As soon as a part of a tank is built in the production hall, quality controller Patrick de Groot springs into action. With the design drawing under his arm, he heads to the tank in the hall for inspection. Patrick conducts independent quality controls of the constructed stainless steel tanks.
Patrick landed at Gpi as a quality controller in 2018. He was introduced to the metal sector at a young age by his father, who worked in metal. He himself opted for a technical school education in mechanical engineering. After various work experiences in metal, including 14 years owning his own metal company, Patrick found his new challenge at Gpi.
Focus on quality
The Quality Control (QC) department is ultimately responsible for the quality of Gpi. Patrick explains: ‘We are an independent department within Gpi that ensures the customer receives exactly what they ordered. The customer orders a specific tank, the engineer creates a design drawing, and after approval from the customer, it goes into production. The quality of the produced tank must match the specifications on the design drawing. That’s what I check.’
Inspecting and reporting
Patrick explains how an inspection works: ‘I inspect and report. I check the dimensions, the quality of the welds, and whether the details are correct and straight. I also conduct tests, such as a pressure test or riboflavin test. After a tank inspection, I create a report with any outstanding points for the foreman. Together with the production workers, they then address these points. When a tank is ready, the customer is invited for the FAT. That is the Factory Acceptance Test, where, after our final inspection, the customer can also inspect the tank themselves. We also oversee this from our department. Once a project is completed, we prepare all the documentation. I review everything before it goes to the customer.’
What does a working day look like?
‘Every day at 8 a.m., we have a daily meeting with the foremen, quality controllers, and planning team. Then we discuss whether any inspections are needed and if there are any other special circumstances. Beyond that, the day can look different,’ explains Patrick. He continues: ‘Sometimes a customer visits, and then I give them a tour of the factories if it’s their first time with us. They can inspect the tank as they wish, and afterward, we discuss any outstanding points and go through the documentation.’
Emergency Response Officer
In addition to his work as a quality controller, Patrick is also active as the head Emergency Response Officer. Patrick explains how this came about: ‘I initiated the improvement of our company’s emergency response because I believe it’s important that we can act quickly if something unexpectedly goes wrong. In such situations, you want the right help to be available as quickly and efficiently as possible so that someone can come out of such a situation as well as possible.’
Whistling to work
After over six years at Gpi, Patrick is still in the right place. ‘I enjoy my work, and we produce excellent products. As a technician, I find that interesting to see. We also have a nice and stable team. I work alongside the QC/QA manager, two other quality controllers, and two colleagues who handle documentation. Gpi is an accessible company, where you can approach anyone with your questions. I hope we can continue in the same way in the coming years. As long as I go to work whistling, I’m happy here.’
