Mykola Khadzhyradov, a maintenance fitter at Metinvest Machinery’s Zaporizhzhia branch, has been awarded Metinvest Group’s highest corporate honour, the Metinvest Gold Star.
The award was established by the company in 2014 to recognise employees whose work helps transform the company for the better. It is presented each summer, either to mark the anniversary of the founding of Metinvest Group or on the eve of Metallurgist and Miner’s Day.
Mykola Khadzhyradov was one of 18 employees to receive the Gold Star this year from the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Yuriy Ryzhenkov, and Chief Sustainability Officer Tetiana Petruk.
Finding His Calling
Mykola KHADZHYRADOV has been working in the mechanical workshop of Metinvest Machinery for more than two decades. He joined the enterprise as a lathe operator after graduating from vocational college, but within a few years realised that his true calling was working as a maintenance fitter.
"I’ve been working at the enterprise for 24 years. I came here after vocational college. First I worked as a lathe operator. But I quickly realised it wasn’t quite for me, so I moved into maintenance fitting. And once I became a maintenance fitter, I knew for certain that I had found my vocation. It requires more than just skilled hands. You have to think constantly, find solutions and take responsibility for the outcome. That's what I like," says Mykola.
Since then, he has not changed either his profession or his principles in his work – responsibility, professionalism and constant development. Over the years, Mykola has become one of the most experienced specialists of the enterprise, who is trusted with the most responsible and complex production tasks.
A Skill That Is Trusted
Today, Mykola repairs and manufactures parts for equipment that operates under high loads. He participates in the manufacture and installation of key components for blast furnace production of Zaporizhstal, timely fulfils emergency and urgent orders, on which the uninterrupted operation of the enterprise depends.
"We repair various mechanisms for Zaporizhstal, the top charging device for the blast furnace, and repair ladles. The main thing in my work is that everything works, there is no shortage, and customers are satisfied," he says.
At the same time, Mykola does not just perform repair work – he has a deep understanding of production processes and is constantly looking for ways to make them more efficient and safer. He reviews outdated approaches, initiates the introduction of new solutions and modern tools that improve the quality of work. One of these solutions was a device developed by him for safe hydraulic testing of blast furnace tuyeres.
Mentor and role model for colleagues
Safe work for Mykola is not a formality, but a daily principle. He has personally identified 23 potential risks and proposed 26 corrective measures that have already been implemented in production.
He considers mentoring to be an equally important part of his work. Mykola willingly shares his experience with young employees, helps them adapt, and teaches safe and effective working methods.
Colleagues appreciate him not only for his professionalism, but also for his calmness, balance, willingness to help, and great sense of humor.
"Mykola is one of those people with whom it is easy to work. He is highly respected in the team. This is the person to whom both colleagues and foremen turn for advice first of all," says Oleg SKODA, Deputy Head of the Mechanical Shop of Metinvest Machinery.
Senior foreman of fitting and assembly site Roman PRYIMAK adds:
"Mykola is a man with golden hands. I can’t recall a single task, whether routine or unexpected, that he hasn’t been able to handle. He is attentive, responsible, will not get lost in a difficult situation and will always help colleagues. It is on such workers that the stability of production rests."
Recognition of many years of work
Outside of production, Mykola takes an active part in volunteer and humanitarian initiatives of the enterprise, supports mobilized colleagues.
"When I found out that I had been nominated for the Gold Star, I was surprised at first, then I was very happy. It's nice that my work was noticed and appreciated. I am very grateful to my colleagues and management for their trust and support – without them, I would hardly have received such a high award," says Mykola Khadzhyradov.
Metinvest Gold Star has become a confirmation for him that many years of experience, responsibility, professional skills and the desire to constantly improve his business always find well-deserved recognition.
