mentioned, we are currently working on creating the IT backbone for a large enterprise. Both existing systems and new ones are challenging to operate.
Why do you like working at Autóflex-KNOTT Ltd?
I.P.: I feel very comfortable here because I can work independently. There are no constraints as before. We get on quite well with the management. Should there be any shortcomings or improvements that need to be addressed, we’ll resolve them. If a new part is needed, we can replace it immediately. There are also constant innovations in the IT infrastructure. Everything here is much faster and more flexible than at my previous job. This is a company that never stops, is always moving forward. They are constantly building, expanding, installing v-ery sophisticated equipment. People here have a vision for the future. There will always be a need for trailers. The management listens attentively, patiently, asking questions. You can work together with the whole company. A manual worker is also welcome to contact us, we can help. No one is ever rejected. I visit the plant a lot. There are long distances to cover. The company even makes sure that the transport is as efficient as possible. There are service bicycles and an electric tricycle with a flatbed, which allow fast and flexible transport within the factory despite the limited space.
What is the working atmosphere and teamwork like?
I.P.: The team is very good. There are only three of us, but we optimise our systems to get the job done. We always reach a consensus. I have known Attila for a long time. We went to primary and secondary school together. He invited me here. I also have a friendly relationship with Tibi. It’s good to work with them, because we understand each other almost without words. I also get on well in the company in general. The atmosphere is good. People are always the most important. There is a family atmosphere. Here people help each other. You can also ask for help and get help, even for private matters.
How do you recharge when you’re out of the daily grind?
I.P.: I like to do things around the house at home. Doing DIY. We cycle a lot, I go swimming. I try to spend a lot of time with the family.
What message would you send to existing and future colleagues?
I.P.: You should not be afraid of the tasks. If you dare to ask, they’ll answer kindly and happily. Even if you can’t do it, at least let them see that you want to and dare to ask for help. You have to work actively and sooner or later everything will work out.
Thanks to István Palkovits for the interview.