My stay at JOEST France!

I started my journey to Bordeaux on 24 June 2024, where I was welcomed by my French colleagues. After my arrival, I got a detailed tour of the company and got to know the entire team to prepare myself for the weeks ahead. I already communicated with my local colleagues in advance to get a first impression. Thanks to the support of many colleagues in Germany and in France, I was able to prepare the trip well and organise it easily.

When I arrived, I started working after putting my work clothes away. After a few safety briefings, I started assembling machines directly in the final assembly department, where help was needed, and was soon able to take on many tasks independently. Form me, this practical work was a completely new experience compared to my previous work in the office and got a deeper insight into the machines and their manufacturing process. As JOEST MPV is much smaller than the company in Buldern, I was also able to familiarise myself with new structures. I also was amezed by finding out that also the design engineers and sales people help out in assembly as required. This diversity provides variety in the everyday working life and offers the opportunity to get to know different perspectives. The lunch breaks were always a pleasant time, characterised by a familiar and relaxed atmosphere where everyone sat together in the kitchen.

In the very first week, we met together with former employees to celebrate the retirement of another colleague. We ate together, exchanged ideas and talked about our respective cultures. During my time in France, I took on different work steps in final assembly and was responsible for the dispatch of spare parts and machines, among other things. I was also able to take on different tasks independently and carry out sub-steps completely myself - a very nice and exciting experience. In addition to the employees' lockers, the production hall and the kitchen, there was also a large meeting room, four offices and a car park with company cars. Despite the relatively small size of the company, there was always a lot to do. Thanks to the great support of my colleagues, I was able to learn all the tasks quickly. Even simpler tasks, such as punching type plates or painting small parts, were part of my daily tasks. After work, I was often invited to dinner by my colleagues, which helped me to get to know them better. I was very thankful for the open reception and the feeling of being welcome. As expected, the six weeks flew by and suddenly my last week was approaching. In the office, I gained an insight into various departments, including logistics, purchasing, spare parts sales and after-sales service.