I first did a bachelor in industrial engineering, majoring in mechanical engineering. While studying I worked as a student helper in order to get a feel for the practical side of things right from the word go. As my bachelor’s degree was very theoretical, I then decided to go to China for a year to do my master’s. During my time in Beijing I was able to gain plenty of practical and cultural experience.
After finishing my master’s I found out about the KHS trainee program and have worked here since 2014. I’ve now been in Global Engineering and Production since May 2019 where one of my jobs is to look after the production network In my current position I have more to do with internal rather than external clients and try to network the German and non-German sites even better – as regards engineering but also within the production network. My previous insights into the world of KHS on the trainee program were extremely useful here.
Before I went to university I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to do something technical or study medicine. An internship in both fields then prompted me to opt for technology. I’m still very pleased I made this choice. The nature of my degree course made it clear that I’d be no technical specialist; at KHS I instead always work at the interface between Design Engineering, other user departments and our customers. In this capacity you often act as a kind of translator for the technical content, also interpreting different interests and requirements.
You never know what’s going to happen next. We work very independently in Global Engineering and face new issues and challenges every day. A very small part of our work is thus taken up by daily routine. A lot of the queries from our user departments are firsts and one-offs. They’re extremely varied and from one moment to the next can go from process optimization for procurement processes to finding out where an Indian engineer on a training course in Germany can hire a bicycle for the weekend. It’s therefore never boring and this is what I really like.
In my job you often work across the production sites and on an international scale. There are masses of interfaces with other departments in my job; I have to be able to put myself in other people’s shoes while questioning my own actions. Time and again I also realize just how important personal contact still is in our networked world. Besides the personal benefits this brings, knowing one another and thus being able to adapt to one another also optimizes our work results. In order to be able to improve cooperation between a great number of different departments – also internationally – best practices have to be defined together with our colleagues to promote a change for the better among everyone. This is one of the things that makes my job so diverse.
“A lot of small steps have to be taken by the various individuals involved to achieve a successful overall result.”
You’re also involved in major strategic topics. These need a certain amount of time until you start to see any success. You thus definitely have to be patient! You shouldn’t put failures (or successes) down to yourself alone when you’re working on the big picture. A lot of small steps often have to be taken by the various individuals involved to achieve a successful overall result.
I like traveling or visiting friends who live outside Germany. This is a bit less frequent at the moment as I’ve just become a father for the second time. This of course first alters your focus. However, as soon as the chance again arises, I want to carry on exploring the world with my family.
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Dr.-Ing. Tim Steinhauer
Head of Process Engineering and Beverage Technology | Department: Filling Technology Product Center | Bad Kreuznach, Germany
Alexander Witt
Product support engineer and part-time student of electrical engineering | Department: Bottle Washer and Pasteurizer Product Center | Dortmund, Germany
Paul Wundu
Electrical engineer | Department: Development | Kleve, Germany
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“Building up my network and intensifying my cooperation with my colleagues in Sales is very important to me.”
“I want to provide my workforce with an environment in which they can personally develop with confidence and are free to indulge their passion for the job.”
“I’ve learned to master challenging tasks with lots of commitment and to combine my job with a functioning family life.”
“I’m especially moved when local workers on international assignments come and thank me for my support.”
“All in all, my job is a combination of safety shoes and high heels – quite literally!”
“We always try to find the distinctive characteristics of each specific client - this makes KHS unique!”
“I love my work at KHS, the products and the challenges these bring. We’re like a family and I’m very happy about that.”
“The fascinating products and the opportunity to work with colleagues coming from all over the world are the reasons why I chose KHS in the first place.”
“It’s a great feeling to have solved a complex technical problem – every single time.”
“Being able to familiarize myself with production at our international plants proved extremely informative and is still of immeasurable value to me today.”
“Learning a technical occupation at KHS is useful for all those who wish to work on an international level.”
“As an electrical engineer you solve both technical and economic problems. That’s what I love doing!”
