Zuzana Helbichová has been head of the Nováky plant since 2015. She has been working with ammunition and explosives for more than 20 years. She joined the Military Repair Plant as a Quality Manager and now manages a company with almost 250 employees. Under her leadership, VOP Nováky has become an important company in the ammunition industry, not only in Slovakia and Central Europe, but also in the world. What she enjoys most about her job is working with her colleagues. “It is a pleasure to see how people in your team grow over time. When you see a result that you have worked hard for, or when a customer calls and says they only want to work with you,” says VOP Nováky’s CEO.
In the interview you will learn:
– how she came to work in a munitions manufacturing plant;
– how she managed to make it in a male-dominated environment;
– whether she has a recipe for successful cooperation;
– what she enjoys and motivates her most about her work;
– how she relaxes after a hard day.
What was your first job after graduation?
I graduated from the Technical University of Košice, specialising in mining engineering, where I first encountered the concept of explosives for civil use in mining. After graduation, I worked for a short time in a small private trading company. My first contact with explosives and ammunition was as a test technician in an accredited ammunition and explosives testing laboratory at the Military Department in Nováky, where I eventually worked my way up to the position of Laboratory Quality Manager. During this time, I completed post-graduate studies in the field of energetic materials at the University of Pardubice, while continuing my education in the field of quality, obtaining a diploma as a Certified Quality Manager. It was in this environment that I met great and now successful colleagues such as Dana Fúziková, Milan Škitka and Pavel Čahoj, with whom we shared our professional careers for several years and formed a long-lasting friendship.
How did you come to work in a munitions factory? What was your journey like?
I joined the Military Munitions Repair Plant in 2008, a year after a serious industrial accident in the company, at a time when the management of the company was changing after many years. I joined as Quality Manager. Overnight I moved from test laboratory quality to production process quality. It was quite a shock. I quickly had to study technological procedures, material data sheets and technical specifications. During my five years at the Military Repair Plant, I gained both technical and management experience. My special thanks go to my wonderful and exceptional colleague Milošek Sapár, who took me on as a young quality worker and passed on his technical knowledge and experience to me. I also owe a lot to great managers like Jaroslav Strnad Sr., Marián Goga or Ivan Chyla, who have been an inspiration to me in terms of how to think strategically, believe in your vision and also how to work with people to grow and help the company grow.
What positions have you held since joining MSM GROUP?
I have been with MSM GROUP since 2013, and I have been working with ammunition and explosives for more than 20 years. My first position was Quality Manager, and since 2015 I have been working as Director of VOP Nováky. During this time I have been involved in a number of projects with different focuses, I have managed investments of really significant size.
Did you know when you were studying that you wanted to work in a production plant?
No. My studies predisposed me more towards working in the mining industry, in mines, quarries, tunnelling and so on. I don’t think at any time during my studies I ever thought that one day I would be working in a munitions factory 😊.
Defence is a male-dominated sector. How have you managed to establish yourself in this field?
Through hard work, through constant training, not only technical, but also personal. I think women are more emotional than men. Not taking things personally and keeping a cool head in an environment as competitive and tough as a “man’s field” has often cost me a lot more energy than I would have admitted. I am a systematic, meticulous person and have always cared deeply about my work and its results. I have also always prided myself on having my own very strong moral compass and being a person of integrity. I think this is what has earned me the respect and trust of my colleagues and partners, even in such a challenging environment. But it is also the reason why I have had to deal with a few “clashes” with overly ambitious colleagues who, although they were very good at presenting themselves, did not hesitate to use unfair practices. Fortunately, in my professional life as a “gunsmith”, there have been many more intelligent, goal-oriented and honest people who still motivate me to do my job well and honestly, and to keep my sense of humour.
What’s your recipe for working successfully with the different moods you have to manage?
I don’t have a recipe, I try to be objective, to work with facts. I am direct, sometimes too much 😊. Everyone is unique, I try to respect individuality and appreciate the work of colleagues in any position.
How do men put up with being “commanded” by a woman?
In the beginning, the trust and support of the group leaders and owners helped a lot. But I think after so many years people take it quite naturally. They respect my decisions. It’s important to work and communicate together, I always try to explain the intention and the reasons, and vice versa, I’m very happy to listen to another opinion on the solution.
Have you reached your ultimate goal with your current position, or is there still “somewhere to go”?
I have always wanted to work in an environment where you enjoy your work, where you have the opportunity for fulfilment and autonomy, that is important to me. Work that is not monotonous but brings new projects, new partnerships, new skills and new experiences. I think I have achieved that, but of course there is always the possibility of moving on 😊.
What is your normal working day like?
My working day starts very early in the morning. Since VOP Nováky is a production plant, I come to work every day at six in the morning. I do organisational things, administration, approvals, e-mail communication. Most of the time I follow the planned working day: work meetings, visits, solving operational problems that arise, that’s the cycle of a production plant. A couple of times a week I go to the production facilities and inspect production. At the end of the working day, I dedicate myself to completing any unfinished business. I have to keep an eye on my business, so you won’t find a home office on my calendar.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Working with colleagues. The result of the work when you manage to solve a complex technical problem, develop a new order or install a new machine. The joy of seeing the people in your team grow over time. When you see a result you’ve worked hard for, or when a customer calls and says they only want to work with you.
What is the most difficult situation you have faced in your career so far?
In the difficult crisis years of 2020 and 2021, it was decided to make mass redundancies at VOP Nováky. The dismissal of more than 100 employees was probably the most difficult experience I had to go through.
What has been your biggest professional challenge?
It was definitely taking on the position of executive director of VOP Nováky in 2015. It was also an interesting time when I was managing three companies at the same time – ZVS Holding, ZVS Impex and of course Nováky – and at the same time I was dealing with the restructuring of the then management of the group.
What are you most proud of, what have you achieved in the last period?
I am proud of VOP Nováky, its employees and the fact that we are part of the strong CSG group. During the year we managed to start body filling – drilling – on time, although we had no experience with this technology before. The company lacked automation and robotics, but today the situation is completely different. We are the only Slovak company to have successfully applied for funding from the European Commission, and I am looking forward to the commissioning of the new X-ray machine in Nováky. Behind all this is the hard work of entire teams of experts in Nováky.
Can you relax on holiday? Are you always on the alert for a mobile phone ringing?
Responsibility is something my parents instilled in me. For me, it’s not about walking through the company gates and forgetting about work. Of course, rest and relaxation are important for further deployment. When I go on a planned holiday, my colleagues know what to do and I delegate responsibilities. I keep my mobile phone with me so that I can keep up to date with what’s going on and be up to speed when I return.
How do you relax when you come home from work after a full day or week?
We women usually get the second shift, as they say, and that’s the household. Preparing dinner, taking the washing machine or dryer out. It’s a form of relaxation for me. My excellent form of mental hygiene is washing windows 😊. Sleep is very important and I don’t underestimate it. In my free time I like to be active, explore new countries, new cultures, new cuisines.