Our R&D Manager for Cold Beverage recently returned from the Food&Hotel Asia’s hospitality expo in Singapore, where he was demonstrating his teams’ latest product innovation.
Interacting with customers, solving their painpoints and introducing them to new and improved product experiences is a part of Somchat’s varied role that he enjoys the most, either on homeground in Rayong, Thailand, or during business travels.
Take the I-PRO2 frozen granita machine with Autofill Lid for example – he and his team were instrumental in the development of the lid feature that automatically doses and refills the machine’s bowls. And that means a better experience for granita lovers and improved operational efficiency for customers. Let’s get to know Somchat a little more…
You’re R&D Manager for Cold Beverage. What does that job title entail? Tell us more about what you do!
I oversee new product development for our cold beverage dispensers – but it’s not only new products we are working with. Our team also needs to maintain existing products in terms of quality improvement and cost reduction. Small changes can result in a big difference.
That means working closely with our sales team and customers to obtain requirements to develop or customize products depending on their needs. Internally, we liaise with purchasing, quality, production, engineering and others to ensure we deliver quality products at the right cost.
What route did you take in terms of studies and jobs to where you are today?
I graduated in Mechanical Engineering and have always worked in the engineering field, previously in design and sourcing engineer positions. I joined Crathco in 1999 and stayed after the company was acquired by Electrolux Professional Group in 2018 – that’s 25 years working with cold beverage dispensers and I remain passionate about what I do.
What do you love about the role?
Working alongside customers who are willing to develop ne
w products together with us – that gives me energy and keeps me motivated. There’s always a
feeling of pride when we achieve success with a customer. I also appreciate the great colleagues I have that are incredibly supportive and we work every day to achieve something.
And, on the other hand, what are the biggest challenges?
Developing the right product at the right time and at the right cost is always challenging. As a company, we are committed to sustainability in product innovation and it’s an area of particular interest for me given the machines we produce are significant in reducing energy consumption and include recyclable materials.
But recyclable plastic is more costly, which is a challenge, so we need to be innovative in our product development approach.
What advice would you give to people wanting to work in a position like yours?
Love what you do and ensure you have the passion for it. You can always learn and expand your knowledge but without passion it’s harder to succeed.
Why choose to work at Electrolux Professional Group?
The company is always looking to create successful opportunities for both our customers and employees. As a person who enjoys new challenges, I embrace that too. There’s continuous learning and the chance to work with colleagues around the world. That inspires me since the more people you engage with the more experience you can gain.
Check out our global career site, if you aspire to pursue a career similar to Somchat´s.