Slavomir Srnka, awarded the highest departmental award For Work Loyalty, is a technologist of machine maintenance reliability at DP Cold Rolling Mill (DZ Studená valcovňa). His job description is the investigation of unwanted accident with the subsequent proposal of measures so that they do not happen again or to minimize their consequences. In addition, it also makes small modernizations on individual lines and at the same time processes construction drawing documentation. He considers it most difficult to figure out the reason for the occurrence of the undesirable event and the most interesting to figure out how to improve the problematic part of the facility.

Father awarded at Prague Castle

"We are such an ironmongery family. My father, my mother, my wife and my father-in-law worked here. I am the last of the family. My daughters chose other professions, the older one works as a lawyer and the younger one is an economist," says Slavomir Srnka, adding: "Therefore, my family understood my work and work obligations. Over the years, my loved ones have gotten used to the fact that my phone rings, even when I'm free. And they are just waiting for me to tell them that I have to go to work. In the best case, I'm at home, with the phone on my ear, and it doesn't matter if it's day or night. They are very happy about the award that was awarded to me. Since my wife also worked in ironworks, she knows what my job is like and she wishes me that very much. My daughters were also happy, but my mother is most proud that I am following in the footsteps of my late father. He received the state award For Excellent Work at Prague Castle."

It was his father who led Slavomír to study at a mechanical engineering school, where he really enjoyed drawing drawings. He continued at the University of Mechanical Engineering, after which he wanted to work as a designer. This wish has come true and he uses the experience he has gained in his current job. So he's actually a happy person because he's doing what he's always wanted.

A tough nut to crack

"As a designer, I joined DP Cold Rolling Mill and one of the first tasks in which I was involved was the modernization of emulsion management on a 4-stand tandem between 1999 and 2001. I worked with Michal Dikej on this task.  We did t he modernization in full operation and that was the nut that we needed to "crack" - which part to shut down and move among other facilities to maintain functionality and to modernize the shutdown part. The whole emulsion management is one tangle of pipes, it was necessary to draw it all in a 3D model to avoid collision of individual pipes. I managed to draw it. So far, the emulsion economy has been operating unchanged. I remember this work very fondly and I am proud of it. Other colleagues who moved me professionally and inspired me were Vlado Moroz and Jozko Sasarak," recalls Slavomir Srnka.

Currently, he works with several teams, with which they solve various problems. They often have different opinions, sometimes harsher words are spoken, but the result must be positive: "In most cases, we will be able to achieve this, they are good guys."

We also wanted to know how he tends to switch off and relax after such a hard job: "When I come home, my wife and I have a coffee and we like to go for a walk, or I sit on my bike and go for a ride in the forest alone, just with my thoughts. I'm a sports fan, I like to watch any sport. I like to ride a bike, go on easy hikes and in winter I love skiing."

Luck always went against him

Robert Fabry , head of the Maintenance Operation of DP Cold Rolling Mill, says about his colleague: "Slavomir is my long-time colleague. During the many years we have spent together at work, I have had the opportunity to get to know him not only as an employee, but I have especially realized his value as a person. Slavomir deservedly has the most positive professional attributes such as "team player, responsible employee, experienced professional". However, what I consider more important is that he fulfilled all these formal attributes in terms of content. He is a person who has never refused to help others, he is always willing to advise, he likes to share his experience with his colleagues, even younger ones, because he does not see them as competition, but as an important part of the team. He has a creative approach to life, whether professional or personal. He never gave up, and perhaps that's why luck always went against him."

Slavomir Srnka is close to retirement and he would like to use this time to complete things and projects in progress, and most importantly, he wants to pass on his experience and knowledge to the guys who will take over his job one day.

Photo: Jan Kisucky