Carl Erik Kristensen is the third generation at Seasight Group, which now brings together the companies Hvide Sande Ship Yard, Hvide Sande Agency & Supply, Seasight Solutions and Seasights Davits. Solutions are being worked on ranging from the new construction of ships, where hydrogen cells are part of the future, to, among other things, lifting equipment for the wind industry.
- We are coming to the other side of rising commodity prices, says CEO of Seasight Group Carl Erik Kristensen and at the same time establishes one thing about the wind industry:
- We can feel price pressure from the OEMs, and it propagates all the way down the supply chain, because if they don't make money, then it happens.
The solutions for a difficult market
But solutions are part of the Seasight Group, and we work constructively with that challenge.
- The products must be standardized and made modular so that they fit the customers' needs. In recent years, we have made significant progress with this. This in turn makes lean and diet optimization easier, explains Carl Erik Kristensen.
He also leaves no doubt about the purpose.
- We do it to maintain a healthy business, so that we win the tasks in the tenders, says the CEO.
It also implies a customer focus and a clear understanding.
- It is our noblest task to find out what the customers want. The customers must be serviced, and we must produce at a reasonable price, he states.
"Periods when to make money"
You can still find companies where decisions are made as a hasty shot from the hip in the best cowboy style. This is not the case at Seasight Group, where Carl Erik Kristensen has a diploma in management from Aarhus University, an MBA from CBS in Copenhagen and a professional INSEAD board education. The approach is strategic and deliberate – and in Carl Erik Kristensen's office, a notice in the CEO's field of vision reminds us of just that: earnings curves on a diagram go up and down.
- These are cycles that clearly show when there have been wars and other fluctuations. There are periods when it is easier to make money than others: "Periods when to make money," says Carl Erik Kristensen about the notice on the wall and makes one thing clear:
- We aim to grow every year - in other words, there should ideally be something left over every year.
Good relationships are a trend among employees
Recruitment is also one of the focus areas at Seasight Group.
- We have quite a few open positions, and it is hard HR work to fill them, says Carl Erik Kristensen.
And in recruitment there is a clear strategy that is followed:
- Our HR strategy is: We want to be the preferred workplace. Therefore, we look at what the employees demand. Right now, the trend is to have good relationships with managers and colleagues. And we will adjust according to what is important to the employees, says Carl Erik Kristensen.
There is, however, the great advantage that Seasight Group has branches both in Varde and Ringkøbing in addition to Hvide Sande. And there are positions that are easier to fill than others.
- We find it easier to hire, for example, project managers than to find people for production, he explains.
Some work in production is even more difficult to recruit for, but there are also solutions.
- We hire foreign labor under Danish collective agreements for some of the work. It is difficult to get Danes to weld or paint all day, he says and goes on to talk about this group of employees:
- Some of them have been here for 15-18 years through a temp agency. They are there for anniversaries and other events.
It is not just the employees' anniversaries that are celebrated.
- We are preparing for our 75th anniversary next year, says the CEO about a celebration that awaits in the late summer of 2025.
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