Meet ADRIAN, our featured employee of the month from Schaeffler!
We were able to conduct a brief Q&A session with Adrian Förster, an emerging talent from our member company, Schaeffler. He currently serves as the Team Lead for Quality Improvement and also acts as the deputy to the quality manager.
Could you tell us a bit about your background? (Place of birth, age, education…)
I was born in Berlin, Germany and moved to a little village near the baltic sea at the age of 11. After school, I had the possibility to do a “Work & Travel” in Australia to improve my English skills. Coming back, I decided to start my career at Schaeffler Automotive Aftermarket where I became part of the “dual study program”. This program is about starting a bachelor program while being already employed.
When I am not at work, I like to do all types of sport but mostly gym and soccer. It is my way to get new energy.
Traveling is also a big part of my life. I like to meet different people from different countries. This gives me fresh impressions and opens my mind.
How would you describe the Aftermarket to someone who has never heard of this industry?
The Aftermarket for me is about bringing new life to the things I love: cars. Offering all bits and pieces to sustain your memories with a companion that has been a part of your life for many years.
How did you become aware of, and why did you choose the Aftermarket to work in?
My first word as a child was “car” which created a connection to cars since then. Even though Schaeffler Automotive Aftermarket is not building cars, I think there is still a very strong connection to them. This connection between cars and myself made me look for jobs in that environment.
Which company are you working with & which type of job?
I started working for Schaeffler Automotive Aftermarket in 2018. After going through different departments as a trainee, I started working as Professional Quality Management in 2021.
Currently I’m leading the team “Quality Improvement” at our location Aftermarket Kitting Operation (AKO) in Kabelsketal. We as a team report directly to our Quality Manager within the plant.
How would you describe your job?
As Quality Improvement Team we do not only work on improvements, but also try to implement standards that prevent people from making mistakes. Also, we analyze mistakes, find the root-cause, derive measures and initiate an overall lessons learned.
What do you fancy most in your job?
The job requires exchange with other teams and therefore brings a lot of variety. This is sometimes a challenge, but definitely not boring. Leadership is also an important part of my job and I really enjoy it.
Why should somebody join this industry in your opinion?
The Aftermarket has a lot to offer and is currently a growing market. Therefore, it offers different opportunities and challenges for everyone. I think that you can not only be part of the market growth, but also grow yourself.
About Schaeffler
The Schaeffler Group has been driving forward groundbreaking inventions and developments in the field of motion technology for over 75 years. With innovative technologies, products, and services for electric mobility, CO₂-efficient drives, chassis solutions, Industry 4.0, digitalization, and renewable energies, the company is a reliable partner for making motion more efficient, intelligent, and sustainable – over the entire life cycle. The motion technology company manufactures high-precision components and systems for drive train and chassis applications as well as rolling and plain bearing solutions for a large number of industrial applications. The Schaeffler Group generated sales of EUR 15.8 billion in 2022. With around 84,000 employees, the Schaeffler Group is one of the world’s largest family-owned companies. With more than 1,250 patent applications in 2022, Schaeffler is Germany’s fourth most innovative company according to the DPMA (German Patent and Trademark Office).
The Automotive Aftermarket division is responsible for Schaeffler’s global spare parts business and delivers components and holistic repair solutions for passenger cars, light and heavy commercial vehicles and tractors. Thanks to its comprehensive understanding of transmission, engine and chassis systems, the company has a reputation for technical excellence, intelligent solutions and outstanding services. With more than 1,700 employees, the Automotive Aftermarket division of Schaeffler generated sales of over 2 billion euros in 2022. Around 11,500 sales partners, and more than 70 sales and representative offices around the world, ensure a plus in customer proximity.