General Coordinator of ECF Engineering, Okan ERDEVE: “We have completed and commissioned three integrated cement plants, one mining refinery at home and also two cement grinding plants abroad within six years since the foundation of the company. We are currently continuing to establish integrated cement plants as main contractor.”
Can you tell us about ECF’s operations briefly?
ECF Engineering was founded in 2012. It officially commenced its operations in 2013. Our establishment purpose was primarily to fill the gap we observed in the sector regarding Industrial Electrical Systems Installation and Commissioning services in particular. In a number of efforts I took part during long years in the cement sector for various investment activities as an engineer in the beginning and then as a project manager I saw that installation and commissioning operations for the equipment procured for the investment attempts undertaken by employers by with a lot of challenges were not carried out properly and the number of companies which had required equipment for such tasks were very few, trained and qualified workforce was not sufficiently available and the required quality would not be satisfied as a consequence. The most significant purpose in establishing our company was this aspect. In order to achieve what is better in line with this approach and goal, we organized, developed our works continuously and when we take a look at the works we have completed in the last five years I believe that we were able to achieve this.
Can you outline the process from the establishment of your company to this point for our readers?
Our company set to work with the goal of ‘Sharing is Growing’ which is also our company motto since the day it was established. Many people around me was curious and asked me about its meaning. In fact, this motto was the establishment philosophy of a company with limited facilities and low budget but with very extensive goals. My teammates who I work with and started to work together learnt what this meant in time by seeing and experiencing it. We first set off with the goal of sharing the load for sharing a common belief, standing up against challenges together and preserving our belief despite anything can happen. What we saw through experience that patience was bitter but the gains that were achieved were sweet and pleasant. I would express my gratitude particularly to my family and spouse for their support and confidence in this respect.
In fact, we had a convinced team together with our families. Yet, the more important thing was the other party, in other words, the employers which believed and had confidence in this team and opened the possibilities of work to us by taking risk. Our entire team had past experiences and achievements individually. However, the task was different this time, and the matter was to hire this team, namely, ECF company. I guess this was our first experience in the commercial life. The aspect we understood was that individual achievements or references were no longer valid and what mattered was efforts you have undertaken and may undertake as ECF. While we are on this point I would like to express our gratitude to all of our employers who trusted and believed us and provided support once again.
With how many do you work in your team?
We are a team of total 86 people with 21 white collar employees assuming various tasks, authorities and responsibilities and 65 blue collar employees. Number of the blue collar personnel may increase according to the density of our business. I can express that there were times when we reached to 270 people in the past periods. This figure can be regarded as ordinary for many people, however, as a company which is recently established and striving to advance, I cannot find the right words to describe the stress and the responsibility I had during those periods.
How does ECF Engineering position itself in the sector? What distinguishes you from your competitors?
This a difficult and hard to answer question in my opinion. First of all, it is more important to be able to position ourselves internally. I would like to point out that being able to achieve our vision, mission and goals we have set since the establishment of our company and to continue in this path without revising them demonstrates that we have established our structure on a strong foundation. How would we be able to position ourselves above others without being able to satisfy this?
ECF will go on doing business by assuming the following aspects as itsworking principle and management approach.
These are:
-ECF team carried out and will carry out all of the projects by adopting and internalizing them,
-Confidence of the employer is ensured at utmost level,
-All tasks to be carried out for establishing the system in the most reliable and efficient manner are realized notwithstanding any negativity or conditions.
These were the basic goals and approaches we have set at the time of founding the company. We saw that these aspects resurfaced one by one in the works we carried out in time. The works we carry out are like a long, tiresome and endless marathone. We can encounter a number of problems caused by us or our employers in time. However, since a mutual trust is established and we believe in that as ECF, this will be completed by ECF in the best way notwithstanding any negativity or condition. I guess this is the most distinguishing factor we rely on.
We have completed and commissioned three integrated cement plants, one mining refinery at home and also two cement grinding plants abroad within six years since the foundation of the company. We are currently continuing to establish integrated cement plants as main contractor. I can say that the point we position ourselves is only the things we realized. I think we got over the toddling period and we are one step ahead of others.
What would you like to say if you compare the cement sector in Turkey with the global markets?
Every engineer in our family has worked and is still working in the cement sector . Our pioneering leader in this respect was my uncle Cevat ERDEVE. I can say that we were involved in the cement sector as a tradition that was created by him. The greatest occasion for me in this sector was being a part of Limak Cement Group and having the opportunity to work with our Coordinator Gültekin AKSUYEK. He really trusted and believed in us. He assigned responsibilities and missions in an incredible manner with the opportunities he offered and contributed to our development extensively. Both us and Limak Group have become a global player by his efforts. During the period I was working for Limak Group, I had the opportunity to be abroad to an extent that maybe a few people could be able to have. I was interested in electrical systems there, but, I also had the chance to meet many people from different countries who were involved in this field. We are still in contact with many of them.
If to come to a conclusion, I should state that we need to bring out global people in order to take part in global markets. Turkey has already proven that it is a major actor in the global market with the export figures it had realized. However, for me, we need to bring out qualified, fully fledged global engineers and administrators who are at peace with the world and with themselves in order to take a bigger share of the cake or to make more profit from the same cake, as I have explained before. And what is essential is the presence of employers who will encourage these people and offer opportunities to them.
2018 has passed, could you realized the targeted turnover figures?
Fortunately, we were able to achieve it. I can say that it was realized even above our expectations. First of all, I would like to extent endless thanks to all of my colleagues for the added value we have provided on behalf of our company and our nation. Then, also to our esteemed employers. Net corporate tax paid as of fourth quarter of 2018 and to be paid has accrued. To tell the truth, I am proud of this picture and wish its continuity as a matter of fact. Currently, what is the most difficult thing for us is to preserve and sustain what is available considering the economic conditions of our country.
What are your goals and expectations for 2019?
For 2019, our approach will be in the way of progressing by preserving what is available as I mentioned above. Our most important goal is to complete and commission our plant to be built on an area of 4000 m2 in Anadolu Organized Industrial Estate, which is currently under construction. We are aiming to manufacture Low Voltage switchboard and to carry out special maintenance and repair tasks addressing the industrial electricity market and power generation industry sectors. We will firstly have need for well qualified engineers and work force and then equipment requirements in order to achieve this goal. We want to take sure steps by investing in our own team with the gains we have realized until now.
As a secondary goal, we completed two projects in Africa as you know. One of them was in the Southern region and the other was in West Africa. Our companies are currently present and active in terms of logistics and personnel in both locations. We see that industrialization in West Africa region is in a rapid progress. We are aiming to develop our company and to increase resources by being involved in contract works there and also to take part in Industrial maintenance services sector.
What are the efforts you have undertaken for increasing our market share, the exhibitions you have participated or planning to participate in?
It would not be wrong if I say that this year is the year to commence advertisement and promotion activities for us. I did not start this despite the pressure for commencing this from my friends and relatives for a long time. This is because ECF needed to have work completions adopting the principle of tree is known by its fruit and there was a need to achieve references in this respect. Thankfully, these were made possible and now we can be proud of the works we have carried out. In this respect, there was a requirement to prove such with quality certificates as an essential part of institutionalization. We obtained ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 certificates this year for this purpose. We are planning to participate in both Antalya Exhibition of Turkish Cement Manufacturers’ Union in Turkey and the events of Turkish Exporters’ Union in South Africa and West Africa.
What is your position within the goals you have set until now since the day you commenced to your career?
I guess this is very difficult to explain. Because, it is revised automatically by definition and this continuously makes me feel as if nothing has been made. Being able to achieve our goals in terms of finance only provides resource for what we are planning to do in the future and makes us to feel confident. However, there is a more important aspect, that is ‘Being Able to Produce Added Value’
Whenever I remember or think of this phrase or make comparisons with others, it says me that we are in the very beginning of the road and we have a long way to go. Although I am exaggerating this a little bit, I can use this phrase: I think that we will consider ourselves as achieved our goals when someone is influenced by us and undertake similar efforts just like we were influenced by the others, were inspired by the ones who achieved success.
What are the final things you would like to add?
Thank you very much for sparing your valuable time for us and offering the opportunity to appear on your magazine. We are honored to have this interview with you. I hope we continue to be in this sector together for long years.
