#HeraeusPeople Story
When the MLA line arrived, I said: “Yes!”
Fanny Guzmán Calderón, Production Supervisor, Heraeus Medevio
"I will never forget my first day at work on August 22, 2017. This job was a tremendous opportunity for me. Back then, I started as an operator in Production. The site was growing month by month. New areas were added, and a new production line arrived: MLA. At the same time, I was offered the opportunity to take on responsibility on that line, and shortly afterwards as a team leader. I did not have to think twice. I said: “Yes!” I knew this would be important for my future.
One line. One team. One opportunity.
I immediately threw myself into the challenge. I worked day and night shifts. I learned about new machines, materials, processes, and technical equipment. Every day brought something new to learn. I wanted to prove that I was capable of meeting this challenge.
Building the MLA line was demanding. That is exactly why the experience was so valuable. In many situations, there were no existing solutions or previous experience to rely on. We had to learn, develop, and implement solutions together. And we succeeded. As a team, we completed the expansion successfully, built the line, and brought it into operation. It is still running successfully today. I am proud of that – not only because of the contribution it made to the company’s success, but because I grew alongside it. After MLA was successfully launched, another opportunity came my way: I became the coordinator of the line. Once again, a new learning phase began, and I gradually took on more responsibility. But let me take a step back. As in life, not everything went according to plan. While the line was being built, I developed health problems. For almost three months, I was unable to work. I was afraid – afraid of losing my job, afraid of losing everything I had worked so hard to build.
But Heraeus reacted differently than I expected: “Focus on getting better. We are waiting for you. We are counting on you.” I have never forgotten those words. When I recovered, I knew exactly what I wanted: keep learning, keep growing, keep moving forward. After I returned, another door opened. I moved into Quality Control. This role became one of the most enriching experiences of my professional life. It allowed me to see our work from an entirely different perspective. I also made another important decision: I enrolled at university. Today, I am only a few months away from completing my degree in Process Management. Heraeus Medevio supports me on this journey through a special development program, and I am deeply grateful for that.
Doing things right
Today, 49 employees report directly to me. I am responsible for several production lines, including MLA, Maleable, CFM Plus, CFM Advance, and Hooping Ring Wires. I have only been in this position for a few months, but the feedback so far has been very positive. Still, one thing has remained important to me: I want to stay close to people. Perhaps because I remember clearly how others helped me – how they supported me and gave me opportunities. That is why I often tell my team: “The most important thing is to do things right. Quality comes first.” When I look back on my journey today, I see many roles, new challenges, and increasing responsibility. But it all began with a single question: “Do you want to be part of MLA?” Fortunately, I said: “Yes!” "