Nathalia Härdström started working at GN Tobacco Sweden AB almost seven years ago. She began her career in one of the few snus factories worldwide located in Enköping. Like many of her coworkers at GN Tobacco, Nathalia's first job involved making snus, smokeless tobacco products, such as Siberia, Odens, and White Fox on the production line.
After taking a year off to care for her child, Nathalia wanted to try something new. In 2023, she switched to product quality monitoring. Now, she's part of the quality team that watches over every step of snus production at the factory.
"When I started at GN Tobacco, I had no clue about the company. I thought I'd try it out, and now I've been here for seven years," says Nathalia Härdström, who works as a Quality Controller at GN Tobacco in Enköping.
At first, Nathalia ran machines that packed snus at the GN Tobacco factory. The company makes regular tobacco-based snus, chewing tobacco, and white snus or nicotine pouches there. She kept this job until she went on parental leave. When she came back, she wanted to try something new and moved to quality control. But what does she do in her new job?
"We keep an eye on quality standards throughout tobacco production. This starts when we receive raw tobacco from around the world and ends with containers full of products ready to ship.
The quality team makes sure everything meets GN Tobacco's high standards. For example checking that the smokeless tobacco products maintain the exact right moisture and nicotine levels. They also ensure that the products have the right shape, weight, and other key quality factors through visual inspection."
Quality control also covers packaging. Nathalia and her team check labels and tax stamps to make sure they're right for different markets and countries. The Enköping factory runs 24/5, so quality control happens across three factory shifts. Nathalia and her coworkers switch shift every month. How does she handle this schedule?
"I switch between early and late day shifts at this snus store, which works well for me. It can be tough with young kids in daycare, but my family has gotten used to it. I like night shifts because I can get a lot done at home too."
Nathalia's only worry is her 40 kilometer commute from Sala. Public transit doesn't match her factory shift schedule, so she needs to drive her car to get there and back. Still, she's happy in her current job.
"I'm pleased with my job and don't plan to switch anytime soon. I like working at the factory and value my great coworkers. It is also good to know that I have choices of other positions if I ever want to try something new," Nathalia says.
GN Tobacco Sweden AB prizes workers like Nathalia who show they can adapt and stay committed. The company's drive to check quality shows how much it wants to be the best in the tobacco field. By creating a good place to work and giving chances to grow, GN Tobacco keeps drawing in and keeping skilled workers in Enköping and other places.
By Robert
