Manufacturing a Career: Jo’s rise at APL Manufacturing
When former Cambridge High student Jo Tuwhangai joined APL Manufacturing three years ago she was simply looking for a job and a steady income. Fast forward to today, she’s leading a team of six in the powder coating department… a role she never imagined herself in.
With no formal qualifications and starting out on the shop floor, Jo’s story is a powerful example of how hands-on learning, support, and a willingness to grow can lead to real career progression.
APL Manufacturing, one of New Zealand’s largest window and door manufacturers, is known for its innovation, scale, and commitment to developing its people. Jo’s journey reflects the company’s culture of recognising potential and encouraging growth from within – proving that with the right mindset and support, you can go far.
What is Powder Coating?
Powder coating is a durable finishing process used to protect and colour metal surfaces — like aluminium window and door frames. Instead of using liquid paint, a dry powder is electrostatically applied and then cured under heat, creating a tough, smooth, and long-lasting finish. It’s widely used in manufacturing for its resistance to chipping, scratching, and fading. At APL, powder coating plays a key role in ensuring products not only look great but also stand up to New Zealand’s diverse weather conditions.
Team FutureForce® popped in to see Jo at work to find out more…
Jo Tuwhangai
Powder Coat Team Leader
Jo’s Career Advice
“Speak up and ask for help. Mistakes happen and they can be fixed, so don’t stress. If you ask the questions to begin with, you avoid making mistakes.”
A chat with Jo about her role
What does your job involve?
As Powder Coat Team Leader, my role is to make sure orders are completed on time. I manage a team of six to stay on track and make sure everyone is doing things correctly. Ideally, I am working to avoid mistakes, but if they do happen I work with my team to fix these.
How did you get into this role?
I started out working as a process worker in dispatch. One day my manager at the time came up to me to say they were hiring for a new team leader and asked if I would be interested.
Have you done any prior study?
I have not done any study or gained any qualifications. I started out on the shop floor at APL and learned everything on the job.
Are there any technical skills you have learnt on the job?
Starting out on the floor not knowing anything meant I had to pick everything up as I went along. Learning all the different parts, how they go together, the different machines we use, and how these operate are all things I have learnt on the job.
What kinds of interpersonal skills have you learnt here?
Time management has been a big one for me, especially now I am a team leader. The machines we use run on set times, so understanding the schedule becomes important. The other skill I have learnt is communication within teams, learning to take charge and how to guide team members.
What about this role interested you?
My siblings worked at APL in the past. I was looking for a job and APL was hiring. It was a case of my family connection allowing me to hear about this role.
What do you love about your role?
I love that I have been able to learn something different and step out of dispatch into a role that challenges me. Getting to see and learn different aspects of APL as a business has been great.
Jo Tuwhangai
Former Cambridge High
School Student
Jo’s Top Tips
What kind of person suits a role as team leader?
A person who is suitable for this role would be someone who feels like they have more to give and are ready to grow. If you are looking to upskill and expand your experience, there is so much potential for growth.
What advice would you give someone?
Often people can view a job on the shop floor as “just another job”, but there is so much going on. You get to work within a team, grow your career, and progress into roles with more responsibility. Don’t limit yourself and just take on those opportunities that present themselves.
What advice would you give yourself in high school?
I would tell my high school self not to stress so much about everything. Everything has worked itself out so far and will continue to do so.
What is your approach to work-life balance?
I have a 5-year-old, so often work-life balance is hard to achieve. I struggle to leave the workday behind when I head home. Thankfully, my son is incredibly patient with me.
My advice would be: reach out to someone if you need support. The team at APL is always willing to work with you to overcome your issues and create a plan. They won’t know if you don’t talk about it though, so you have to speak up.
About APL?
APL is a proudly Kiwi-owned company that designs and manufactures window and door systems for homes and buildings across Aotearoa. With over 600 staff in the wider Profile Group, APL offers a huge range of roles — from hands-on factory work to business and design.
Jo’s journey from dispatch to team leader shows how APL supports real growth. Whether you’re starting out or stepping up, there’s room to learn, lead, and build a career.
What about APL makes it a great place to work?
I love that APL is such a large-scale business with a diverse range of work. APL makes so many different things and I like how there is a constant aim to improve our processes and products. There is so much potential within the business and they encourage career progression.
What steps can you take from here?
I would love to move further up to a position with more responsibility. There are so many layers to progress within APL — sometimes they will even work to find the best fit for you.
Learn more about Business Careers with APL
Grab a Snapshot of Jo’s Career Profile
