In HögforsGST’s Career Stories article series, we get to know the company’s staff and their roles. In this part, quality engineer Lotta Viitanen shares her career story. Over the years, she has taken on a wide range of responsibilities.
Early on in her career, Lotta knew she would enjoy work where she could use her hands and see the concrete results of her efforts. She originally completed a vocational qualification in the paper industry and later gained 12 years of work experience in industrial optics. Precision, carefulness, and a hands-on approach have been constant themes throughout her career.
Over the years, Lotta’s personal interest in environmental issues grew, and she decided to expand her expertise by studying environmental engineering. This decision opened the door to the next significant phase of her career.
A New Direction for Career
Lotta had already heard many positive things about HögforsGST beforehand. The company was described as a relaxed and pleasant workplace. When she got the chance, the decision felt natural to her: the company and the industry were already somewhat familiar, and production work was of particular interest.
Lotta started at HögforsGST in production, working in component manufacturing, while studying environmental engineering alongside her job. For two years, she worked with in-house manufactured components, which gave her a deep understanding of everyday production work, processes, and related challenges. At the same time, she learned how important collaboration and smooth communication are between different functions.
Once Lotta completed her studies in environmental engineering, she was able to advance into a quality engineer position. Moving into this role felt like a logical step in her professional journey, allowing her to blend practical production expertise with her newly gained specialist skills.
Developing the Entire Company as a Quality Engineer
In her current role as a quality engineer, Lotta has been working for two years. Her responsibilities include developing HögforsGST’s environmental and quality practices as well as carbon footprint calculations. Her role also involves providing guidance on recycling, conducting internal audits, and supporting and monitoring the recording of internal observations and corrective actions.
The role of a quality engineer requires precision, but also the ability to interact with people in an open and constructive manner. Lotta works closely with the entire organization, across different departments and with various experts. Her previous experience in production is a major asset – she understands the realities of practical work and is able to view development measures from a production perspective as well.
What especially motivates Lotta is the opportunity to genuinely make things better through her work. Whether it is improving the flow of production processes or promoting recycling practices, she finds it meaningful to see concrete improvements in everyday operations.
Why HögforsGST?
Working at HögforsGST has met Lotta’s expectations. The team spirit at the Leppävirta site is strong, and it is enjoyable to come to work. In addition, changes made to her role over time have been encouraging and have enabled her to take the next step in her career path.
“Here, there is the courage to trust and give responsibility, while support and help are also available when needed. This creates a foundation for a workplace where it is good to be and grow,” Lotta summarizes her experience at HögforsGST.
