Flares as defense

Saab Surveillance is a division of SAAB AB, which develops surveillance systems and other security solutions to identify and protect against various types of threats. The systems include land-based, maritime and airborne solutions.

My department is involved in a unit on the fighter aircraft that launches flares, the purpose of which is to deceive enemy missiles. This enables the aircraft to defend itself against attacks.

I project manage a range of projects for production, quality assurance and flare launcher assembly. It’s a coordinating role where I bring people together, for example when problems arise, and organise to resolve them. I make sure that we deliver on time and ensure that our tasks are completed.

When discrepancies arise from items ordered from a subcontractor, this needs to be resolved as quickly and smoothly as possible. Delivering on time to the project is a challenge.

I appreciate the social part of the role, we discuss a lot, both face-to-face and online. I like when different disciplines work together towards a common goal. It’s fun to make things happen and have an overview during the process.

When we get an order from a customer, they require our products to be ready within a certain time frame. This is where my journey begins. I meet with planners and production engineers, then we develop a schedule. Part of the work is simply making reasonable estimates and assumptions. Once the project is underway, everyone gathers daily (systems engineers, designers, etc.), I check the status of all disciplines, reconcile and follow up.

We add a time margin to account for delay, there will most likely always be delays for various reasons. It is a question of experience, how well you know our business, subcontractors, etc.

That the processes are well-established, everything has its routines, but despite this, things often get complicated.