25/04/2014
Interview of the month: Apprenticeship Mechatronics (m/f)
Philipp Schiele offers insights in his apprenticeship in Mechatronics at Voith in Heidenheim.
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- Zur Großansicht
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Zwei Auszubildende der Mechatronik beim Versuchsaufbau.
Why did you decide for an apprenticeship at Voith?
"I have decided for an apprenticeship at Voith, because Voith is a large and well-known employer in the Heidenheim area. After I had applied for an apprenticeship in mechatronics, I was also accepted by a number of other companies. In order to make my decision easier, I talked to several acquaintances and also to my uncle, who has been working for Voith for 40 years. Due to all these conversations I was even more determined to get a high-quality apprenticeship at Voith and thus lay an important foundation for my further career. In addition, I wanted to do my training at a company that pays attention to sustainability. In my opinion this is very important for future generations. Voith met this criterion outright."
Why exactly did you choose to do an apprenticeship for this job?
"I have decided for an apprenticeship in mechatronics, because it is a job that has a future and offers good perspectives. Today there is hardly a system or a plant, where electronics and mechatronics do not work together. Moreover, I wanted to learn a diverse and modern skill, and due to the combination of mechanics and electronic engineering, I am never bored. My training program includes, for example, drilling, turning, milling and pneumatics, but also electric activities, such as automation technology or reading, drawing and installing electric wiring diagrams."
What are the requirements that are expected for this apprenticeship?
"As a budding mechatronics specialist, you need good skills in physics and mathematics, as there is a lot of calculating to do - for example calculations on transmissions, motors and electric lines. Of course you learn how to do this properly, but a basic understanding of natural sciences should be there. One should find it easy to integrate into a group, yet also be able to work independently and without supervision. People who would like to do an apprenticeship in mechatronics should be open to new ideas and enjoy learning, because in a fast-developing area such as electronics, it is essential to continuously expand your knowledge and keep up to date with the latest standards."
How was your start as an apprentice at Voith?
"My apprenticeship began with a startup week in Bad Hindelang, where we spent time in the climbing garden or went on walks. During this week, the new apprentices and the foremen got to know each other really well, which made joining Voith and entering working life so much easier. After this week, we got a practical overview of all apprenticeships offered by Voith. We mechatronics trainees were, for example, sent to the construction mechanics, and learned how to weld and bend sheet metal. The technical product designers then instructed us how to create drawings by hand, and the machining technicians showed us turning and milling machines."
What was your very first task?
"Our first assignment was in the metal workshop. There we started out by receiving theoretical and practical instructions on how to treat metal files, saws and box column drills. We produced a little metal vice, which enabled us to put the acquired knowhow into practice. The next station was the electronics workshop. There we learned other fundamentals, for example the physical quantities: volt-age, resistance and power. On the basis of electronic boards and utilizing our newly acquired knowledge, we were able to create and build different switching systems and carry out a number of tests."
What has been your best and your worst moment as an apprentice?
"It would be impossible to name just one great moment during my apprenticeship; I can think of at least three fantastic moments during my training. My first highlight was to receive the results of my final exam part I (theory) and get marks that were much better than I expected. The second great moment was during the final exams part I (practice). We had to wire up a complete switching cabinet and write an automation program for it. I was really proud when everything worked perfectly during the first function test. Another high point was constructing the stage settings in the Heidenheim open air theatre for the plays "Robin Hood" and "Kohlhiesels Töchter“ together with our art teacher.
As far as the worst moments are concerned, I can think of two events. The first really bad incident in my apprenticeship was when the motor terminal board broke apart when I tried to connect an AC asynchronous motor, because I had turned a bolt too tightly. The second shock was when the screw tap broke while I was cutting a thread for my vice. I had to redo the entire work piece from scratch."
What would you like to do after your apprenticeship?
"I plan to get a qualification as a mechatronics technician. This requires another 1.5 years of practical learning, because a technician needs a total of 5 years vocational experience. The good thing is that the 3.5 years of my apprenticeship are taken into account for this."
Many thanks for the interview!
