Insight Elpro: Erdal Özer,
works in quality management

Hi Erdal, thanks for taking the time. Would you like to briefly introduce yourself and tell us how you came to join Elpro?

Sure! I’m Erdal Özer, 42 years old. I studied industrial engineering and somehow ended up in quality management during my studies. After that, I completed a distance learning program to become a certified occupational safety specialist – and since then, I’ve worked in a wide range of industries: aviation, medical technology, rail vehicles. I was, for example, at Recaro in southern Germany, at GSP in Berlin, and at Maico, which builds hearing diagnostic devices. Always in the QM field – sometimes with a focus on complaints management, sometimes on process optimization or environmental management.

So how did you end up at Elpro?

At first, it was more of a pragmatic decision. I was in a job that didn’t really suit me, started looking around, and then came across the job posting from Elpro. The combination of proximity to my home in Lichtenberg, the variety of tasks, and the size of the company just fit really well. And yes – the experience in the rail vehicle sector might have been a bonus, too.

What are you currently working on at Elpro?

Right now, I’m completely overhauling the process management manual. It had gotten a bit outdated – and now something entirely new is emerging: clear flowcharts instead of long texts. The goal is to make the processes understandable, modern, and truly usable for everyone. In the long term, I’ll also be taking over environmental management.

What’s different here compared to your previous jobs?

I just have more freedom now. In my previous jobs, I often took over or adapted existing processes. Here at ELPRO, I can rethink and design many things from the ground up – and that’s really fun. What I particularly like is the approach that processes should be described the way they are actually lived – and not the other way around. So it’s not about creating theoretical guidelines that everyone has to somehow adapt to, but about making real workflows visible, understandable, and usable for everyone.

How would you describe your overall experience at Elpro?

Very positive. It’s not a huge corporation, which means short communication paths, direct exchange, and honest feedback – sometimes critical, but always constructive. And I think that’s great, because it helps you improve.

Is there a project you’re particularly looking forward to?

Definitely the release of the new process map. Once it goes live, I’ll probably be the happiest person in the building. I’m also curious how it will be received by the team – the idea is to continuously develop and improve it together.

How would you describe the “Elpro Spirit” in one sentence?

You really get the sense that the company is thinking ahead – and that people are taken seriously and included in the process.

And after work – how do you unwind?

I do Capoeira – that Brazilian martial art. It’s perfect for relaxing and burning off energy. I also enjoy cooking, and when I have time, I like to play a round of Tekken – I’ve been doing that for 25 years and almost play at a semi-professional level.

And if you were to cook for your colleagues – what would you make?

Probably something unexpected! For example, a Turkish eggplant dish that many don’t know or often underestimate: the eggplant is pan-fried, hollowed out, filled with a savory minced meat and onion mix, baked – and served with rice. I find it exciting to show how even unpopular ingredients can turn into something really delicious with the right preparation.

Sounds great – that fits your job perfectly: structuring, surprising, improving. We’re glad to have you on board!

Thanks – I’m happy to be here too!