Dear BEYSAD Readers;

We keep on knowing about our new members and their young, dynamic and successful executives. We get proud as we read and we are thrilled to see what a valuable family we are as BEYSAD… We know that all together with the esteemed members of this community, we have a bright future… We would like to extend our gratitutude towards Mr. Ozan Koçyiğit for sparing us some of his valuable time…

Could you please introduce yourself?
Hello. I am Ozan Koçyiğit. I was born in Istanbul on 09.02.1987. I am married and have 3-year-old son named Yaman. I studied in Istanbul from primary school to university: I studied Visual Communication Design in English, School of Communication at Istanbul Bilgi University. I worked as a professional handball player in various sports clubs in the upper league for 17 years and I am a national team athlete. I am keen on photography, nature and outdoor activities.

Having completed my university education and military service, I started working full-time for our family company in 2011. Now I am the Global Customer Relations Executive at the company.

Could you please tell us about your company and your operations? 
It is a family company. It entered the industry in 1970 by producing automotive spare parts and got active in several other sectors. In 1977, our company was founded as Gürmetal Kaplama ve İmalat. The company management is now 2nd and 3rd generation family members.

We are active in various fields including primarily the White Goods as well as Automative, Electric & Lightening, Furniture & Decoration. Besides these sectors, we also participated in significant projects in Turkey and overseas. I think that we took part in a morally good duty by cooperating with the Ministry of Health for ventilators as coordinated by the Ministry of Industry and Technology – a recent accomplishment of our country.

When did your path cross with your company’s?
When I was at primary school, my father would take me to work on the weekend. During high school, I would try to learn the business during summer and winter breaks. In Summer 2011, I started working full-time and I am still under the same roof with my family and our employees.

Could you tell us about the organizational structure of your company?
After the 3rd generation family members took over the business, we adopted a corporate structure. We set up our departments, we improved the visual and interior organizational structure of our company. We assembled all our workshops under the same roof and we began an efficient working life as the factory and we are trying to make this transition calendar easier with the support we get from professional advisors.

Could you tell us about your export rates and which country do you export the most?
Export has always been a key agenda topic for us at every meeting. Thanks to countries’ visual and current fashions, the products we produce continue to get attention. The products we send to main industries that produce in Turkey are generally demanded in the global markets. Almost 80% of our products are exported to overseas directly and indirectly. Our direct sales rate is about 30% compared to our own sales. Our major market today is Russia.

What distinguishes you the most from your competitors?
Our vision has always been reliability and honesty. Thanks to our 43-year history, the main industrialists and sub-suppliers we work with, we could always rely on each other. This is the greatest legacy we inherited from our family. Moreover, as we have a history with vast experience, we do not compromise on quality. These main titles are definitely a must for us.

I would like to dwell on one more subject: I am happy to use the words ‘competitior’ and ‘cooperation’ in the same sentence. We always meet with all of the other companies who are operated in the same product groups as we are and I believe we have a good relationship. We should know as a country that solidarity and cooperation are beneficial for all of us. In unity, there is strength.

Could you tell us about your new investments and R&D projects? 
In order to maintain and increase efficiency of our operations, we made investments in and outside Istanbul. When needed, we will make use of these investments.

We are in regular contact with the R&D Department and our projects are current. We began to get support from a university in Istanbul on certain subjects. We are in collaboration with them both on design and production.

What have you been doing during the pandemic, how has 2020 been for you and what are your forecasts for 2021?
The pandemic had a big impact on us during the first quarter. We organized a number of meetings with our employees and set up road maps. Our business was down to 70 per cent. The ventilator project helped us a notch and we could continue working. Since the first wave of the pandemic has passed, our business took a momentum and now continues with the same momentum. My only expectation of 2021 is that the pandemic ends and we do not have any health issues.

What do you think about the Industry 4.0 advancement in Turkey? Do you have any preparatory work or take any measures with regards to it?
We continue searching on the topic. I also closely follow BEYSAD’s and other platforms’ operations. We will definitely have preparations for 4.0. We have to take action because I think that each day we will need it more and more.

What are your thoughts on and expectations of BEYSAD?
I have always been a part of NGOs, business associations and platforms. As I was already familiar with such organizations, it was not hard for me to get accustomed as your new member. I had been following BEYSAD for years and we decided as the management that we should become a member. For me, personally, I like and appreciate your work. I always talk about you fondly on every platform. I hope we will always have each other’s backs. What I expect of BEYSAD is that we pick up the speed after the pandemic is over, to open new horizons, to add value to ourselves, our country and our companies, and to guide us for new potentials. I would like to extend my love and respect for the entire BEYSAD family...