Silvia Bulgheroni, Quality Management
Wow, you've already been working at Gsell AG for 20 years - that's really amazing. What changes have you seen in your work over the years?
I was one of the first employees - when I started at Gsell AG in 1986, there were no computers, not to mention smartphones. I typed on a typewriter and sent out offers by fax. After four years of service, I took a 17-year break and spent time with my family. A lot changed during that period. The family company continued to grow steadily, and the medical field especially developed rapidly. When I returned in 2007 as an order entry & export manager, the company had already grown to over 30 employees and technology was taking a giant step forward. Today's communication paths are short and fast as lightning, so we can do our work much more efficiently. Compared to the past, we need only a fraction of the time to communicate with customers and co-workers. It's incredible to see how far we've come since the beginning.
What was the motivation for you to work in the Quality Management department? What do you enjoy most about your job?
My move into the quality management department was really a coincidence. In the medical industry, the regulations for manufacturing were becoming more and more strict, and I was lucky to come into contact with work in the quality area, such as validation, at an early point in my career. So I was able to gradually build up a solid know-how. When there was a change in the Quality Management leadership, I was asked if I would like a new challenge - and I said "Yes"! This was the beginning of an exciting new chapter. I still appreciate the diverse tasks, but also the search for solutions to meet our customers' requirements. There is nothing better than working in a great team. Together we can develop ideas and find the best solutions - that's what motivates me and keeps me excited every day.
What successes have you achieved during your time in the Quality Management department? Is there anything you are especially proud of?
Each time we complete a validation to the satisfaction of our customers, it is a success story. This often results in further orders, which is a further incentive for us as a team to constantly improve. In the temporary absence of our prior Head of Quality Management, I was able to take on more responsibility and successfully complete several projects. Despite the challenges, we were able to fully reach our targets. And I am very proud of that. The introduction of the CAQ system was also a milestone. It helps us to keep an overview and provide access to important documents, which makes our work all in all even more efficiently.
Quality is a significant part of the corporate DNA at Gsell - continuous improvement of our quality management system is a key focus. How have the requirements for quality assurance changed over the last 20 years, and how have you and the entire Quality Management team responded?
The requirements and standards for quality assurance in our industry have constantly evolved in recent years. To meet these high standards, we established ISO certification at an early stage. In 2011, I created an audit plan for a customer for the first time, which was something new for us then. Over the years, more and more customers requested audit plans and soon I was creating them full time on a piecework basis. It quickly became clear that we needed more resources. As our customer base and product range have grown steadily, two of us have been exclusively involved in this work for almost four years now. It is amazing to see how much the regulations have increased and how quickly our department has grown to handle these demands. Not only the personnel increase, but also the investment in new technologies and automated processes, help to perform our work more rapidly and accurately. We are continuously working to provide our customers with the best available quality without losing efficiency.
What are your personal highlights in these 20 years at Gsell?
I am very thankful to the Gsell family for making it possible for me to return to work after my long break. It was a wonderful opportunity to bring in my skills to the Quality Management department. But that wasn't the only highlight of my time at Gsell - moving into the new building was an incredible experience. We were finally able to work together as a Quality Management department in one space and support each other. Being close to production was another plus, this created a better overview of the entire production chain. This was a huge step forward for our team. I am excited and proud of what we have achieved together as a team and look forward to seeing where we go on this journey.