ISIC’s products are proudly made in Denmark, with Production located at our Headquarters in Brabrand. Stepping into the production department, you immediately sense the clear structure and commitment to safety, where everyone is working hard and focused, yet the atmosphere remains filled with positive energy and laughter among the team. Although ISIC’s Head of Operations, Marlene Lundegaard, has an office at the heart of the production floor, you’ll rarely find her at her desk. Instead, Marlene is constantly engaging with her team in production, ensuring she’s fully in tune with daily operations and production flow.
As Head of Operations, Marlene oversees two primary areas: managing production and warehouse operations and driving continuous improvements in production processes. Summing up her role, she states:
“In Operations, our main purpose is to make sure, orders make it out the door. My job is to ensure we have the optimal setup for the team to make that happen.”
Central to this responsibility is leading the production team and fostering a collaborative environment. Marlene is committed to making production processes as efficient and seamless as possible. She is often seen on the production floor, identifying opportunities to optimize workflow and encouraging her team to share insights. For her, it’s essential that these improvements are developed in collaboration with her employees, as they possess the knowledge to generate the best ideas for refining processes and enhancing efficiency.
In her work with improving production processes she is invested in LEAN methodologies, having completed an education in the concept. She implements the LEAN approach for creating a production setup that flows seamlessly. This commitment to continuous improvement reflects ISIC's dedication to high quality and operational excellence.
With a degree in Global Management and Manufacturing Engineering, combined with years of experience leading production departments, Marlene brings a wealth of knowledge to ISIC. While her impressive educational background and experience are important, she highlights her time as a gospel choir director as a unique advantage in her job.
She emphasizes the importance of motivating people and creating a positive, energized environment when leading a team, skills she honed as a choir director. Marlene believes these experiences have translated directly into her work at ISIC, where she strives to uplift her team and foster strong collaboration. Marlene also draws parallels, between leading a choir and leading the production team:
“'There are all sorts of underlying dynamics within a team, and being able to sense the energies, sentiments, and group dynamics at play is something I use in my work every day.”
Marlene’s positive energy, diverse experience, and people-focused leadership style are invaluable assets to ISIC and its production team. The strong teamwork and smooth workflows that Marlene fosters are key to the success of ISIC’s production process.
When asked about her experience working at ISIC, Marlene smiles and says: “I love being here! Everyone is very open and helpful.” She further explains that the high seniority within ISIC speaks volumes about the company’s culture. Despite many of her colleagues having been with the company for years, she has never encountered anyone resistant to new ideas. She highlights how this open-minded approach resembles ISIC’s core values of innovation, adaptability, and forward-thinking.
Additionally, she values ISIC’s commitment to producing sustainable products, emphasizing how rarely their products require replacement. This focus on sustainability is in perfect harmony with Marlene’s own values and further deepens her connection to the company.
As a leader, Marlene is deeply passionate and thrives on, "Helping others to succeed." She’s committed to foster an environment where everyone can learn from one another, ensuring that all processes in production can be managed seamlessly, even in someone's absence. Marlene promotes diversity within the team by balancing experience and encourages rotating team members to expose them to different areas of production. This approach not only strengthens collaboration but also broadens the team’s collective expertise.
Marlene’s natural enthusiasm for leadership is evident in everything she does. In her first year as Head of Operations at ISIC, she has already made significant improvements in production efficiency, particularly through her focus on LEAN processes. Her team spirit and creative mindset ensure that everyone's unique skills and qualities are utilized to the fullest. Marlene ensures effective teamwork by promoting open communication and collaboration among the production teams. ISIC greatly values her ability to lead a team responsibly while fostering a diverse, inclusive, and positive work environment.