Ilke
Supply Operations Manager
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I’m Ilke, from Belgium, and I’m now a Supply Operations Manager here at TME having joined as a Supply Analyst nineteen years ago. It’s a really interesting area and it’s something I thought about during my studies in Applied Economics. It was either Law or Business and I’m glad I chose business as I really enjoy my work here.
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How and why did you join Toyota?
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Just after I graduated I took a student job with TME. They were going through a big expansion programme and after two weeks asked if I would take a full time role and that was the start of my career here.
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Can you briefly describe your journey through Toyota until now?
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My first role was in inventory control in logistics, so working on pan European service parts and accessories. I was responsible for parts for our European Manufacturing Centres when we started working directly with over 700 suppliers, so it was a busy time, travelling to suppliers and to our plants. I was promoted to Specialist, then Senior Specialist, and then I asked for a rotation a change of job to Purchasing to broaden my career. There I was buying all the products related to vehicle chassis, and working closely with or R&D, designers and Chief Engineers across Toyota.I went to part time for a few years to fulfil a personal ambition outwith TME, and I was supported in that, and also when I decided to move back to full time as I missed it so much. I came back as a Profit Leader working with the engineers and developers in Japan helping to make sure that we could build the designs for cars within cost specifications. Then in 2018 I was promoted again to Purchasing Accessory Manager, where I now have team responsibilities as well as my purchasing role.
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What's it like to work at TME?
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Everyone will help you. When I started working here I immediately felt that it was a good place to work, and the values and the international culture were very interesting. The different cultures we have here are a great advantage and help you understand different ways to work and helps me to push my own boundaries.
Everyone will help you. When I started working here I immediately felt that it was a good place to work, and the values and the international culture were very interesting. The different cultures we have here are a great advantage and help you understand different ways to work and helps me to push my own boundaries.
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What do you enjoy most about your job?
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Toyota is a big brand but it’s more important to me to see what’s behind the brand we’re like a family here and I’m proud to be working with a company that is looking to the future too, with our move to a mobility for all company.We know that we need to change with the global environment and that’s a brave decision to take to change direction like that but we take the right decisions when we need to. I’ve actually helped a few people join us and they have even followed me into Purchasing. I’d recommend working here to anyone with ambition and a willingness to get involved.
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What three words best describe working at Toyota?
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Analytical, Results driven, Development.
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