Lifting standards of local talent in Costa Rica

Every year, around 50 employees, including contractors, graduate in the fundamentals of Lean training at APM Terminals Moín, Costa Rica. Their certifications and dedication mark them out as having improved their career prospects, while contributing to the terminal and the country.

Carlos Hernández Moraga, better known as Calin, is a dedicated gantry crane operator (STS) who joined the Moín team ten years ago after a friend recommended the terminal as a great place to work. Initially, he applied to be a truck driver, but soon he’d set his sights higher.

Levelling up

“Working at the terminal, I became more and more intrigued by cranes. So I sought out training opportunities and learned the Lean methodology of continuous improvement,” he said.

Not only did his curiosity and hard work lead him to excel in his chosen discipline, but he’s an in-demand trainer, a role that has taken him to São Paulo, Brazil; Callao, Peru; and the Suez Canal Container Terminal in Egypt.

Two on, one off

Currently ‘at home’ Limón, his typical work day consists of operating a crane for two hours at a time, and then resting for one hour, with the goal of moving 30 containers per hour for maximum efficiency.

“What motivates me is seeing the potential of my community. I’ve learned to seize opportunities,” he says. His four-year-old son, who dreams of operating cranes like his father, is a constant source of inspiration for him.

As he says: “I am happy and proud to do the job I do. If you bring the confidence in your own abilities and remain open to the opportunities, there are no limitations in a company like this.”

Watch more of Calin's story (in Spanish) here: