EMU Graduate Miss Yesim Poroy joins UTC Aerospace Systems, One Process At A Time

Eastern Mediterranean University, International Relations Department, graduate Yesim Poroy is successfully employed at one of the world’s largest suppliers of technologically advanced aerospace and defense products. United Technologies Aerospace System, designs, manufactures and services systems and components, providing integrated solutions for commercial, regional, business and military aircraft, helicopters and other platforms. UTC also a major supplier to international space programs.

Poroy started her career as a Research Assistant in EMU’s Industrial Engineering department, where she started to get involved with quality concepts. After completing a Master’s degree at EMU, she started to work for the Chamber of Shipping in Istanbul and formed the European Union department, focusing on process standardization and adaptation to European Union. Poroy moved to San Diego, California in 2001 and started to work for Mitchell1, a subsidiary of the Fortune 500 Snap-on Inc. She earned Lean Enterprise, Six Sigma Black Belt Certifications and became a Stanford Certified Project Manager.

In 2011, Poroy joined United Technologies Aerospace Systems and had a chance to work with the "Continuous Improvement Legend Team" in Aerospace. First lesson learned was: we are in the business of "Enterprise Excellence,” not "Enterprise good enough," which set the stage right there, she says. Poroy has a key role as "Achieving Competitive Excellence" (ACE) Manager, supporting deployment of the UTC Operating System throughout the Aerostructures Business Unit. Coaching and guiding continuous improvement activities while overseeing Aerostructures Sites worldwide. “Steering all levels of the organization to actively promote Lean concepts, while functioning as an effective change agent is a big task” she says.

The key to success is: strategic planning to effectively champion, promote and implement the Operating System across the Enterprise; utilizing Policy Deployment and training employees from all areas and levels, in lean and quality techniques. Poroy states that EMU not only provided a degree, but also vision, diversity and self-confidence along with theory and practice. She adds that the biggest asset of any company is their workforce. Companies that encourage diversity in the workplace inspire all of their employees to perform to their highest ability. Company-wide strategies can then be executed; resulting in higher productivity, profit and return on investment.

Credit: EMU