Thanks to the remarkable women working at Metinvest, the Ukrainian language is constantly evolving to include feminine forms of professional titles, many of which have never been heard of before. Olha Diachenko has been working as a metal setter at Kametstal's rolling mill for a few months. She is the first woman at the enterprise to master this complex and responsible profession, which has long been considered exclusively male.
Olha has spent 27 years working at Kametstal, mostly in rolling production. She's an experienced rolling mill operator. After working in another department for some time, she longed to return to her favourite rolling mill. She had a discussion with the management of the rolling shop, and a new idea emerged - to try her hand at a new, traditionally male-dominated profession of a metal setter at the plant’s newest 400/200 mill.
This job, especially at the plant's flagship rolling mill, is very demanding. The metal’s entire journey, from its arrival from the converter shop to the storage yard and then its placement in the furnace, is under constant and careful control of the metal setter. The continuously cast billet arrives according to the rolling mill’s orders and aligns precisely with the daily production schedule in terms of section, steel grades, and the specific product being manufactured. Receiving the metal, sorting it into stacks properly, and ensuring the exact number of billets for each profile is the setter's primary task, which requires a great deal of attention. Then comes preparation, cleaning, measuring, followed by pinpoint-precise teamwork with crane operators who transport the billets for placement in the furnace.
– When I heard this offer, I thought: "Why not?" I genuinely wanted to try something new. I had this subconscious feeling of unfulfilled potential - I was strong and experienced, my brain was doing well, and my children were grown-ups who didn't really need my care any more. I understood that this job would be very demanding and responsible, and would require a constant focus, new knowledge, and physical effort. Yet, I wanted to move forward, I wanted to develop professionally and gain new skills and knowledge. In such a challenging time, when our men are defending our country, I could really contribute to Kametstal. Thus, I made a decision to take on this new profession," said Olha DIACHENKO.
Making a decision is one thing, but mastering a new and complex profession is another. Olha is convinced that everything worked out well mostly thanks to the wonderful team of metal workers she joined and the exceptional mentoring from the experienced metal setter Anton Mayorov. After thoroughly studying the technical instructions and safety requirements, it was time to acquire practical skills and knowledge. Anton was always by her side, explaining each process step and generously sharing small secrets, such as how to better stack the billets to avoid wasting time arguing with the crane operator, or how to give commands during metal movement in the clearest and most concise way. Olha learned quickly and practised directly on-site, and in April she started working with no supervision. She continues to learn and garner experience.
"Olha Diachenko is the first woman at Kametstal to become a metal setter. Her new profession requires quick and precise decision-making, which can sometimes be challenging for women. Olha is doing a great job as she is a responsible worker, which is the most important trait in this field. She is also very attentive and disciplined, which helps her successfully overcome the difficulties that inevitably accompany any new endeavour. She is not afraid to seek advice from more experienced colleagues and always gets accurate and qualified feedback, which she immediately puts to use to improve her work," says Serhii IVANOV, a production master at the rolling shop.
After her shift ends, Olha returns to being a pleasant and tender woman – a wife, a mother, and a skilled craftswoman. Her family needed some time to adjust to the idea of her new job, and recently they've begun to see her in a new light. Initially, her modern minded children who live and work in Kyiv teased her a bit about her "endeavour". But now they are genuinely proud that their mother is developing professionally, just as a modern woman should.
"Metal rolling is a creative process that simultaneously requires strict technological discipline and precision. The 400/200 mill is state-of-the-art, the production standards are very high, and the people here are highly skilled and responsible. Nobody here is an accidental passer-by, and every detail is significant no matter how small. I just understand I can't afford to make the slightest mistake in the production programme. I realise that I am at the beginning of the production process for goods that will be shipped to consumers in Ukraine or abroad. I simply have no room for error – this is my responsibility to our entire team," says Olha DIACHENKO.
