Meet the shift – Production planning team Berlin
Meet the team
Annika:
• With the company since 2006
• Started as an industrial management assistant trainee and then worked in purchasing and, if necessary, she was deployed as a jumper in various departments.
• Currently responsible for the M204 lacquering and laminating machine, the metallizer and everything related to raw paper slitting. She also has a project concerning "anilox rollers or printing rollers", creating RW cards and maintaining the storage bins
Heiko
• With the company since 1991.
• Started with an apprenticeship as a “warehouse management specialist.” Then worked in shipping management for 2 years. From around 1996 he was a foreman in the shipping department. In 2001 he switched to production as a shift leader. After seeing an internal job advertisement in 2014, he applied for the position in production planning.
• Currently he is responsible for the M202 lacquering and laminating machine, for the procurement of liquid raw materials (paints (solvents and WL)) and varnishes (solvents).
Sasa
• With the company since December 2002.
• Started here through a temporary employment company as a machine operator on the GHM machines. Around 9 months later, she was permanently hired and trained on the (then) new M204 lacquering and laminating machine, where she later worked as the main machine operator. In 2013, there was an internal job advertisement in which an employee was sought for the administrator for production planning.
• Currently Sasa plans the GHM and the new M214
The planning of the slitting machines in Halls 1 and 2 is done together as a team.
What are your daily challenges?
Production planning is extensive and lively work. Many factors are involved. We deal with the organization of raw materials and other operating supplies, the consideration of the personnel pool when manning the machines, arrangements with the shift supervisor, machine failures, maintenance dates, delivery delays, quality problems in the raw material, even weather changes can throw our sensitive product / machines out of sync.
If you then inspect your day's work with satisfaction and think, "that went well" - the phone rings and suddenly everything can change again. The daily schedule should be available to the shift leaders by 10 a.m. But all other departments, e.g. Sales, work until 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. So, if a customer decides, "I still urgently need some of this or something of that at the last minute," then it completely messes up the plan that you already had "finished"!
What do you like about the job?
We love the planning and organization. We are in close contact with our factory colleagues (shift supervisor, QA, shipping, machine operators, etc.), but also with suppliers and contact persons in forwarding agencies and external warehouses. This make the job very versatile.
The planning of the machines must take many factors into account in order to work efficiently and to satisfy the customer. You have to keep an eye on many appointments and customer requests and in the end create a homogeneous overall picture from many puzzle pieces. Unpredictable factors can set everything back to zero within seconds, then creativity and a strong nervous system are required. We see customer requests as a positive challenge, and er love taking care of new projects in order to be ready for the future.
How is the team working together in times of Corona?
Corona brings many restrictions for all of us. It is unusual not to work together the three of us, and there is often no face-to-face exchange. We are in virtual contact and can be reached by the others almost at any time. I really appreciate that about my colleagues.
However working from home is a completely new experience for all of us. With practice and improvisation, it’s now going very well, and we work at home on alternate days.
Since we are a very harmonious and lively team, listening to music together (80s - only occasionally) and snacking (gummy bears and chocolate 😉) is simply part of it. We do miss these things during the times of Corona.