Cool People – Niclas’s Story
Niclas Blomqvist joined Bluefors Helsinki in 2020 as a part-time machinist, and has since progressed into his current role as a Production Planner in the Workshop. His educational background in both arts management and micromechanics has allowed him to bring a unique blend of skills to his work. Passionate about collaboration and personal growth, Niclas thrives on working with people and evolving alongside the company. Watch the video or keep reading to learn more about Niclas’s journey and experiences at Bluefors!
From Machining to Planning
Niclas first heard about Bluefors from a classmate at the Finnish School of Watchmaking, and joined the company in 2020 when it had fewer than 300 employees. He initially worked part-time as a machinist for a year. After graduating in 2021, he transitioned into a full-time role as a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machinist. “I was glad to be able to do something I studied, and learning the CNC world was very interesting for me. I stayed in the role for three years, and there was always something new to learn. The CNC Machinist role included both manual- and programming work, which I really enjoyed”, Niclas tells.
In the summer of 2024, Niclas took on a new challenge as a production planner in the workshop team. His current responsibilities include planning, production scheduling, tracking and coordination with other departments – collaborating with other Bluefors team members daily.
Production planners collaborate regularly to assess how work can be done more efficiently, and how processes can be improved. Collaboration is continuous for the whole Workshop team – they fulfill the needs of other departments and therefore help them to perform at their best. “In the workshop, we manufacture parts for cryostats, but also special jigs, tools, or assemblies that other departments need. This requires a whole lot of collaboration, making sure that our colleagues get what they need, and in time,” Niclas explains.
While internal collaboration and efficient processes might not always be visible to customers, they are crucial to meeting customer needs. “As planners, we do a lot of work to improve our processes. From a customer point of view, these developed processes help us to work more efficiently, and ensure that customers get the best quality possible,” Niclas says.
Leveraging Diverse Knowledge
Niclas has a diverse educational background, beginning with studies in arts management before he moved to study micromechanics. “I got into studying arts management because it was something that I initially thought I would do, but that field was quite unpredictable. I craved more stability in my life. When I had the opportunity, I decided to study micromechanics. I thought it would be a great fit because I like to work with my hands.”
To his surprise, the skills from both fields complement each other in his current role. “Surprisingly, they somehow work together in this position. Arts management is more about event and project management—scheduling and working with people. On the other hand, micromechanics is all about the technical side of machining and understanding materials,” Niclas explains.
In his role as a production planner, this blend of skills is not only useful, but essential. “First, people skills and a collaborative mindset are important, as I work a lot with other departments. Second, which is not to be understated, is an understanding of machining and the technical point of view: having insight into what can actually be machined, whether something is possible or not, and what materials we can use… Being able to be structured and work smart is critical”, Niclas explains
Combining the knowledge from his studies with new workplace skills has further deepened his expertise. “I’ve learned a whole lot. I learned machining in school, but a better understanding of it came from here when I actually did it. I started with manual machining, and then transitioned to CNC machining, which I completely learned at Bluefors. That was very nice. After that, I stepped into this role, where I’ve learned a lot about the company and how to work with different departments through collaborative effort.”
Growing Together
As the company continues to grow and strive for continuous improvement, change is a part of the journey—something Niclas sees as a valuable opportunity. “A positive attitude always helps. Change is inevitable, but it brings possibilities! I believe it’s important to challenge any ‘it’s always been done this way’ mentality. Accepting and utilizing change is far more beneficial in my opinion,” Niclas says.
Niclas is motivated by witnessing Bluefors’ growth as a company. “Being able to see the journey from a smaller company to what we’ve grown into now has been amazing. Every day, I’m looking forward to what’s coming next.”
When asked about his favorite aspect of his work, Niclas doesn’t hesitate – “It’s the people, definitely. They’re what makes me passionate about my work – I have such good colleagues!”
Join the Team
At Bluefors, people and collaboration are at the heart of everything we do – as Niclas’s story exemplifies. Our strength is our diverse group of bright minds from all over the world, bringing their unique perspectives to create a warm-hearted culture where everyone is welcome.
When asked about what makes a great applicant, Niclas says: “Having an open mind and being open to change is very important. And just doing your best.”
Do you feel like you fit the description? Find out more about our open positions, explore our cool locations, or leave an open application – become part of our team of cool-headed and warm-hearted professionals!