Team spirit and continuous growth

Inside Vinjith’s Role at SEKISUI POLYMATECH EUROPE

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?

My name is Vinjith Paramanathan. I’m originally from Sri Lanka (Tamil Eelam), I have been living in the Netherlands for over 21 years now. Since the 3rd of April 2023, I have been working at SEKISUI POLYMATECH EUROPE (SPE), where I started as a QA Operator. After about a year, I progressed to my current position as Senior QA Operator.

What are your main tasks and responsibilities as a Senior QA Operator and how do you support your team?

As a Senior QA Operator, I am involved in all processes and machines that affect quality - especially the measuring instruments in the laboratory. My duties include performing quality measurements, managing the laboratory, ensuring quality and safety, coaching and instructing colleagues, and optimising QA and production processes.

I also work in the production part: I coach the team, conduct audits, inform, and explain how to improve processes. I have simplified operators’ processes and support the engineering team. We split tasks so that no one is flooded with work, ensuring equal work distribution.

My working day often starts with a round through the factory, during which I look out for unsafe situations or risks to product quality. I also discuss key areas of concern with colleagues on a daily basis, focusing on safety and quality.

How do you collaborate with other departments and what initiatives have you taken?

In my role, leadership, quality control, analytical thinking, and process improvement are essential. I work closely with other departments by communicating clearly, solving problems quickly, and jointly looking for improvements. A great example of initiative was organising a factory tour at SEKISUI S-LEC. This provided colleagues with valuable insights into our group's wider production environment and also strengthened mutual cooperation. I was also involved in implementing Red Rabbit as an internal audit system. By establishing clear roles and a structured approach, we ensured faster follow-up of deviations, more involvement, and better audit results.

Every day brings new challenges, and it gives great satisfaction when improvements actually produce results.

What motivates you in your work and what do you think is unique about working for SEKISUI?

What motivates me most in my work is contributing to high product quality and actively solving problems. Every day brings new challenges, and it gives great satisfaction when improvements actually produce results. SEKISUI is unique for me because of the commitment between departments and the space you get to develop yourself. Thanks to the support of my colleagues, I have been able to take steps in my career, and that cooperation is an important part of job satisfaction for me.

Can you share a personal note or a memorable moment from your time at SEKISUI?

One moment that has stayed with me was when we managed to quickly solve a production problem as a team. Everyone helped, and that showed how strong the cooperation is within our company. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family. I recently became a father, which of course brings a lot of joy (and busyness). 

At the same time, I remain motivated to further develop myself within SEKISUI - and also support others in their growth. At SEKISUI, there is room to grow, collaborate, and deliver quality. With pleasure and dedication, I will continue to contribute to a safe, innovative, and strong organisation.

How do you find the company culture at SEKISUI?

I thought SEKISUI was a smaller company than expected, which allows me to connect more with people and improve myself. At first, I was a Quality Operator. I learned a lot about quality for the end product to be able to take more decisions. I needed to improve and learn more (engineering, experience as an operator), and I was eager for it. I was asking a lot of questions, people were accessible and friendly. SEKISUI has a culture of supporting each other, and communication is key. Thanks to all that, I performed well and was able to evolve quicker than expected and access the next level.

How did you further develop at SEKISUI since you started?

I evolved quickly in the company, but I felt that I had a lack of background and knowledge. I asked my manager for training and expressed my need for more education to improve myself and the team. It’s a nice opportunity to grow. So, I am now taking online courses about quality engineering every Friday, half-day. 

Because I was the newest and was evolving more than older colleagues, I had to discuss openly with them to explain that I have a lot of motivation, curiosity, and an appetite for responsibilities. I want to increase my capabilities and knowledge and support other colleagues.

What motivates me most in my work is contributing to high product quality and actively solving problems.

What do you appreciate most about working at SEKISUI?

What drew me to SEKISUI was my appreciation for Japanese culture, and that influence is clearly reflected in the company’s respectful and safety-focused environment. There’s a strong sense of continuous improvement and teamwork, with everyone striving to move forward together each day.

I really value the collaborative spirit—problems are tackled as a team, and support is offered without placing blame. Communication plays a central role here. The team is highly motivated, engaged, and supportive, which creates a growing sense of unity.

One of the things I enjoy most is serving as a bridge between managers and operators. The communication between both sides is open and easy, and I appreciate being able to help explain perspectives from each side. Managers are approachable, actively listen, and take time to explain decisions. This openness fosters trust, equality, and a strong team dynamic where everyone is committed and invested in the company’s success.