"Drums made of steel having tongues? Sounded too strange." Interview with RAV LAbs production team

Vasiliy Averchenko, the senior grinder

Responsibilities:

I am responsible for the control of the grinders’ work in order to get the best appearance of the drum, keep notice of material consumption on site, teach the newbies and, when needed, help at other production areas.

Difficulties:

The most difficult part of my work is to promptly define a defect’s reason, if it occurs, and eliminate it.

How I got to RAV Labs:

After I was cut in a big defense enterprise, I had to quickly find a job, because my wife was about to give birth. I created my CV and started having interviews. I went through a lot of crap places but didn’t lose faith. One day I was called and offered a grinder vacancy at a company that produces steel drums. I’ve never heard of them before and refused the offer. I thought – What? Drums made of steel having tongues? Sounded too strange to me, taking into account that before I manufactured launch tubes for rocket launcher Smerch. So they called me back several times and I finally agreed to come and see their production site. I had to hurry with finding a job because by then my little man Makar was born.

That is how I became a part of the RAV Team and have never regretted my decision. At first the process of production seemed very difficult. In addition, my mentor was not a very simple man to deal with. His name was Uncle Eugene and he was not going to be distracted from work by teaching me. That is why I had to catch on really quickly, which I actually managed to do. I remember Uncle Eugene saying – why do you make it so good and beautiful, now they’ll ask us to do better as well. But his words didn’t stop me and I kept succeeding. RAV Labs made me the professional I am today.

Three years have passed and I wake up each morning as bright as a button and ready to work! I am delighted with my job, the team is great, supportive and helpful – the atmosphere is amazing. In my experience this is the only company that worries not only about the quality of the products but about the working conditions of the employees and their emotional state.

I remember an amusing incident when at press (the first step of drum creation) the steel was curved inside out. The twisted drum went through all the production steps. In the end we gathered all together and tried to figure out what is wrong with the drum and why it looks so strange.

Dmitriy Makarov, the senior inspector

Responsibilities:

As a senior inspector I control the appearance of musical instruments as well as the quality of their scale tuning. I interact with the senior tuner and the tuners from the 3rd area of production. I keep record of remarks and control all experimental processes.

Difficulties:

It’s hard to leave my job on time because I get so involved that I do not pay attention to the clock.

How I got to RAV Labs:

I saw an ad at some portal that a tuner for musical instruments is needed. I wrote them without hesitation, had an interview and here I am, for 2,5 years already. I worked as a tuner for 11 months until my superior offered me to transfer to the Technical Inspection Department. I agreed and in January,2021 was promoted to the position of senior inspector. I am very proud of what I do.

I like that our company is the only one in the world. Among other advantages – the relationship between the employer and employees, the team is very warm and friendly, everything is done with kindness. And of course I like my salary.

In Russia they very often turn off hot water. One spring, when it happened, Alex Leschuk without any hesitation went to wash himself in the river. Well that was a show!

Oleg Simanov, the senior tuner

Responsibilities:

My main job is to correctly set the note progression and purify the sound. Apart from that, I mentor the new guys and teach them the peculiarities of the process, explaining how to keep it on the highest level. I am always interested in development so I offer my ideas upon the new and better sound.

Difficulties:

The most challenging is to tune the In Sen drum scale, to add some airy feeling to the sound.

How I got to RAV Labs:

I got acquainted with RAV Labs three years ago. I was searching for a job that I could be fond of. On my first day I remember that I was always forgetting where my office is. What else? Oh, I always mixed the sides of the steel tongues – where is the 3rd and the 4th note – I have no idea!!! During my first few days I guess I tortured everyone with the amount of questions – How to? What is better? What if?, and so on. I am so thankful to all my colleagues for being so patient and responsive. Sometimes I was so in the process that I forgot about my lunch and remembered about it only when it was time to go home. On the third day I tuned a drum all by myself, it was a D maj scale. It was accepted in the Technical Inspection Department without any remarks and I was so happy! In two months my speed of work was equal to other tuners.

In half a year, I was offered to try to learn the first step of tuning (the pre-tuning stage) and I agreed. Worked in my days-off or after my main job was done. It took me one month to master it and I tried all the scales. After that I stopped doing that and fully concentrated on my main responsibilities. In a month all the pre-tuning workers got ill. So I had to work there alone for 2-3 weeks. Later I was offered to become a senior tuner on the pre-tuning stage. Day by day I made the sound of the scales better, and found time to teach freshmen. In a year I became a senior tuner on the third stage of tuning.

I like the concept of our company, the superiors, who are always ready to listen and help with anything, corporate leisure time and sports competitions. I also like the location of our manufacture. I guess I found the job that is not just interesting, but close to my heart.

Andrey Eraphonov, the head of the warehouse

Responsibilities:

Accepting/receiving all the instruments from the production site to the warehouse, material liability, inventory of the finished products, engraving and matting of the brass lock, making up, packing and sending the products to the customers.

Difficulties:

The hardest part is when I have to gather and pack 100 drums in 1 day.

How I got to RAV Labs:

For me, choosing RAV company was as strange as the company itself. Well, it seemed like that back then. Here I started from zero. At first I was entrusted to pack the instruments. With time I was promoted to the head of the warehouse that keeps all the finished RAV products. In my job I am very proud of the fact that I am a part of a big history of RAV creation, production and realization. It is very inspirational and motivational to know that the drum, that goes to a person who lives in a different part of the world, went through my hands.

Alexander Nikolaev, tuner

Responsibility:

I proceed with the final tuning of the instrument.

Difficulties:

I find it most difficult to control the whole picture of notes while tuning – to control their rise and fall.

How I got to RAV Labs:

I was a bartender for 10 years. I made a decision to change my lifestyle 180 degrees, found a vacancy offer on the internet and clicked on it. Got invited to the interview, went there with just one thing on my mind – to get new experience as there is no limit to that. Having a good musical ear was beneficial and I caught up very quickly. The process still keeps me interested. What I like most is to overcome challenges while tuning, actually difficult scales are my favorite. Our team is the best, you won't find a similar one in the whole world!

Timur Kopylov, the senior technologist

Responsibilities:

I ensure the introduction of advanced technologies, control constant improvement of production site arrangement, follow prime cost decrease, optimize technological process through eliminating of bottlenecks in production without grand spending. I also hold events and experiments aimed at our products’ quality improvement.

Difficulties:

In my job the most difficult turns out to be the most absorbing – to create most of the things from zero, because the production of a musical instrument is a unique process.

How I got to RAV Labs:

I started working in RAV company two years ago, they called me and invited me for an interview. They said that the instruments they produce are unique and have no analogues in the world, adding that a lot of Russian and world famous musicians have it. Back then I thought it was a joke – where is Perm and where are these musicians. They probably don’t even know about the existence of such a city. But after I saw the production site and having learnt about the process I was hooked. Manufacturing gives an exceptional opportunity to broaden your intellectual horizons and to enrich your skillset.