“Our goal in the factory is to ensure that production processes deliver products of maximum quality in a profitable and timely manner. My job is to optimize day-to-day activities while minimizing the costs.”

Meet Arjay Rogelio, one of SDW’s experts who oversees workshop production. As the Joinery Production Manager, he is fully responsible for all production processes on the shop floor, ensuring that manufacturing runs smoothly and efficiently. He supervises, mentors, and motivates the workers and organizes functions from site plans and shop drawings. These requirements are frequently complex, and he is expected to deliver solutions on schedule and within budget. He also organizes the installation of manufacturing products at the project site to ensure a smooth transition. He oversees and resolves any ongoing issues or punch lists, which must always be completed promptly and effectively.

Arjay is relatively new to SDW. However, he has over ten years of construction experience and more than six years of international production experience in Saudi Arabia. Before joining SDW, he worked for a construction and steel fabrication company in the Philippines. After that, he went to work for a kitchen furniture company in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Because of his excellent track record and performance, he is regarded as one of SDW’s Experts, specifically in production. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering degree. A path quite far from his chosen profession now. But he is happy and thankful because this is his dream job. A bachelor at 33, Arjay has quite an achievement on his cap, but he still has more to offer. Let’s get to know him more as he answers questions about his job and career.

How did you end up in your current role with SDW?

I came back to the Philippines from Saudi Arabia during Covid and decided that I had had enough of working abroad. The previous Production Manager of the Factory was resigning to work in Australia, and during that period, my role was CAD and Design. When the previous manager left, and because of my skills and experience in Saudi Arabia, GM promoted me to Production Manager.

What does your job entail?

As Production Manager, I have complete responsibility for all production operations on the shop floor to ensure manufacturing remains a smooth and seamless process. I monitor, mentor, and motivate our workforce and organize workflows from site plans and shop drawings. These requirements are often complex, and I am expected to deliver solutions timely and within budget. My job is to optimize day-to-day activities while minimizing costs. I also arrange the installation of products from the factory at the project site to ensure an efficient transition. I also manage and rectify any snagging issues or punch lists, which must be done promptly and effectively. Our goal in the factory is to ensure that production processes deliver products of maximum quality in a profitable and timely manner.

What is your expertise?

I have more than six years’ track record as Production Supervisor during my assignment in Saudi Arabia. This has given me the necessary skills and experience to manage production in SDW Factory in Sucat. In Saudi Arabia, we had an automatic turnkey factory producing joinery items, including windows, doors, and kitchen cabinets for high-end housing developments.

How do you feel about your job and being regarded as an expert in production? Do you like working with SDW?

I’m happy and thankful because it is my dream job. Right now, my job helps me leave my comfort zone. Working with SDW is a fantastic experience. Every day is different, with different challenges to overcome with my team.

What type and size projects have you built?

In my previous Saudi Arabia project, I handled Saudi Aramco Housing Projects 250 Villas supply & Installation of Kitchen Cabinets, Solid Wooden Doors, Flush Doors & Wooden Trellis. The monthly income for the factory was nearly one million USD.

What is your dream project?

My dream project for the workshop is to get clients/projects internationally and export our items/products so I can visit another country for free.

How do you handle the pressure?

I wouldn’t say I like to let stress take over a situation. Instead, I want to stay focused on the task at hand. For example, if a client isn’t happy with our product, I focus on proactively communicating with them instead of dwelling on it. I like to get to the bottom of the issue, troubleshoot it, and then find common ground to allow us to move forward.

Since you joined SDW as a production manager, have you ever experienced conflict with superiors, and how did you handle it?

Respect is always intact, but disagreements are always healthy as a way to express and receive ideas. I learn a lot from this, and I hope some of my ideas also bear fruit with my superiors.

As Production Manager, have you ever experienced conflict with clients, and how did you handle it?

Differences of opinion will always exist during a project fit-out, and sometimes clients’ expectations can be unrealistic. It is essential to try and win hearts and minds, using a process that breaks the issues into segments and initially into where we can find agreement. Compromise is always best for both parties and involves give and take on both sides.

What actions would you take if a project falls behind schedule or exceeds the project’s budget?

There are many reasons why this could happen, from material issues to the workforce. First and foremost is to try remedial measures on the shop floor. If this is not succeeding, I will flag issues to General Manager, explain the reasons and contributing factors, and make realistic proposals to turn things around. The essential things are transparency, sharing problems with our team, and not trying to shoulder everything myself.

As SDW’s production expert, what has been your biggest challenge on site, and how have you overcome it?

As production manager, the challenge on site is the layout problems & approved drawings are always different. So before starting production, we must take actual measurements and revise the shop drawing.

What would you do if some of your workers were not using the necessary safety equipment?

During toolbox meetings, we always inform them to use PPE inside production for safety.

How would you describe your ideal work environment?

I would first consider safe and complete joinery cabinetry tools & equipment. Have a full professional member of teams in the respective category.

As SDW’s production expert, how do you approach leadership?

A leader can lead others and build solid relationships in the team, have integrity, accept responsibility for the team, and possess natural authority.

It takes a group of highly qualified individuals from different backgrounds and fields of expertise to achieve a common goal. Arjay is part of SDW’s expert team that works to complete successful projects. Please get to know more stories about our team.