Miia Lämsä's team works to make work easier for others
Miia Lämsä has worked in Olkiluoto in three decades. She set foot inside the plant gates for the first time already in 2009. For Miia, the diversity of job opportunities is what makes Olkiluoto attractive. Her own career path is proof of this.
Miia Lämsä has engaged in further studies while continuing in her day job. In addition to the original Engineer's Degree, she has also completed the Degree of MSc. For both degrees, she carried out her thesis work in Olkiluoto, the first one at TVO and the second at Posiva.
Miia Lämsä first arrived in Satakunta thanks to her cousin. Having grown up in Jalasjärvi in Southern Ostrobothnia, Lämsä intended to head for Turku to study there, but instead, was persuaded by her cousin to start her studies in engineering in Rauma.
Originally, she had planned to study media technology, but the change in plans that brought her to Rauma also changed her major into information technology.
- The vision was that Nokia's mobile phones would be the future, but that was not the case in the end, she remembers.
With the graduation day looming ahead, the question of finding a permanent job arose. Having settled comfortably in Rauma, Miia decided to also look for a job in this area. And it was Olkiluoto that called out to her. After all, there is a chronic need for experts in a nuclear power plant.
Tasked with helping others
First a summer job, then writing a thesis. A story not unfamiliar at TVO. The topic of Lämsä's thesis was the integration of software shared by three Groups of companies.
Later down the road, she has become acquainted with several other subject areas as well. Her actual career started in the Plant Information team and then proceeded via Final Documentation and Spare Parts to her current position working with design tools and systems. This entails supporting others, particularly in the field of design.
- Our task is to help others. In other words, we focus on development work based on the needs and wishes of the different units.
The last change in Lämsä's job description took place a year ago when she started in a managerial role.
- We have a really good, compact team. In addition to five TVO employees, the team also has external members, all of them experts. It has been easy to act as the Team Leader with a bunch of people like them.
No stranger to virtual reality either
The tasks of Miia's team cover a wide area, including e.g., topics related to virtual reality.
- In this field, we already organise various training events where the participants can perform different tasks wearing VR glasses, Lämsä explains and mentions training related to fire extinguishing as an example. A similar training course is under preparation on work in enclosed spaces.
The team has also been kept busy by the production of a digital presentation of the power plant. It will make it possible to acquire information without having to every time physically visit the plant.- You will be able to perform a walkdown at the plant sitting at a computer, Lämsä describes the system.
The third main responsibility area of the team is related to procedures and processes for configuration management.
- For example, we are in charge of operations monitoring and providing support to process teams, she says.
Good riddance to the pandemic
Miia Lämsä is particularly pleased that the pandemic time is over.
- Staring at the walls was not my thing. I really prefer coming to Olkiluoto to meet and see people. In fact, one of the best parts of my current job is that it has interfaces to numerous organisations and I have had the opportunity to meet experts of different fields, Lämsä reflects.
Miia Lämsä received the Engineer's degree already in 2011, but revisited the life of a student later too. She has completed also the Degree of MSc, while continuing in her day job. Information technology remained her chosen major. Miia took her MSc degree at the Pori Unit of the University of Tampere.
- I received my Degree during the pandemic, so a few years ago.
She wrote her thesis in the familiar place also this time, although now at Posiva. The subject area was similar to her first thesis; integration between different applications.
Pesäpallo enthusiast, also interested in orienteering
Miia's favourite leisure activity is pesäpallo – a Finnish form of baseball – and has been for years. Currently she engages in this national game in the local club Rauman Fera. Trekking in the woods is also close to her heart and she is interested in orienteering. Although she would need some peer pressure to do it.
- I wouldn't say no to invitations to go orienteering, Lämsä hints. And as soon as I find the time and the energy, I also have a system camera and a trumpet ready and waiting. Two familiar pastimes from a long time ago, but not something I pursue actively at the moment.
Miia lives in the Onnela area in downtown Rauma. She shares her home with her partner, who also happens to work in Olkiluoto. As does also her cousin. Yes, the one who originally managed to lure Miia to this part of the country.
Text: Ville Kulmala
Photos: Ville Kulmala, TVO and Miia Lämsä´s archive
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