Trainee programme: International supply chain
Current position: Production manager
1. What particularly attracted you to start your career at Lorenz Snack-World as a trainee?
A job within the food industry, the wide range of brand-name products, branches in various countries and the flat hierarchies – these were all aspects of the company that I found attractive. In particular, I decided to apply for the trainee programme at Lorenz because the company is active in Eastern Europe and has production facilities there.
Today I’m happy to say this was the right decision. The trainee programme offered me the best chance to get to know as many different aspects of the company as possible, making long-term contacts and gaining valuable experiences.
2. Which areas did you work in during your trainee programme?
I was lucky enough to be assigned to an international trainee programme, allowing me to be placed in the Polish branch of the company. I enjoyed living and working in a foreign country and the challenge of learning a new language.
In Germany, I had placements in two production facilities, getting to know areas such as production itself, plant controlling, production planning and inventory control. I was able to carry out several projects as well. These included using a scorecard to help introduce an ecological-control instrument, a staff planning tool and a project to reduce material usage in the plants. In addition, at the company headquarters in Neu-Isenburg, I had the chance to work in the central planning and export areas.
I think there are great advantages in being able to get to know business areas and departments at different company sites. You can develop a broader view and see how things are connected from various perspectives. And this aspect is promoted very actively at Lorenz.
In Poland, I worked at several sites, taking on tasks in areas such as production planning and coordinating projects to ensure continual improvement of the business there.
All in all, I would encourage anyone to apply for this programme. For me, it was a genuinely positive time, shaping my future career path and providing me with benefits that will be useful for years to come, especially with regard to the international cooperation.
The 18-month trainee programme gave me the chance to work in interesting situations and locations, show my own initiative and contribute my ideas. It was a valuable experience that should benefit both me personally and the company!
3. What impressed you the most during your time as a trainee?
I learned so much and such a variety of things. Of course, you have to be open for that! The thing that most impressed me was something that I expected to find in a family-run enterprise: an open and friendly way of dealing with each other that allows employees to act on their own initiatives, especially when combined with easily accessible managers and a high level of trust.
4. What position did you take on after finishing the trainee programme and what are your current tasks and responsibilities?
After completing my trainee programme, I worked at a German plant as a junior production manager. During this time, I was entrusted with the provisional management of a production hall.
At the beginning of this year, I was appointed as production manager of the Lorenz Snack-World production facility in northern Germany. My tasks include HR for the employees in the areas of production, production technology, optimisation and plant technology. In addition, I am responsible for ensuring delivery reliability and quality, as well as process and quality optimisation. My daily work also includes technological issues, such as processing existing raw materials or helping to develop product innovations. In addition to my function as production manager, I have also been appointed to oversee our group-wide optimisation system at this site. Last but not least, I also want to mention that the end of the trainee programme did not mean the end of learning. Training and developing expertise in cross-departmental issues is an ongoing process. For example, this year I joined a long-term, company-wide project based in the marketing department.
5. Looking back, what made the Lorenz Snack-World trainee programme so special?
Joining Lorenz Snack-World as a trainee made it possible to see the company from a variety of different perspectives: you don’t get a chance quite like this ever again. This has great advantages for everyone, whether they already know which business area they want to work in or not. The option of the international programme is another special aspect for those who want it!
And finally, it was simply great to feel how welcome I was in the company and what roles I could assume. As a trainee, I had the chance to learn in many different business areas. But I was also treated as an equal in many regards, my opinions were valued and requested, and I was encouraged to act independently. However, there was one thing I didn’t have to learn: how to make coffee!
