E&M and innovation
Innovation stories – Jacolien Mesu
Repairing often costs less and is more sustainable than replacing and Jacolien knows this firsthand. In today’s Innovation Stories, we talk with Jacolien Mesu from the Repair Lab about her work, how she develops repair solutions and her perspective on innovation.
Jacolien has built an impressive career in aviation. Her interest began when her father asked if she might want to become a helicopter pilot. Although she didn’t follow that path, she found her true passion in aviation technology. She started as a temporary worker at KLM in H14 while completing her HBO studies, then worked for five years as an APU mechanic at EPCOR. Since 2018, she’s been with the Repair Lab team in Engineering & Maintenance, where she actively searches for innovative repair solutions every day. The Repair Lab: Innovation in action The Repair Lab has developed cost-saving repair strategies for E&M. Located in building 425, Jacolien’s role focuses on analyzing alternative repair options for the various E&M shops. Jacolien’s view is simple: “Repairing is cheaper and more sustainable than buying new.” When the Repair Lab began receiving more questions about repair options for the Cabin Air Compressor (CAC) and the Air Cycle Machine (ACM), which are two major cost drivers, Jacolien organized brainstorming sessions for each. These sessions clarified what has been done before, what’s being done now, and the future potential for repairing these components, helping E&M explore fresh and cost-effective repair methods.
Wim Vollenberg, Head of Repair Lab: “Thanks to Jacoliens perseverance we are achieving more savings!”
Data-powered innovation: CREL 2.0 To discover repair ideas, the Repair Lab team uses CREL 2.0, a data analysis tool developed by the E&M Engineering Big Data team. This tool helps Jacolien and her team see which parts have the highest costs and assess if creating an alternative repair method is worth it. “With the right data, we can make smart decisions and get more value out of our innovations,” she explains. Collaboration for success Jacolien’s experience in H14 and at EPCOR gave her a solid technical foundation, which now helps her develop innovative repairs. Yet, she sees collaboration as essential, emphasizing that innovations aren’t the result of one person’s work but the shared knowledge across teams at all levels. It’s about building possibilities together. Innovation through necessity According to Jacolien, innovation is born out of necessity. “You have to encounter a problem to innovate,” she says. She believes it’s essential to stay open to new ideas and have the freedom to experiment. “You’re always learning during the process, and those lessons are valuable,” she adds. Her motto? “Dare to think freely and be a bit of a Gyro Gearloose!” With her drive to continuously find better solutions, Jacolien remains a key force behind innovation at KLM Engineering & Maintenance. Are you or do you have an innovative colleague that we really need to interview? Of course, we don't want to miss this story! Contact us at: Innovation-em@klm.com