16/10/2014
Interview of the month: Supplier Quality Engineer and Project Manager, Voith Turbo
Roland Hopf is Supplier Quality Engineer and Project Manager at Voith Turbo in Garching. In today's interview he talks about his entry and his experiences at Voith.
Why have you decided in favor of Voith as your employer?
After my high school graduation I wanted to sign up for a dual study course in Industrial Engineering or Mechanical Engineering. Voith fascinated me because of its interesting products and its highly diverse global orientation; the comprehensive portfolio was a major decision criterion for me. I found Voith Garching interesting because one is constantly surrounded by the products. It is always a good feeling to come across the products made in Garching in daily life. To me it is a mixture of pride and connectedness.
What are your main duties and activities in everyday working life?
My current responsibilities can be divided into two key areas. On the one hand I am involved in several projects regarding supplier development. This includes relocations, restarts, as well as looking after suppliers in Europe. On the other hand I have been managing the relocation of a production line for transmission housings. This was an exciting and challenging project with an interdisciplinary project team.
What do you find particularly fascinating about your job?
I am particularly fascinated by the value creation that takes place in our plant.
During my practical training phases I had the opportunity to get to know different departments and areas of responsibility. This overview and the personal contacts in the various departments are a great advantage today. Any improvements along the process chain can now be comprehensively communicated and implemented. I am equally fascinated by the contacts to suppliers and customers from all over the world. To be able to carry out these activities at the location Munich is very fulfilling for me.
Which abilities and personal interests should one have for this job?
I really believe that the first priority is a pronounced interest in technology. Secondly it is definitely helpful to work methodically and in a structured manner. In order to quickly adapt to the different tasks one needs to be flexible, and in order to work smoothly with the different departments and business partners (suppliers and also customers) good communication skills as well as establishing connections and acquiring cultural abilities are highly useful. Or at least a certain openness towards other cultures and social habits.
How do you see the solidarity among colleagues and the working atmosphere at Voith?
To me, solidarity among colleagues is initially a question of the leadership culture and the cooperation when it comes to handling joint duties and projects. In this respect I had already gained a very positive impression during my job interview. I was initially interviewed by two ladies from the HR department and later the Manager of the Assembly Division joined us. Our conversation was friendly and fair throughout. After a works tour held by a young lady engineer and the feedback talk my mind was made up.
I felt at home at Voith right from the start and this feeling has never stopped. It's a bit difficult for me to draw comparisons, because I started at Voith straight after my high school graduation, but I think that the working climate is positive and that the often long-term affinity of older colleagues to Voith proves that Voith is a fulfilling employer.
What did you do prior to your current job?
My entry at Voith took place via my dual study course. During this time I went through many of the departments in Garching (assembly, repairs/remanufacturing, purchasing and logistics) until I completed my Bachelor dissertation in the Process Planning Department and really started working life. Voith and the DHBW (Württemberg Cooperative State University) also made it possible for me to spend my fifth semester in Waterloo, Ontario (Canada). These four months are definitely among the most eventful and best experiences in my life.
What would you recommend to first jobbers?
I would recommend first jobbers to ask themselves what they would really like to do. In my opinion, reflecting on one's own wishes and goals and getting a concrete idea of what one's career should look like and which development it should take, is a vital step towards a fulfilling working life. This is what determines whether one has a proper job or just a source of income. If one approaches the upcoming challenges with passion and commitment, one can develop significantly more courage and staying power and pursue one's goals consistently. One must see a purpose in one's work and learn how to be successful in a team. At least this is the experience I have gained over the last five years.
Which plans do you have for your further professional future?
At the moment I am very satisfied with my responsibilities and projects. I my role as Project Manager I am currently in the process completion phase and work on the "Lessons Learned" list. This means I will have reached a huge milestone in the next few weeks. My next major goal is the completion of an MBA program alongside my work. I am currently applying for a study place. In the medium term I would like to be sent on a temporary assignment at a different Voith location. I regard getting to know other cultures, expanding my own horizon and applying what I have learned so far to new tasks as a huge opportunity for the future.
Many thanks for the interview!
