Tanja Patrikainen joined Valtra in April 2003 and has worked in several different positions in after-sales. In her current role, she plans, for example, the stock balances of spare parts for future tractor models in the product development process. When a new tractor is introduced, the right spare parts must be immediately available wherever in the world that tractor model is used.

"I used to work as a training planner for the technical service department. I was in charge of training arrangements, and so on. On the side, for example, I was the main operator of the contemporary warranty system," recalls Tanja.

Almost ten years later, Tanja became a team leader in spare parts customer service, managing spare parts sales to countries such as Greece, Portugal, Taiwan, China and the United States. From there, less than ten years later, she moved to supplier guarantees, i.e. handling warranty cases from spare parts manufacturers. 

Internationalisation in a big company 

"I originally wanted to work for a bigger, international company and that's what I got. Here in Valtra you can apply for new positions within the company or in different departments or even abroad. When you learn one job in five or ten years, you can move on and learn something new again."

"The work has been interesting and challenging. Although I have always stayed in after sales and parts, the tasks have been quite different. In the past I was dealing with customers and dealers, now I work with product development. Previous experience is extremely important to understand what a service dealer needs to support a farmer with a new tractor model."

Being in a large organisation also has its advantages. A good and affordable staff restaurant offers decent food every day at cost price. The occupational health and sickness funds also offer services that go beyond the legal minimum. 

Remote working makes life flexible

Tanja lives in Jyväskylä, about 50 kilometres from Suolahti. However, that is not a problem. 

"Remote working makes life much more flexible. For example, if you have a meeting with colleagues or partners in the US or Asia, you don't have to go to the office, you can do it from home in the morning or evening. In general, I can do a lot of my work from home. In fact, I don't have any team mates in Suolahti, they are all over the world, but I still appreciate the days I work locally, when I can meet my service colleagues face to face."

When the children were young, Tanja worked a four-day week.

"Now the children are older, but the Jyväskylä-Kirri motorway and the Hirvaskangas motorway junction have also made the journey faster. The distance of just under 50 kilometres can be covered quickly if necessary. Driving your own car is not that expensive when you get a tax advantage. Of course, carpooling is also possible."