For the first quarter of 2026 of the “A Day in the Life of” campaign, we had the pleasure of interviewing Hanna Dobbek, Procurement and Logistics Manager for the Asteelflash plant in Bedford, United Kingdom.
Hanna Dobbek moved to the United Kingdom from Poland with her family in 2007, never imagining they’d put down roots and stay for nearly two decades. She’s a proud mum to a daughter who has recently graduated from university and started her first full-time job. Hanna’s husband, Andy, works at Asteelflash as a Project Manufacturing Engineer, and they’ve been happily together for 21 years. As a family, they love spending free time actively—hiking, camping, and uncovering hidden corners of the UK, especially its castles. Being in nature brings them peace and balance, offering a much-needed reset from everyday life. Personally, Hanna finds joy in reading, escaping into fantasy films, and getting hooked on a gripping British crime drama. She is also passionate about giving back, regularly taking part in charity events and fundraisers. Over the years, she challenged herself physically and mentally, running a half-marathon, completing the Endure 24 challenge and trekking 24 miles for the East Anglian Air Ambulance twice, among other events.
Hanna’s job title is a Procurement and Logistics Manager, and she has worked in the EMS industry for 18 years, starting in 2007 with MRP Electronics, just a year before it was acquired by Asteelflash.
Over the past 18 years, Hanna has been promoted several times, beginning her career as a Materials Administrator, then progressing to Expeditor, and later spent a few years as a Buyer. She was subsequently offered the role of Purchasing Team Leader, and since 2015, she has held the dual role of Procurement and Logistics Manager.
As a part of managerial duties, Hanna oversees three core areas: Procurement, Buying, and Planning, leading a team of six experienced professionals whose expertise has been cultivated over many years. This team has been carefully built and functions seamlessly, with most members having long-standing experience at Asteelflash, contributing deep operational knowledge and insight.
She manages global, regional, and internal KPI reports across key operational areas of Procurement and Logistics, including inventory management—covering stock control, shortage mitigation, and excess/obsolete stock analysis. It also involves overseeing annual bidding processes, cost reviews and feedback, and budget preparation. Hanna also handles logistics functions such as buying, supplier communications, import/export coordination and warehouse support.
Hanna’s typical day involves participating in various communication meetings and updating and analysing reports on material availability and shortages across key production areas such as SMT, PTH, and Box Build. She stays closely connected with her team to address urgent activities, ensuring that production is fully supported with the required materials while maintaining ongoing communication with Program Management to provide material status updates for multiple customers and ensure that any changes to sales orders are implemented accurately. "Throughout the day, I review and validate new customer orders to confirm material availability and production capacity. Supplier meetings are also a regular part of my schedule, supporting proactive planning, term negotiations, and issue resolution," the Procurement and Logistics Manager says.
Hanna is privileged to work with an incredible team of individuals who have also become close friends. The team is made up of experienced professionals who consistently support one another and help her navigate even the most challenging situations.
Leading the team and ensuring they feel fulfilled and valued in their roles is the most rewarding part of Hanna’s job. She does her best to create a supportive environment where each team member can grow professionally, contribute meaningfully and feel genuinely appreciated. Seeing their development and success is very satisfying.
One of the biggest challenges in the role is managing tight lead times and frequent changes to customer delivery schedules. These shifts place significant pressure on both production and supply chain planning. However, finding solutions and successfully delivering under such demanding conditions is also one of the most rewarding aspects of Hanna’s job. It’s incredibly satisfying to turn what initially seems like an impossible task into a shared success for the entire team.
Other significant challenges they face involve geopolitical disruptions, natural disasters and recurring electronic component allocation periods. These events consistently affect the supply chain and complicate the work. Team strives to be proactive wherever possible, doing their utmost to secure stock and maintain uninterrupted production despite these obstacles. So far, they’ve always managed to overcome these challenges successfully.
A defining moment in Hanna's career was early in the role as Purchasing Team Leader, when she successfully negotiated improved terms with a supplier- terms that were later adopted across the entire Asteelflash group. This achievement gave her a significant confidence boost and reinforced her belief that, with the right approach, the possibilities are limitless.