Consistency and Adaptability in the Professional World

The career journey of Dodiet Hendro Setiawan is one example of professional growth built through consistency, experience, and adaptability. The alumnus of the Chemistry Department of Universitas Airlangga, class of 1991 from Malang, now holds several strategic positions at PT Ajinomoto Indonesia.

Currently, Dodiet serves as Director, Deputy Factory Manager of the Mojokerto Factory, as well as General Manager of the Food Product Division. These positions place him among the key decision-makers in the national food industry.

Behind these achievements, Dodiet admitted that his academic and professional journey did not always run smoothly. During high school, his chemistry grades were not particularly outstanding. However, this condition instead sparked his curiosity and encouraged him to choose the Chemistry Department when taking the UMPTN entrance examination.

He chose the field not because he considered himself the best, but because he wanted to prove his abilities through a continuous learning process.

Career Journey at PT Ajinomoto Indonesia

During his time at UNAIR, Dodiet felt that the campus environment provided broader provisions beyond academic grades alone. According to him, his college experiences shaped his mindset, analytical abilities, and systematic approach to solving problems.

Dodiet completed his studies in April 1996. Six months after graduation, he began his career at PT Ajinomoto Indonesia in Mojokerto in the Flexible Packaging Department.

From this initial position, he began to understand the rhythm of the manufacturing industry, operational discipline, and production processes within a factory environment. These early career experiences became an important foundation for understanding the food industry system as a whole.

After around two years of working, Dodiet was promoted to Section Manager. His career continued to grow along with the increasing responsibilities entrusted to him by the company.

He later carried out dual roles in the Commercial Plant Research and Development (R&D) section while continuing to handle Flexible Packaging. This experience broadened his understanding not only of production processes, but also of research-based innovation development.

Holding Strategic Positions in the Food Industry

In 2010, Dodiet was entrusted with the position of Department Manager. In this role, his responsibilities included team management, supervision of work processes, and strategic decision-making within the company.

Four years later, he moved to the Production Planning & Control (PPC) division. This transfer strengthened his abilities in operational efficiency and production planning.

His career journey continued to develop in 2019 when he was assigned to the Jakarta head office as Department Manager of Strategic Sourcing & Procurement. This position required skills in managing supply chains, procurement strategies, and the company’s external relations.

Another important milestone came in 2022 when Dodiet was appointed General Manager of the Production Plan & Inventory Control Division in Mojokerto. In this position, he led three departments simultaneously: PPC, Warehouses, and Export-Import.

Entering 2025, his career reached an even higher stage when he was entrusted as General Manager of the Food Product Division. He became responsible for managing several popular Ajinomoto products, such as Masako, Sajiku, and Mayumi.

In addition, the company also entrusted him with the positions of Director and Deputy Factory Manager at the Mojokerto factory.

The Role of Chemistry and Organizational Experience

For Dodiet, chemistry remains highly relevant in the food industry, particularly in understanding production processes such as monosodium glutamate (MSG). Knowledge of Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Chemical Analysis is still considered an important foundation in his work.

He cited acid-base titration concepts as one example of scientific fundamentals that are not only understood theoretically, but also through understanding the processes and scientific logic behind them.

According to him, the analytical mindset formed during his studies became the main provision in facing the continuously evolving challenges of the professional world.

In addition to academic experiences, organizational activities during college also influenced his professional journey. Dodiet was active in the UNAIR Chemistry Student Association and once served as the organization’s chairman.

He was also involved in the FMIPA Student Senate, Islamic Spiritual Activity Unit (UKKI), and the Reasoning Student Activity Unit. These organizational experiences helped shape his communication skills, leadership, and teamwork abilities, which are now essential in his strategic roles within the company.