Whether inspecting furniture factories in China or supervising office fit-outs, attention to quality is vital, says MCV Asia senior project manager Mary Chow
THE FIRST THING I DO WHEN I arrive at the office each morning is check my e-mail and see what needs to be done immediately. I have a number of projects going on at any point in time, so there is always something that needs attention. It could be a client's inquiry or a furniture delivery that has to be met - our furniture comes from Europe, North America and the mainland.
There could be e-mail asking for quotations and dealing with these could take a while. I also have to attend meetings. These vary in nature, depending on whom they are with and what the project is about.
One of our biggest clients is Britain's Barclays Bank. We deal with their office requirements throughout the region. From time to time, Barclays has to relocate offices, which involves making changes to workstations. Although most of the projects are based in Hong Kong, some require travelling to Korea, Thailand or other parts of Asia.
Our clients frequently contact us because they want extra workstations or pieces of furniture.
On any given day, I will be chasing new sales and clients. Our furniture is increasingly being manufactured on the mainland, so I spend about a week there every month, visiting the workshops and factories.
Ten years ago, I was working as a school secretary. A friend's wife got a job with a furniture manufacturer and needed an assistant - that is how I got into this business. I gained experience over time and joined MCV Asia as a project manager when the company started about eight years ago. Now I am a customer services manager.
