Sri Kuswati, Procurement Manager at Tenaris, shares her journey from her early days as a material coordinator to leading procurement operations across four facilities in Indonesia and Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.
Sri joined Shawcor in 2011, before the company became part of Tenaris. She was tasked with ensuring the timely supply of coating materials. Her career progressed steadily: in 2014, she was promoted to Purchasing Coordinator, expanding her responsibilities. She later advanced to Procurement and Warehouse Manager in 2017 and took on leadership of the logistics team in 2019. In 2024, she transitioned fully into her current role as procurement manager, with an expanded regional scope. Today, Sri oversees procurement at TenarisSPIJ facility in Cilegon, Tenaris threading facility in Batam, and TenarisShawcor coating facilities in Batam and Ras Al Khaimah.
Sri with Exiros team in TenarisShawcor Batam. Tenaris
Working in a round-the-clock production environment presents constant challenges, especially when material usage spikes and deliveries are delayed. “Material consumption can be unpredictable, so we must always be ready to meet production needs,” she explains.
After Tenaris acquired Shawcor in late 2023, Sri and her team adapted to the company’s processes and systems. She supported the transition by encouraging attention to detail and proactive knowledge sharing, both internally and with suppliers. She also guided end users who were new to procurement workflows. “Now, we’re at the stage of enjoying the process. Every case brings new insights, and we’re embracing the journey,” she says with a smile.
“Every day feels like a Monday,” she jokes. “I monitor operations at each site, connect with employees across all four locations, and step in whenever issues arise. If any facility encounters a problem, they reach out to me. Thankfully, every team is incredibly supportive and always willing to share information.”
Sri emphasizes the importance of teamwork and communication. “Never work in isolation,” she notes. “Treat your colleagues like internal customers. Information sharing is essential; we solve problems more effectively when we collaborate and learn from one another.”
Sri with Exiros team in TenarisSPIJ Cilegon. Tenaris
She believes consistent performance and a proactive mindset naturally lead to growth. “Work to your full potential, keep developing your skills, and opportunities will follow. When we give our best, success comes naturally,” she says.
Despite her demanding schedule, Sri views her role as a valuable learning opportunity. She spent her first two months immersing herself in each facility’s culture, production systems, and purchasing history before addressing specific challenges.
Reflecting on her career, Sri shares that she used to be entirely focused on work. Over time, however, she came to appreciate the importance of maintaining balance. “I’ve learned that everything needs balance. Now, I make it a priority to recharge on weekends,” she says. To unwind, she enjoys trekking to relieve stress, playing badminton for both fitness and networking, and gardening to reconnect with nature.
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Sri with fellow badminton players. Tenaris