Careers

From baby steps to marking a business career …

“ I completed my Higher secondary in March 2008, and to utilize my time to the fullest, I wanted to pursue further education while working full time. I had a few friends who worked in Tekno Valves, and I wanted to work there if an opportunity presented itself.
My father knew someone who knew the company's owners, and through the contact, I got an appointment to work in the assembly department in December 2008. ”

I worked in the assembly department for a few months. Still, I kept looking for a transfer to the stores or accounts department, my chosen area, while pursuing my college education by taking evening classes in the commerce stream.

After seven months, I prepared an excel sheet to tabulate 20 MT of brass rod received from an overseas supplier. Mr. N.K Behani appreciated my work and asked me to assist the store's department.

In 2010 the company was building a new manufacturing setup, and I was one of the first persons to be transferred to the new facility. I got a lot of confidence in handling the new stores and continued to learn a lot in the process.

Since completing my graduation in 2011, I have been involved in developing the ERP system, preparing PowerPoint presentations, machine planning, and ISO documentation.

I became an internal auditor in 2014, and since 2017, I have been heading the planning department and reporting directly to the top management.

I am empowered to carry out commercial negotiation and appreciate the end-to-end business exposure I am getting at such an early stage of my career. I have made some long-lasting friendships in Tekno Valves. This year we are celebrating the company's golden anniversary, and I genuinely believe that sky is the limit to what I can achieve in my career.

A fresher from engineering college joined teknovalves for her internship...

“ I joined Tekno Valves on 1st September 2014 as a trainee in the Design and Development department to mainly complete my internship and projects of the final year.
I did not know what to expect, and little did I know back then that my dream of becoming an accomplished professional in my area of work will become true. ”

I am a soft-spoken person in general and preferred to keep quiet during meetings unless specifically asked. During my training, I learned a lot from the development team and my boss and mentor, Mr. Rohit Behani. The atmosphere encouraged me to move outside of my comfort zone and learn new things every day and I was encouraged to speak up as the culture allowed free voicing of opinions, and it was considered based on the merit of the arguments and not based on the speaker's position. I learned that a good design is not just about calculating the factor of safety based on material tensile strength but also optimizing it for cost-effectiveness.

I started my work by updating the ERP system and preparing 2D/3D drawings, while today, I proudly head the Design and Development department. I am a Cylinder Valve Committee member in the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) and a lead auditor for ISO 9001:2015.

My work allows me to interact with senior people in the gas industry worldwide. I have realized the difference between working for a livelihood and becoming a motivated young professional responsible for designing new products vital for public safety.

My growth and success have been possible due to the support I get every day in my challenging but rewarding work environment. I am thankful to every member of Tekno Valves for making me a part of their family and help me grow while at the same time I am now also helping others succeed.

Importantly, working in Tekno Valves taught me to enjoy a good cup of coffee, reading books, and learning how to play the guitar. On a more serious note, I have learned to look at my role, keeping in mind the bigger picture of the company's policies, vision, and purpose.

Experienced 'Hippos' continually challenged by young 'Smart Creatives'

25 years back when I was preparing for my Chartered Accountancy exam, my beloved friend Rohit, requested me to compile a project report in Microsoft Excel. Having Kindergarten experience with computers, I decided to give it a try, which turned out to be the first step of my professional journey. I still remember the profound words from respected Y.K. Behani, while persuasively handing me my life's first earning cheque, "Never mix personal relationship and professional relationship, to have a long-lasting relationship". Since then my association with Tekno Valves has been the most rewarding and influential association of my professional journey.

"The best way for businesses to succeed is to attract smart-creative people and give them an environment where they can thrive at scale." - This philosophy of Google was adapted by Tekno Valves decades ago by encouraging and nourishing 'Smart Creatives'*, and I was one of the many fortunate ones. I deeply enjoy the hybrid-jobs entrusted to me based on the 'Smart-Trust' of management without any cognizance of my inexperience. This Smart Trust over the years facilitated me to gain hybrid knowledge and grow into a multifaceted member.

* 'Smart Creatives' as defined by Google - someone who might not be in the top percentile of their universities but having the potential to combine a technical way of thinking with never-ending ideas.

The belief of Rohit Behani (CEO & Partner) in the philosophy of 'transferable skills' has helped us enhancing our awareness of extracurricular like learning music to remaining physically fit. Seeds of his influence get extended beyond work too e.g. getting addicted to his favourite beverage i.e. Black-Coffee and becoming a habitual reader influenced by his unbeatable passion for reading books.

As family members, we all enjoy our days' at Tekno Valves wherein Hippos (Highest Paid Person's Opinion) have to compete with millennial Smart Creatives and experience takes a back seat.

Some accidents save lives...

“I joined Tekno Valves on 23rd October 2007 as a CNC operator. Before that, I had worked in a CNC workshop for eight months after passing higher secondary. ”

In 2009, I was involved in a major accident while setting up the CNC machine. This incident completely shook my confidence and made me doubt my skills. However, my boss Rohit Behani called me and gave me the example of a Cricket Test Match, which, according to him, reflects life and gives you a second chance to redeem yourself. He also suggested me to read a few self-help books to motivate myself.

I now honestly believe that how you handle and are allowed to take adversity in your stride defines who you are. I have not looked back since, and now I program different kinds of multi-axis CNC machines.

I have been fortunate to be mentored by Mr. Madan Ram, a Senior Manager in the Engineering department and a genius in all things related to machining. Through his encouragement, I completed my diploma in mechanical engineering in 2016 by taking evening classes.

The best part of working at Tekno Valves is that it is heavily committed to automation and technology and encourages every team member to contribute to new ideas. I actively look at technology videos on YouTube and share them in our automation skype group. The speed at which new ideas are implemented is a source of great satisfaction for the team and me.

You do not need a title to lead…

“A native from Bihar, I joined Tekno Valves on 1st March 2007 as a helper in the packaging department. It was my first job, and within a few months, I was sent to the deburring department, where I worked for six more months. ”

I was subsequently trained to operate CNC machines, considered an unofficial promotion.

As the company kept growing, it needed people with some degree of experience to handle product testing. By the year 2013, I had gathered six years of experience in assembly and testing and had the benefit of working in every production department.

I observed that holding engineering degrees/ diplomas were not essential to rise within the organization. Several role models in the company inspired me to do well despite my limited education.

In 2013, I joined Tekno Valves In house Inspection Agency (IS), which is authorized and inspected by BAM Berlin as a tester. It was my turning point, and it showed the management's faith in me.

It was a proud moment for me when Tekno Valves was considered an essential manufacturer in the 2020 Covid Lockdown, and along with my colleagues, I got a chance to work and serve the community during that period.

Since 2020, I am working as the IS representative of the In-house Inspection agency and mainly responsible for handling technical audits conducted by the European Notified body as part of TPED certification. Thanks to the management's support, I have come a long way since I started packaging wooden boxes in Tekno Valves.