In conversation with Aneta Cybulska,
Global Supply Chain Director
Can you tell us about your current role and responsibilities?
The purpose of my current role as Global Supply Chain Director is to provide strategic and tactical direction to the global supply chain teams operating in the business segments (regions). This includes areas of inventory management, planning, scheduling, freight coordination needed to support the Global Clear Edge business currently operating out of three regions Americas, Europe & Africa and AsiaPacific in eight manufacturing locations around the globe. The key objective of this position is to drive cash flow optimization by managing inventory levels while providing world class OTD to our customers.
Can you tell us about your journey at Clear Edge?
I started my journey with Clear Edge in 2006 when the plant in Poland was still under construction. I was hired as the Supply Chain Manager. It was an unforgettable experience to start the company from the ground up and be part of the project to create a single fabrication plant to serve our European customers. In 2014 I was promoted to the role of Operations Manager in Poland, which was a new challenge and one that required me to strengthen my leadership skills. It was a very good experience that taught me critical inter-personal relations and how much we can achieve when working as a team.
What is the driving force behind everything you do… what keeps you motivated and driven daily?
It is extremely important for me to do things WHICH MATTER. Our products are critical in so many different processes and every day, every person working for Clear Edge contributes to deliver our products to our customers around the globe, making the World Safer, Healthier and More Productive. After 16 years I still feel excited to be part of this team, which would not be the case if I was not motivated by our mission.
What’s something you do to start your workday
I block the first working hour in my calendar for individual work. This is the time when I check the meetings I have scheduled for the day and if I am prepared for them. It is very important to start the day with a positive attitude, and with a plan for what I want to achieve today.
What advice would you give to new employees joining the organization
I strongly believe that the most important part of every organization is the people. In Clear Edge, it is difficult to find jobs that do not interact with others, so my advice would be: Be an active part of the Team, be respectful and be open to ideas from others and listen at least as much as you talk 😊.
How do you like to spend your time outside of work
The place where I really rest “mentally” is my garden. Now I am looking forward to the start of Spring. It does not matter how much time I spend in my garden, there is always something that needs to be done.
I also enjoy reading books, especially ones which are based on historical facts – Ken Follet is one of my favorite writers.
Windsurfing and skiing are sports which we do during our family holidays. It is too much to say that I am a good skier or windsurfer, but the most value is the time we can spend together as a family.
What do you feel is the company’s biggest strength and how is Clear Edge contributing to making the world safer, healthier, and more productive
There are a couple of things within the last 3 years which have helped us to strengthen our organization: For me, the way we have incorporated our sales methodology is an example of agility and requires a big significant commitment starting from the leadership team through all levels below.
“WE SAY WHAT WE DO AND WE DO WHAT WE SAY” – seems to be easy, but it requires a lot of discipline and commitment.
Thanks to constant feedback from our sales team, each individual employee has a better possibility to connect the dots to where our products are used and that our mission is not only words but there are stories to support its existence.
How will you use your skills and experience to shape the future of Clear Edge?
I have strong analytical skills and for 26 years I have been engaged in supply chain and operations processes, so I cannot imagine myself doing anything different. The global presence of our company is a strength but from the other angle, the challenge for the supply chain is even higher. My aim is to streamline supply chain processes, especially when interaction within Clear Edge plants is required. Disruptions and challenges in global markets will continue and we want to be one step ahead. We do not want to be a victim. Currently, we are working on optimizing our inventory levels and logistics processes to further reduce our industry’s best lead-times, but there is much more to do.
At the end of the day, we need to remember that everyone has the same goal: To give world-class service to our top customers while leveraging our manufacturing cost. We need our commercial and technical teams to understand our customer needs and then close cooperation with our supply chain teams through S&OP and sales funnel meetings is the foundation for further development.