Mikko Bister: Ensuring product quality with every delivery

It started with a phone call

Mikko's story with Kalmar started in 2000 with an interesting beginning. A classmate of his was offered a summer job at the Bromma spreader factory in Härmälä but decided to pursue other opportunities. As the saying goes, one person’s loss is another’s gain. "I happened to be nearby and said, 'Give me that number and I'll call them,'" Mikko recalls. He called the supervisor at the time and landed the job. That spontaneous phone call turned into 25 years and counting.

I happened to be nearby and said, 'Give me that number and I'll call them'

"I worked there every summer, and sometimes during winter breaks from engineering studies and such," Mikko says. In 2003, Mikko was asked if he would start as a Development Engineer at the Bromma spreader factory. "Since 2003, I've been in this... Well, I worked in a spreader assembly, then worked as a Development Engineer, after which I started running the Spreader workshop as a Production Manager," Mikko explains. From there, he moved to the Straddle Carrier division, what everyone called the "Pinkkari" side, first as Production Development Manager, then Production Manager. 

Since then Mikko has worked as a Manager for the proto-workshop, test field & test laboratories in Tampere, Quality Manager for ASC, RTG, and Straddle Carriers and as a Customer Quality Manager in Ipoh, Malaysia. After a short period on Bromma’s side, Mikko stepped into his current role as Project Manager in 2019. "This is the longest time I've been in one position," Mikko says, laughing. 

This is the longest time I've been in one position

Mikko Bister in Rotterdam 2009, checking spreaders delivered from Ipoh.

Orchestrating the delivery

As a Project Manager, Mikko takes over responsibility once the project has been transferred from sales to operations. Often, his involvement begins even earlier, during the sales phase. "Getting to talk with customers in the early stages helps us understand their operation and needs so we can craft the best possible solution," he explains.

Getting to talk with customers in the early stages helps us understand their operation and needs so we can craft the best possible solution

"I work in close collaboration with mechanical, electrical, and PLC engineers and act as the interface for the customer to ensure all specifications are met and the spirit of the contract is followed," Mikko says. He monitors factory progress, writes customer reports, and solves everyday challenges with different teams. This constant coordination across functions is essential to maintaining a high level of end-to-end quality. The variety of people Mikko works with is part of what makes the job interesting. "That's the richness of this job. You find different perspectives from the different people involved," he says.

That's the richness of this job. You find different perspectives from the different people involved

Once machines leave our Stargard factory, about 95% are transported to Gdynia for final assembly and commissioning. "We often visit with the customer to verify the machines meet specifications. I am really proud to bring customers to the Gdynia site as our crew's professionalism really shows out there. Every single time, our customers have left Gdynia with a smile on their face." Eventually after the project is handed over to the customer, the project responsibility transfers to product support. "You can't say there are two identical days. The customers and the different features of the machines make this interesting every day," Mikko notes.

I am really proud to bring customers to the Gdynia site as our crew's professionalism really shows out there

Mikko Bister at Katoen Natie in Uruguay in 2024.

Quality as a 360-degree practice

By coordinating across engineering, production, production and customer sites, he's helping build the systematic feedback loops that drive continuous improvement. "Product quality and the quality of our work play an extremely important role. We are in close contact with the quality organization through feedback," Mikko emphasizes. Each project has a quality engineer assigned, and if challenges arise, the team contacts specialists in Stargard or Tampere.

"That information is brought back into our daily work through 'lessons learned,'" Mikko explains. This feedback loop means insights from one project improve the next. "We are constantly discussing potential challenges and how they could be improved. Listening to customers' ideas and challenges is a key part of this," he says.

These insights are also shared among project managers. "This knowledge sharing helps ensure quality improvements spread throughout the organization," Mikko says. His diverse background gives him a deep understanding of reliability as something shaped through daily collaboration and systematic feedback. It often involves tough conversations and taking responsibility when things don't go perfectly, but that's what builds trust.

This knowledge sharing helps ensure quality improvements spread throughout the organization

What makes it meaningful

The variety of people Mikko works with is part of what makes the job interesting. Over years of collaboration, professional relationships also with customers evolve. "We've worked with many of the customers for a long time, and when we meet, we don't just shake hands anymore, we hug. Many send Christmas greetings on WhatsApp. It's that kind of relaxed working together," Mikko shares.

We've worked with many for many years, and when we meet, we don't just shake hands anymore, we hug.

What keeps Mikko engaged after all these years? "The desire for self-improvement and being involved with state of the art technology and products. I am genuinely proud of our machine, that it works as well as it does." Even after 25 years, seeing a customer’s operation succeed with Kalmar equipment remains what drives him forward. "The joy of the customer being satisfied is extremely rewarding and bringing this feedback also back to our organization is very important, so persons not involved with customers, but included in the project somehow also get credited from the success, this is team effort afterall," Mikko adds.

The joy of the customer being satisfied is extremely rewarding and bringing this feedback also back to our organization is very important, so persons not involved with customers also get credited from the success, this is team effort after all

Mikko Bister in Horizontal Transportation Sales Kickoff 2026.