Everyday professional: Ilona Gombai

Ilona Gombai: "I put my heart into what I'm doing"

04.07.2024 — Ilona Gombai has been responsible for quality management at our Hungarian subsidiary for almost three decades.

Modern quality management is essential in today's service business. For many years, Ilona Gombai has played a leading role in the development of this important area of responsibility for Dussmann Hungary. Today she is regarded as a professional and human authority, not only in the QHSE (Quality Health Safety Environment) department.

Ilona Gombai started her career with Dussmann in Hungary in 1997 as Office Manager. Shortly afterwards, due to her technical and German language skills, she was entrusted with the introduction of the ISO 9001 quality management system. At that time this was a novelty for the Hungarian company.

Her tasks are varied. The biggest challenge, she says, is to communicate the requirements of ISO standards in such a way that employees do not see it as an additional burden, but rather as a benefit. "Good organization and cooperation are the keys to long-term success in QHSE work.”

With a twinkle in her eye, Ilona Gombai sees her area of responsibility for quality management almost as her own child since she has been heavily involved in setting it up from the very beginning. You can tell how much the quality manager loves her job: "I can't help but put my heart and soul into it."

Ms. Gombai cites the right mindset as a prerequisite for a successful career in quality management: "Openness to change and process-oriented thinking are as important as precision and perseverance!"
In her free time, the native of Budapest relaxes by traveling and hiking. Being active in nature is an important counterbalance to working in the office. Her family is very important to her, as they support her in her responsible position.

Sustainability is also on Ms. Gombai's mind: "The future of our children on this planet depends on our daily choices." But she remains optimistic that we can succeed.