Sinziana Manitiu
Director of Operational Excellence and Strategy, Operations, Husqvarna Construction Division
In 2011, Sinziana Manitiu started her journey with Husqvarna Group as a Supply Chain analyst in Ulm, Germany. Her career has led her to different cultures and continents: from Denmark to Germany, Charlotte in the US, and, in 2019, Jonsered, Sweden. Today, she leads a diverse team in Operational Excellence and Strategy within the Husqvarna Construction Division, armed with invaluable insights gained from her remarkable adventure.
– My years within the company have been an incredible learning experience. Working in various cultures, business environments and countries has given me a broader perspective on how operations are conducted globally and created my own vision of how the business should develop. In Husqvarna Group diversity is a top priority, and I believe that the ability to understand, adapt, and tackle different ways of working has been a major asset in my career.
Over the last couple of years, the Husqvarna Construction Division has undergone rapid growth both organically and through acquisitions, within construction machinery and diamond tools for the construction and stone industries. The Jonsered site, where Sinziana and her team operate, is the division headquarters and a hub for high-tech products, innovation, and expertise.
– Change is our status quo here, and for me personally, that's what kept things so thrilling. Our workplace is always evolving, leaving plenty of opportunities for growth and fresh ideas. We have a long legacy of being dynamic, with fast decision-making and a results-oriented approach. However, during a time of uncertainty worldwide, our operations faced major challenges. Nevertheless, this period also became a unique opportunity for supply chain specialists to learn, mature quickly, and expedite certain processes. Now, I draw upon these lessons to navigate the challenges we face today.
Recently a decision to centralize the division's operations was made, putting together sourcing, supply chain operations, manufacturing, and strategy into one Operations organization. For Sinziana, this shift transformed into a new role. Today she is leading a mix and diverse team of people, as the Director of Operational Excellence and Strategy.
– My new team is formed of people with vast experience, mixed backgrounds, and cultures. We all have different and complementary skills and I am a true believer that this diversity puts us in a competitive spot. It allows us to think outside the box and to come up with innovative solutions on how to streamline our new operations scope. However, our exciting journey has just begun, and this is more than just work; it's about getting to know each other, learning from one another, and building a strong foundation to challenge the status quo.