Managers under the spotlight - Mihai Pătru, Kardex

Can you tell us about your career journey?

I graduated from the Politehnica University of Bucharest with a degree in Engineering and Management of Technological Systems. From the beginning, I was attracted to industry and automation. For the first six years, I worked as a consultant in the field of forklifts. Now, I have been part of the Kardex team for nearly three years. Working for the world’s leader in automated storage solutions is a great opportunity for anyone passionate about innovation and advanced technology.

What are the current main challenges of your role? How do you approach understanding a client's needs and aligning them with the appropriate solutions?

Today, everything is moving fast. The most common drivers when looking for automated storage solutions are reducing labour, saving space, improving picking accuracy, and increasing productivity. In each project analysis, we must involve the customer to understand their needs better and find the best solutions together. Transparency is essential for a long-term collaboration which consists of planning, realization, and maintenance. We are a reliable partner for our customers over the entire life cycle of a solution.

Automation and technology are constantly evolving. How do you ensure that your knowledge and the solutions you offer remain up-to-date and relevant in an ever-changing market landscape?

Our experts research, develop, and adapt our solutions based on customer-specific needs and industries. Flexibility and scalability are key factors for growth and development. Moreover, constant training and continuous learning help us stay up-to-date. Kardex focuses on expanding employees’ skills and knowledge, and a lot of emphasis is put on professional development.

Looking ahead, what emerging trends or opportunities do you foresee in your field in Romania, and how do you plan to capitalize on them?

Romania has developed a lot recently, with a clear trend towards automation. Companies are more and more interested in automation and automating their operations. Industries like Automotive, Electronics and E-commerce are leading the way, but Pharma and 3PL are catching up quickly and trying to optimise their warehouses.  Our bestseller is the Vertical Lift Module (VLM), but our portfolio includes a variety of solutions such as Miniload-in-a-Box, Vertical Carousel Module (VCM), Horizontal Carousel Module (HCM), service and maintenance (Life Cycle Service), and software solutions.

How do you prioritize your professional growth, and what steps do you take to stay ahead?

In addition to the regular training, I stay connected online with the entire industry by reading books and listening to podcasts or audiobooks, especially on long trips. However, most of my knowledge comes from working with customers, where I check and analyse their processes. Together we understand their real needs and find the right solutions.