by Sebastian Gierhan
Coordinating new build projects, taking into account industry standards, customer requirements and economic aspects – these are the tasks that keep me busy every day as part of the Newbuild Projects Coordination team at VTG.
To deepen my understanding of the various trades at VTG and to understand how my colleagues in the workshops deal with challenges in the area of wagon repairs and conversions, I decided to swap my workplace in Hamburg for the workshop in Wesseling for a week as part of the “Practical Training at the Waggonwerk Brühl” offered by the VTG Academy.
Live in the thick
In addition to my goal of learning a lot of relevant information for my work in the area of VTG Operations, I was also motivated to gain deeper insights into the increasing interconnection between new wagon construction and the existing fleet – particularly in the context of the current adjustments to our organization – and to refresh my practical knowledge in the area of maintenance and repair.
It was particularly important to me to be there “live” and to look beyond my own (professional) horizons, for example by actively experiencing the entire revision and repair process from car arrival to departure.
#AcademyFacts:
The VTG Academy is the central place for learning, training and the exchange of knowledge!
Do you want to follow in Sebastian’s footsteps and acquire new knowledge and qualifications that will help you get ahead at VTG?
You can find the full range of training courses in the VTG Academy’s Learning module.
Particularly exciting: participating in a brake test and in welding work (passively), since the assessment of weld seams in the acceptance of newly built wagons is also of great importance and is often difficult for laymen to understand.
Lots of new and impressive things
My working day in the workshop always started shortly before seven o’clock – I admit that this new rhythm was not easy for me at the beginning. Also unusual for me as an office worker: the physical demands of the job in a workshop, the environmental conditions and working while standing.
It is truly impressive to see the high level of physical commitment that the welding specialists demonstrate on a daily basis! And that’s not all: our colleagues have also completed a demanding theoretical and practical training program, which requires continuous maintenance.
Not only did I get a comprehensive insight into the Waggonwerk as a whole, but I was also able to work directly on the project, enabling me to take a lot of new practical knowledge back to Hamburg, for example in the areas of brake testing, welding work and boiler testing. I am convinced that this knowledge will significantly enrich my approach to future projects. In addition, it is not only important for my current position, but will also positively influence my future role in the area of newbuilds.
#AcademyFacts:
The practical (workshop) training that Sebastian reports on in his article comes in two versions: with and without participation in the workshop.
The target group in both cases is employees who want to broaden their understanding of the daily business of a particular workshop.
In-house best practices
Overall, I would recommend this experience to other colleagues, because the technically oriented knowledge transfer offers an excellent opportunity for personal development and for exchanging best practices within one’s own company. It is a valuable way to expand one’s own network and gain new perspectives on the way we work – especially in a constantly changing environment like ours.
#AcademyFacts:
In addition to the practical (workshop) training, the VTG Academy’s knowledge transfer training is another option for acquiring new knowledge.
The aim of this training is to impart internal process and interface knowledge, for example, about the various Asset Segments.
3 questions for… Sebastian Gierhan
1. Unexpected for me …
… was the lack of female employees in the operational areas of the workshops. Perhaps the Waggonwerk Brühl and VTG could do more to promote diversity here?
2. I found particularly interesting, but also challenging …
… firstly, the damage inspection in the wagon entrance, which was very extensive because all the safety-relevant wagon components had to be inspected and checked. Secondly, the wagon acceptance by the quality assurance. Why? The degree of specialization is so high that two employees must be responsible for the various tasks, e.g. the underframe. And thirdly, the welding work. These are supervised by a dedicated welding supervisor at the workshop. The respective welders are certified according to welding procedure and material class and together form a well-positioned revision unit at the operational VTG sites.
3. A lasting impression from the Waggonwerk Brühl …
… was wheelset maintenance! With a modern infrastructure and a two-shift system, this is the “icing on the cake” in the workshops. Here, a large number of wheelsets are processed in a clear and structured manner, with minor and major overhauls.
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