Superhero from Incap Estonia promoting electronics to youth - Taavi Haandi
We are happy to introduce our superheroes from Incap Estonia, as Incap is one of the sponsors of the electronics industry campaign in Estonia, that promotes education in the field of electronics. Here is the story of Taavi, who joined Incap as an intern and today belongs to our management, while working as a technology manager of our Kuressaare factory.
Taavi has worked at the international electronics company Incap for nearly 15 years. He has made a career from being a production engineer to a production manager and now a technology manager. Taavi knows Incap’s electronics industry machinery like the back of his hand. He actively cooperates with manufacturers to improve production equipment. Taavi also keeps up to date with technological innovations in the electronics industry, because the electronics sector is constantly changing while driving innovation.
We asked Taavi more about his work and career choice.
How does a CTO’s work day look like?
Taavi: A large part of the day is still spent in front of the computer, especially nowadays when all meetings are online. In a broader view, my task is to ensure the reliability of the entire company’s machines and technologies. I am responsible for making sure that all machines and technologies work as they should. That also means making sure that procedures, user manuals and training are developed, and users are trained so that production runs like a well-oiled machine.
What do you like most about your job?
Taavi: Keeping up with new technologies and constantly acquiring new knowledge. In the world of electronics, new innovative solutions are coming out faster and faster. I follow these developments closely. Sometimes I myself manage to contribute to the practice of the electronics industry. For example by sharing advice based on my experience and practice to improve the IPC standard, which is followed by industries around the world.
What are the biggest challenges of your work?
Taavi: New technologies come out so quickly that you can’t try everything. Based on your knowledge and experience, you have to take risks when choosing equipment and technology. Behind each such decision are large sums of money and management expectations, and the responsibility is high.
On the other hand, industrial devices, compared to home electronics, are much more specific and there is active communication and bilateral cooperation between the user and the device manufacturer. Thus, based on our feedback, manufacturers have implemented software and hardware updates in their devices, which will later be offered to other users.
What skills does your job require?
Taavi: The basis of everything is basic knowledge of electronics, and now almost 15 years of experience in the company. Starting as a production engineer and rising first to production and later to technology manager, has ensured that I know very well the soul of production devices, their functions, settings and software capabilities.
My task is to choose what kind of devices our people work with, and it is important to know exactly what a specific machine does and what functionality the device and its software enables.
What is your background and why did you decide to work in this field?
Taavi: I studied electronics at Tallinn University of Technology Kuressaare College. I did not graduate as soon as expected, since I started working and did not write my thesis in time. But then the faculty was reformed and changed into applied higher education. So, a few years later I decided to enter school again alongside work and this time majored in electronics systems.
The choice of major was easy because electronics and technology have appealed to me since I was a child. I still remember the joy when, as a child, I was able to turn on the lights for the first time while testing a soldering iron and was building electric motors for my toy cars.
Why would you recommend young people to study electronics?
Taavi: Electronics are essential in the development of today’s technology. Absolutely all of today’s smart solutions are related to electronics. Thus, the big breakthroughs that await us in green energy and the automotive industry are also based on electronic solutions.
Also, from the point of view of education, electronics is a good base. In addition to the huge potential in the field of electronics, it creates freedom of choice for various specialisations. For example if you know a little about how electronics work, it is easier to create software for electronics. The better you know electronic components, the better you can design a so-called box that takes into account the peculiarities of the electronic components inside, so that they are protected from environmental influences if necessary.
