The Thai metropolis is reliant on lifts to maintain its nonstop momentum. “My role is very important in keeping our megacity’s wheels greased,” says KONE Service Supervisor Sutee Sopajaree. He and his team take care of 182 units for 15 major customers around Bangkok, one of which is ‘The River’, an exclusive 868-apartment riverfront residential complex on Chao Phraya River, where 1,500 residents are served by 15 lifts. A lengthy breakdown would meet with an instant outcry from these quality-conscious home-owners.
“Before things turn bad, we get in and solve the problem immediately. If I visit the site and find even the slightest problem, I immediately tell the customer and suggest how to solve it,” says Sopajaree, who travels between sites carrying out quality and maintenance audits. He works a ten-hour day, as certain jobs can only be performed after hours. Rapid spare parts availability is the biggest challenge for Sopajaree’s team. “We’ve solved this problem by storing critical parts in the customer’s building to ensure a quick fix without wasting a single precious moment.”