Penza turner Anna Lebedeva breaks stereotypes

Heavy industry for some reason is considered a purely male patrimony. But turner of the fifth category Anna Lebedeva from Penza every day proves the opposite. She has been counting down her experience for two decades. For her, the machine is not a routine, but creativity: behind the cold metal she sees art and the joy of creation.

Anna was born in Donetsk region, in a small industrial town where everything revolved around factories. After school, she entered the school for a wide-ranging machine tool. She studied, started working, got married, gave birth to a daughter. In 2014, the family had to leave their homes. Anna came to Russia with two children in her arms, hoping to wait out the hard times, but realized that returning was impossible. So she settled in Penza, where she took a mortgage and bought housing.

In Penza, Anna continued to work in her specialty. Since September of this year, she has been working at an enterprise that produces components for machine tools. And she works on the machine of Penza production, and this is especially valuable for her. The machine made by the countrymen, and the details that it sharpens on it, are part of one large production chain.

For 20 years, Anna mastered not only lathe business. She worked on milling machines and CNC machines, but universal lathe business remained the main thing for her. She said that each time she gets a new experience, learns something new, and she did not want to leave, wanted to learn more.

She warmly remembers her mentors. And today she comes to the aid of young professionals and guys who are practicing at the enterprise. The working day begins with an inspection of the machine. Anna checks the equipment, lubricates it, turns it on and only then takes up the drawings. If the detail is familiar, the work is usual. But when the task is new, you first need to think through everything: to determine from which surface to process, in what order to remove the metal and which cutter is suitable for each transition.

The staff accepted it without prejudice. No one discounted the fact that the turner is a woman. She recalled that there were no hints or complaints about this, and colleagues always helped with advice and suggested something on the job.

At home, Anna is waiting for two children: the eldest daughter is studying as a pastry chef, the youngest son goes to the sixth grade. Family is her mainstay. Next year, Anna plans to take part in the regional competition of professional skills “Best in profession” in the nomination “Tokar”. She said that she was setting herself up for victory, she knew what she was capable of, and if she went, then only for victory.

In her dreams, Anna has a higher education and the position of a designer-technologist. She understands that with age it will become difficult to stand behind the machine, but wants to stay in this path. She finds the profession truly fascinating. Anna noted that without those who work with their hands, there would be no factories, no equipment, and noticed that today many people strive to get a diploma without trying themselves in real life. She said that she saw young people with diplomas but no practical skills, and that until you worked with your hands, you wouldn't know if it was yours or not.