An important department that makes sure production runs smoothly and everything goes like clockwork. This is the Central Planning Department, headed by Eva Gombarova. Seven years ago it did not exist, but today it is one of the most important departments. Her team provides information on production capacities to potential customers, checks the availability of materials needed for production and arranges acceptance shooting tests. Once the contract is signed, the department issues production orders, which are incorporated into the production plan. Planning management is key for a company, especially if production is divided into several parts.
This department did not exist in our company until seven years ago. Eva Gombárová was given the task of designing and implementing the entire system. They issue documents to production, monitor the requirements for issuing production orders and evaluate the implementation of the production plan.
No more Excel charts
The department’s big challenge is to do away with Excel spreadsheets and move planning entirely to a business information system. The output will be simple, fast and clear for any user. Another goal is to streamline capacity planning across the group so that we can track selected key and purchased items.
Great central planning results
“When a person starts to be satisfied with themselves, it is the first step towards stagnation. There is always something to improve in our work,” says Eva Gombárová when asked what she is most proud of about her department’s work. Central planning is achieving great results. They have introduced production planning, so today we know exactly when a project in the production plant will start and finish. Production is planned not only for the ZVS plants in Slovakia, but also for our FMG in Spain.
First and only woman to hold manufacturing director position in engineering company
After graduating from Secondary School of Economics, she joined the former Heavy Engineering Plants (HEP). From an economist, to a specialist in the sales department, she worked her way up to the position of production director, which she held for 5 years. She was the first and so far the only woman in this position at HEP. “Having worked my way through so many positions in different departments, it also makes it easier for me to work at ZVS.” She joined ZVS in 2017. Her main task was to set up production planning. From 2019 to 2020, she held the position of ZVS IMPEX Production and Technical Director for 11 months. She later returned to ZVS Holding as head of central planning. “I arrived seven years ago and started building from the ground up. I had to convince people that it made sense to introduce planning and that it would ultimately make everyone’s job easier.” She sums up the biggest challenges she has faced.