A lab technician’s work may seem like magic to many. But in reality, there are no miracles, every reaction is scientifically grounded, and its result depends on the correctness and precision of the specialist’s calculations. A professional skills competition for lab technicians was held at JSC “Solikamskbumprom”, bringing together employees of the company and students of Solikamsk Technological College.
Holding professional skills contests is one of Solikamskbumprom’s traditions. This year the event is dedicated to the company’s 85th anniversary and the Year of Perm Industry. Lathe operators and welders have already demonstrated their knowledge, abilities, and skills. This time, lab technicians from the Laboratory and Technical Control Department competed for the title of the best.- Specialists in this profession are irreplaceable in any production, - noted Nikita Brovchenko, Chief Technologist. - At Solikamskbumprom, they take part in all key technical processes, monitoring every step of the production chain, which is essential for maintaining the high quality of our products and gives us a competitive advantage over other paper manufacturers. It was the specialists of the Laboratory and Technical Control Department who participated in the development and testing of new product lines (interliner and paper for writing and printing), which allowed the mill to continue operating stably despite declining demand for newsprint. The company is currently running trials to adjust the technological regime for its own dye, the introduction of which will significantly reduce the overall production cost of the mill’s products.
Tatyana Sommerfeld, Head of the Laboratory and Technical Control Department, also addressed the contestants with words of encouragement, emphasizing that reviving the tradition of holding skills competitions is an important initiative for every employee.
- This is not the first contest – in 2011, a similar professional trial involved lab technicians specializing in physical and mathematical testing. May such events become regular, and may every employee test themselves by taking part, - stressed Tatyana Nikolaevna. – The work of a lab technician is painstaking daily effort to replicate and reproduce the quality indicators of process flow. While the analyses are the same, the flow quality may vary. Your knowledge and skills make it possible to obtain the correct result and to properly adjust the technological flows. I am glad that among the contestants there are students, some of whom are already doing internships at our enterprise. I would like all of them to come and work for us after their studies and join our team of laboratory professionals.
Among the honored guests of the competition is Tatiana Bazhina, a veteran of JSC “Solikamskbumprom”, whose work experience is 38 years. She knows the paper production process thoroughly; her professionalism has been recognized with company awards and a Letter of Appreciation from the Governor of Perm Krai. She ended her career as Deputy Head for Laboratory Control.
- It is a pleasure to be back in my native professional environment and to be part of this celebration of skill, - admitted Tatyana Eduardovna. – I am sincerely happy to see so many young women here today who are passionate about their profession. You have made the right choice. The profession of a chemical analysis lab technician is very much in demand on the labor market, and the demand for it continues to grow. Lab technicians are unique people who can combine knowledge, attentiveness, and patience. Every number, every detail matters here. The key to success lies in correct calculations and accurate results.
By tradition, the participants competed in three categories: “Student,” “Worker,” and “Master.” Each participant had to demonstrate their knowledge, abilities, and skills in two stages - theoretical and practical.
Viktoria Aksyonova, second-year student of Solikamsk Technological College, decided to test herself and observe the work of more experienced colleagues. Next year she will graduate from college, but she is already thinking about choosing a workplace. According to her, the contest provides an excellent opportunity to get to know the enterprise “from the inside” - to see the atmosphere in the team and how the production site is equipped.
- I liked the way we were welcomed. It’s interesting to visit the mill’s laboratory, I’m here for the first time, - Viktoria shares her impressions. – The tests were not difficult for me. I was one of the first to finish the theory part. The analysis “Determination of the mass fraction of sodium hydroxide in calcined soda according to GOST” was familiar and caused no trouble. Overall, I was nervous for nothing. The contest left the most positive impressions!
Participants and supporters watched the practical stage in the “Master” category with great interest. Each contestant is a true professional, with extensive work experience and deep knowledge, but even they were a little nervous while demonstrating their skills.
- I’ve always been the kind of person who finds everything interesting. So I couldn’t say no to testing myself, to bringing something new into my life, - says chemical analysis lab technician Irina Yudina with a smile. - The competition puts us in situations we don't encounter in everyday life, the environment itself makes us a little nervous, but at the same time, it evokes a sense of drive, certain uplift.
For lab technician Natalya Myzina, the analysis assigned in the practical test for the masters was unfamiliar.
- I am the only one from the research group team among the participants. In our daily practice, we work with finished products and semi-finished goods. I have never performed the analysis that I have to do now, - explains
Nevertheless, a true master is a professional in everything: Natalya Myzina passed the tests brilliantly and confirmed her high qualifications.
One of the highlights of the competition was a master class on determining the species composition of wood in chips, conducted for participants and spectators by lab technician Evgenia Melnikova. Evgenia Vladimirovna mixes two solutions in a container, vinyl acid and sodium nitrate, and immerses the chips into them. She leaves them for 10 minutes. Soon, individual chip fragments turn red-orange, while the rest remain unchanged.
- No magic here, - she reveals the “trick” with a smile. – Chemical analysis makes it possible to identify any species composition. Today we were looking for pine in the chips, it was the pine that changed color. This analysis is essential in production: pine is a resinous wood; it negatively affects the quality of the semi-finished product, so it is desirable that it not be included in the wood chips in the cooking process.
30 minutes to solve the theoretical task, one hour to complete the practical one. That was exactly how much time the chemical analysis lab technicians had to determine the best in the profession. The jury duly appreciated all the participants. The name of the competition winner in the "Master" category, Natalia Myzina, will, by tradition, be entered into the Book of Mastery of JSC “Solikamskbumprom”.
Congratulations!
Winners of the “Best in Profession. Lab Technician” Contest
“Student” category:
1st place - Viktoria Aksenova
2nd place - Natalia Khryashcheva
3rd place - Anna Pankova
“Worker” category:
1st place - Yana Gofman
2nd place - Tatyana Panteleeva
3rd place - Nadezhda Chuklinova
“Master” category:
1st place - Natalya Myzina
2nd place - Irina Yudina
3rd place - Sofya Krasnitskaya