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When Roger Hernar started in Westcon Yards last February, he stepped right into a busy and demanding everyday life. One year later, he has been given a new role as Fabrication Manager; with responsibilities ranging from safety and planning to people, customers and large industrial deliveries. In the midst of fast-paced and complex projects, it is nevertheless the interaction within the team that stands at the top.
Total responsibility for fabrication
As Fabrication Manager, Roger has overall responsibility for the fabrication activities at Westcon Yards, in close interaction with the shipyards in Ølensvåg and Florø.
“The role is about having control over safety, planning and coordination of the fabrication, while ensuring good flow between departments. In addition, customer follow-up, the development of new customer relationships and the overall responsibility for quotation work lies within the field of fabrication, he explains.
Leadership is also about building people
An important part of the role is developing people. Both new and experienced. Roger is clear about how important this is to success over time.
“In order for trainees and new employees to thrive and succeed, they need to feel welcome and seen. When I myself started in Westcon, I experienced just that, and it gave me extra motivation. As leaders, we have a responsibility to root for people and see them as upcoming resources for the enterprise.
The trainee program is highlighted as an important tool for both recruitment and skill building.
Deliveries at high pace
Over the past year, Roger has also had a central role in several Aker projects, where he served as project manager. The work included, among other things, three hatch projects, as well as the delivery of 48 platforms for the Valhall PWP platform, including as many as 2400 supporters.
“2025 was a very hectic period, with weekly deliveries and a significant delivery pressure in the fabrication. Nevertheless, we delivered on both quality and momentum, thanks to a formidable effort from all departments involved.
He highlights collaboration across as crucial to success.
This was not a one-man project. It was teamwork and it shows what we get at when the whole organisation is heading in the same direction.
Interaction across academic environments
Roger describes himself as a leader who seeks dialogue and cooperation.
I spend a lot of time in production and talking to people. Good dialogue strengthens both collaboration and results, and I find that we have a very good interaction across subjects and departments in Westcon Yards.
Motivation in quality and community
What motivates him the most in everyday life is the combination of people, production and project.
“To deliver together as a team, with pride in the profession and the quality we stand for at Westcon Yards, is what drives me. And then it doesn't hurt with a little smile lurking along the way.
In the future, cooperation and stability will be the focus.
“I am looking forward to further developing cooperation across the yards, and to ensuring stable staffing within fabrication in both Ølensvåg and Florø. The fact that we are now also seeing new partners and customers coming in, contributing to more predictable order flow, is very positive.
