Conversations with Zulhilmi Ariff

By Soong Hung Hao and Julian Rocero

Mr Zulhilmi Ariff is a Senior Base Maintenance Continuous Improvement Executive at SIA Engineering, having worked his way up from an apprenticeship as an aircraft engineer previously. He now constantly seeks to lean out the workflow of aircraft maintenance protocols, in hopes of reducing time spent on scheduled maintenance works and enabling planes to spend more time in the sky, where they belong.

Having to constantly work alongside a team of skilled engineers, Zulhilmi evolved to break out of his introverted shell, picking up valuable people skills along the way. Join us in this article to learn more about what a career in aviation engineering might look like, and the different skills it takes to succeed in the industry.

As a Senior Base Maintenance Continuous Improvement Executive, could you introduce yourself and describe your typical workday?

I have been in this current role for almost two years, and I enjoy it a lot. My day-to-day work is highly dynamic, as it depends on the project at hand. At the beginning, I was given the opportunity to implement lean methodologies at one of the eight hangars in base maintenance. This specifically involves liaising with various stakeholders and overseeing the implementation of new skills on the line itself. What I enjoyed most were the interactions I had with people of diverse positions, including engineers, technicians, hangar managers, and even senior vice presidents.

I am currently handling two lines, and I would say that the work really depends on the task at hand and my priorities. I could be talking to the head of the finance department or the manager of the tools store. I enjoy the freedom I have in choosing how to approach the project and organising my priorities.

How would you describe your role to someone who has completely no knowledge of the industry?

My main purpose is training and implementing lean methodologies in base maintenance, as part of our journey towards a more efficient working environment.

Lean methodology is a branch of the six-sigma methodology, and its core principle is reducing waste in our workflow. For instance, given a particular workflow, it might take eight hours from beginning to end. By identifying areas for improvement in this line, I am able to increase efficiency and thereby save time, such that the time taken is reduced to five hours instead.

What qualities must one possess to be successful in your role?

Emotional intelligence is truly crucial, owing to the amount of human interaction this role demands. The lean methodologies we implement can be picked up easily; the tough part is convincing my peers of their importance. As you move up the corporate ladder, the expectations of different projects can vary hugely, and other qualities come into play. Skills such as patience, clear communication, and critical thinking become far more important in helping you prioritise your objectives and achieve them systematically.

What are the most challenging aspects of your job?

The people can sometimes be tricky to handle. My company has a history of over fifty years, and there is a working style that has inevitably been ingrained in many of us. Introducing novel ideas can come with much resistance, but I completely understand why some may have reservations about new concepts. That is just another hurdle we encounter when working in a company with such a rich culture.

In comparison, analysing our workflow and implementing lean methodologies are much simpler. The process becomes much smoother over time, which is gratifying to see.

It seems that you value the ability to convince others. What are some lessons you have learnt in mastering this skill?

One of the best ways to convince others would be to empathise with them. Empathy allows you to see things from the other party’s perspective, and apply your wisdom to address their needs, in addition to your own. The tools you are using can be contextualised to whoever is using them, and considering the goals of others can truly optimise the overall outcome.

What are some things you wished people knew about the aviation and engineering industries?

It is not as glamorous as it seems. Naturally, my role involves a lot of shift work. It is also incredibly labour-intensive, so if you are not used to lots of sweating, this job might not be for you.

In addition, although the maintenance work itself is rather routine, engineers make decisions on the fly with regard to how maintenance is carried out, and skills like critical thinking and peer-to-peer interactions come into play.

What advice do you have for aspiring engineers who wish to enter this line of work?

Before entering the industry, you should be very passionate about this line of work. Truthfully, the salary is only attractive to a certain point. Unless you derive great enjoyment from fixing aircrafts, the industry might not be appealing to you for long.

Personally, I found this enjoyment very early on, even before my role as an apprentice. After maintenance work is done, we conduct functional checks to ensure a job well done. As a very hands-on person, seeing the direct results of my labour reaffirmed my passion and served as a source of encouragement.

How is the work environment at SIA Engineering?

Our work culture is incredibly supportive, and we all serve as mentors to one another. One downside is that everyone tends to be strongly opinionated and assertive, so an adjustment period is certainly necessary, especially for shy personalities. You must be ready to speak your mind and ask the necessary questions. In general, being able to think outside the box and learn continually will help you succeed in this environment.

How would you describe your leadership style?

While there are times that I prefer to be hands-on in my approach, I do my best to give my team space to implement the solutions themselves. Though I am the subject-matter expert, I also have to allow them to make mistakes and learn from these experiences. This creates a conducive environment for continuous learning, which is ideal in the long run.

Could you share with us more about your experience with higher education?

It was fun! Being in NTU Hall 7, I had the opportunity to participate in many hall activities and socialise with my schoolmates. The people I got to interact with made my experience much more meaningful. My major, Mechanical Engineering, was challenging yet interesting. While I admittedly do not apply most of the knowledge in my day-to-day work, university helped me become more structured and analytical in my thought processes.

You mentioned that you previously worked at Eben as a consultant. What was the work experience like?

To give some background context, Eben is a company that facilitates certification processes, for quality and cleanliness standards on a production line, for instance. They also assist corporate clients with documentation and administrative tasks to ensure organisational standards are met. My role at Eben was deeply insightful, and permanently shaped the way I work and interact with different stakeholders. From pitching decks to clients to managing stakeholder expectations, my time there taught me many soft skills that remain in my wheelhouse today.

What was your biggest highlight of 2022?

It would definitely be the praise that my team received when our operations staff began to see the benefits of the lean implementation strategies that we executed.

What advice do you have for students who are inspired by your career path?

Understand your character and personality before stepping into your job. It greatly affects how well you perform!

If your current character and skills do not match the job you are in, there is always room to grow and upgrade yourself. Personally, I am an introvert, but my job requires high levels of human interaction. While it may be draining for me at times, I have honed my people skills over the years. There is nothing that cannot be learnt, and nothing is impossible!