Employee Spotlight: Melvin Tan

Ask Melvin Tan what he does and he’ll give you the official title first: Parts Manager at MHE-Demag Malaysia, overseeing spare parts, service engineers, cranes and hoists.

Look past the job description, though and things get more energetic. On any given evening, Melvin is running, playing futsal, or filming a TikTok dance with his daughter.

Across more than 30 years with the group, he has built a long career on a simple premise: you never really stop learning.

The Projects That Built Him

In the 1990s, Melvin helped commission the gondola systems for landmark developments like KLCC and KL Tower, as well as major hoists and crane projects for Proton and Perodua.

They were massive, high-stakes operations. Beyond the technical knowledge he gained on site, the experience taught him how to rely on a team. He learned to ask questions, solve problems collaboratively and draw on the expertise of colleagues. As Melvin puts it, growing his own skills and helping his team grow were always part of the same process.

Learning That Took Him Places

Early in his career with MHE-Demag Malaysia, assignments took Melvin across Southeast Asia and to Germany for hands-on training. At the time, they were simply new tasks in new places. Looking back, those early trips quietly shaped the entire trajectory of his career.

The Other Side of Melvin

Outside work, Melvin stays in constant motion as a runner, futsal player and content creator. He and his daughter film short videos together for Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. The positive feedback is welcome, but the real draw is much simpler: spending quality time together, having fun and sharing a bit of positive energy.

Why Teamwork Matters

Ask Melvin what he finds most rewarding about working at Jebsen & Jessen and his answer is simple: Teamwork.

“When you have a strong and supportive team, everyone can give their best effort and achieve excellent results together.”

That is Partnership in action for him, helping each other, sharing knowledge and working toward a common goal. It also reflects Commitment: staying willing to learn even after 30 years, because every project can still present something new.

A Few Words for the Next Generation

His advice for newer colleagues is straightforward: stay willing to learn and never be afraid to ask questions. Stay humble. Work hard. Learn from every project and challenge.

He keeps one practical rule in mind when facing tough assignments: “Don’t always tell your boss what problems you are facing in a project. Instead, tell your boss how you solved the problems.”

Passing the Ball

Watching Melvin, it’s hard not to see his career through the lens of his favorite sport: futsal. It is a fast team game where players have to keep the ball moving, stay alert and stay in motion. You make a pass, you adjust and the play goes on. You can't just stand still simply because you've been on the court for 30 years.

After three decades, Melvin is still on the court, still moving, still improving and ready for the next play.

Want to see Melvin outside the crane world? Look for him on TikTok. Got a dance move he hasn't tried yet? Challenge accepted.