production operator

maintenance technician

account manager

operator

customer service representative

AkzoNobel

When you start at AkzoNobel, the first thing that stands out is that the training is very lackadaisical. There is very little written material, and you’re paired up with someone that you just have to hope performs the way that you are expected to perform. In my case, I was paired up with someone who did not perform well, and they were let go two weeks after I started, leaving me doing the job solo with only their (apparently bad) instruction. So, be prepared for a very steep learning curve. 

I will not speak ill of my manager because they did everything that they could to help, but upper management is very difficult to work with. They implemented a very strict hiring freeze shortly after I started that prevented both bringing in new associates as well as replacing associates that left. So, as people left, full-time work was distributed among the remaining associates, who already had full-time work. Both this and training were issues across the entire facility where I worked, as well as the other facilities that I was in contact with. 

Unfortunately, this results in a lowered ability to produce and ship in a timely manner. When I left, most of my day was trying to smooth the feathers of customers whose orders we did not ship on time (or correctly, or both). 

The pay and benefits aren’t great, but they’re not bad, and my manager made an attempt to be very flexible with things that I needed such as doctors appointments, etc. Unfortunately, it’s a very able-bodied and Christian environment. While no one meant any harm, if you have any sort of health concerns, are  non-Christian, or are Christian and prefer a secular work environment, you will spend most meetings and job events very uncomfortable at this office. I also had to file a formal complaint to get some of my accessibility needs met. 

It’s not a bad place to work, per se, but do know what you’re getting into.

I worked in the analytical lab at Akzo Nobel for 8 years. I started out as a temp for 4 months then became a permanent hire. Its a fast paced environment and you are expected to show that you can keep up the first the day, even while training. However, there are some down days and you are able to slow down, but not sit still. The management and co-workers have a high turn-over, partly due to upper management difficulties or the swing shift. Adjusting to the swing shift maybe hard for some people to get used to, its really a life-style changer. The lab and the plant personnel are on different types of rotating schedules, so you get to meet a different crew every time you return. Akzo try to show their appreciation for their employees, with cook-outs and incentives, so its not all that bad. Its your attitude and how you look at it. I learned how to use most of the instrumentation, which makes the job easier because it makes you a more valuable employee. Take advantage of the training offered. I also learned about occupational and chemical safety. There are required monthly safety meetings and you learn a lot. Trust me you want to learn about safety at a chemical plant ! I really enjoyed working with my co-workers, spending that amount of time with someone makes them feel like family.

Utilize broad scope of industry knowledge and dynamic engineering toward performing daily process troubleshooting (e.g. product quality issues, cycle times, cost improvements), including identifying and implementing forward-thinking improvements, designing and developing control systems, handling all configuration and installation of instrumentation; programming; communications; system architecture; human machine interface; human factors engineering; alarm management; trending; historical data; control room / panel arrangements; and automation / instrumentation projects. Expertly troubleshoot and / maintain Delta V DCS control systems, including assisting in developing control schemes, adding new instrumentation, and making changes to existing control systems. Maintain plant drawings (e.g. P&IDs, ISOs), equipment safety information / specifications, testing / inspection plans, and engineering standards. Provide daily support to plant personnel and maintenance teams. Collaborate with production and maintenance personnel to optimize plant instrumentation. Plan projects encompassing PIDs, wiring schematics, panel layouts, project scoping, as-built drawings, wiring, testing, and training

work was moderately interesting; management has a high-turnover rate and even worse for chemist/contractors, so get ready to wear multiple hats. young people don't stick around long, and for good reason. you are underappreciated and 'long-timers' act with sense of superiority just because of their years with company and not by relevant experience or educational background. These long-timers don't know how to act mature and mind their own business, they people-watch the heck out of you, talk behind your back and think every young college grad is out for their job. the more pleasant experiences i had were working with other employees outside of R&D like sales managers/plant techs/QC folks. they are nice, easy-going, and made my job worthwhile. depending on what group your in, you may be micro-managed and if your lucky you get a decent manager who lets you be more independent and work at your own pace and lets you lead projects. also, they do a good job of letting you decide how you want to develop (will pay for external seminars, travel to other sites for certain project, etc) but doesn't necessarily result in promotion.

Each and every day was a challenge that I embraced as there were no processes/guidelines or job description for what I was hired for. It was basically, starting out from scratch with the opportunity to put my processes and thought into managing a sound fleet of over 1000 vehicles.
In addition to fleet, I was also responsible for price changes that were performed in SAP, as well as providing payment information to vendors and training for our store managers when it came to ordering via the SRM tool.
The most difficult job I encountered was that there was a lack of communication even within the department. It was everyone for themselves so there was a lot of tasks that were duplicated instead of sharing the knowledge. Many things were implemented that I ended up cleaning up instead of being asked since I was the person dealing with it on a day to day basis. This was very frustating.
I truly enjoyed dealing with everyone in the field in regards to their vehicle and maintenance so they were able to devote more time into selling the materials, rather than dealing with the vendor. I also enjoyed working with many of our vendors that unfortunately were not paid in a timely manner as we switched systems from an old legacy systems to SAP.

A typical work day entails checking emails, answering phone calls, posting invoices, correcting problems as they arise, and working close with vendors and co-workers. Attending meetings as need be.

I have learned a lot at my current job, from AP, AR, to GL and month end tasks. I have even done different projects for finance and controlling. I am currently working on a project for cost accounting. 

I have been fortunate to have a great manager. She has been a great mentor always helping me to achieve my goals. She wants the best for me and actually cares about my wellbeing and advancing in my career which means and says a lot to me. 

I enjoy my co-workers and get along with them great. I am an esay person to get along with.

I would have to say the hardest part of my job is during month end. Things tend to get a little chaotic and sometimes stressfull, however, I manage to stay calm and get all my tasks done effectivly and in a timely manner. 

I enjoy my job and everything it entails. I love the company, co-workers , vendors, and even the atmosphere. 

Unfortuantly the company is outsourcing acocunting which therefore means I will be losing my job shortly.

•	Performing and recording Cash Application for Banks daily.
•	Clearing the manual payments to the appropriate GL and posting to the correct BU bank statement that did not post automatically.
•	Performing the transfer of funds on daily basis if needed.
•	Performing the payment proposal and Daily Cash Reconciliations 
•	Making sure that everything is ZBA’s between IHB (SAP) and Banks
•	Reconciling Treasury GL accounts on a daily basis.
•	Coordinating credit process such as stops and voids.
•	Monitoring the SysAid website on a daily basis
•	Maintaining a balance in petty cash.
•	Preventing frauds while investigating Positive Pay Exceptions.
•	Pulling and preparing ACH returns’ information on a daily basis.
•	Maintaining and organizing treasury bank statements.
•	Analyzing, allocating and reporting monthly bank fees.
•	Calculating quarterly intercompany interest rates.
•	Registering bank checks images on CD Rom’s on monthly basis for BOA, JP Morgan, and TD banks.
•	Creating Promissory Notes and sending them to BU’s annually.
•	Preparing and tracking return of Promissory Notes and copy to Tax Department annually.
•	Placing Issues, Voids and Stop Payments on checks for General Accounting via JP Morgan ACCESS and Bank of America CashPro.

Typical day starts at 6 A.M., checking EMAILS concerning inventory issues from off shift, rectify as needed. Check with color build unit (CBU) for inventory needs, make all transfers, physically and systematically. Check automatic dispensing unit (ADU) levels, physically and systematically move all materials needed. Once all CBU needs are met, off to the distribution center for cycle counts, home location managing, consolidations, shipping error rectification, periodically checking EMAILS for other department ( CBU, QC, plant, staging, pilot,R&D ) needs.After lunch check with CBU for material needed for the next 2 shifts.

What I learned: Independence, proactive approach, many SAP system movements from department to department, plant to plant. Many different department operations.

Management: supportive

Co Workers: Team atmosphere, always ready to help.

Hardest part of my job: Balancing all above duties, making sure all needs are met.

Most enjoyable part of my day: Contact with different department co workers, personalities and the daily challenges each day brought.

I took this job because I had a friend who worked there and because they promised me that the company "did what was right for the employee" i.e. I would be able to work from home when my kids were sick (TOTAL LIE) and because there were "so many advancement opportunities" Oh there are opportunities, but if you don't know 5 people who have already decided that you got the job before you even applied, then you won't have a chance of getting that job. I have now worked here over a year. I have asked for training opportunities CONSTANTLY and have been denied 99.9% of the time. I was told that I would get promoted this year and today I was just told now it is MAYBE next year. Do not believe the hype- this company is only good to its high level executives who make 100k and up. Everyone under them is a peon and there is a one in a million chance that you will ever leave your current position. This company is a dead end if you are looking for fast advancement opportunities. You will have to rot and kiss a lot of rear ends for YEARS before you will get anywhere. Steer clear.

The company is a great company. They pay well and offer great benefits, however, the management and culture in the lab needs a serious overhaul. Supervisors gossip about other employees and foster animosity between different shifts (there is plenty WITHOUT their help, but they make it worse). There is little to no disciplinary action against favorites or on shifts that lack proper supervision so the same people make the same mistakes on a daily basis with no consequences. These mistakes/ short-cuts end up causing whomever is unlucky enough to pick up that person's batch to spend HOURS trying to fix an error that could have been prevented had the person done the right thing initially. Why would they though if no one cares and there are no consequences for doing the wrong thing? People falsify results and manipulate test parameters to get batches in spec and management doesn't care. This job is less about QUALITY and more about NUMBERS. I'm not entirely sure I would even recommend this position at this location to someone I DIDN'T like, much les someone that I did.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Production operator 8 salaries reported	$21.83 per hour
Maintenance technician 1 salary reported	$29.00 per hour
Account manager 8 salaries reported	$98,521 per year
Operator 4 salaries reported	$22.50 per hour
Customer service representative 1 salary reported	$33.42 per hour

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