«Passionate about Finding the Perfect Solution.»
Portrait of Thomas Schneider
Thomas Schneider is Team Leader Industrial Mechanic Switzerland and combines technology with creativity at IGP. In this interview, he talks about his daily routine, what motivates him, and what he finds particularly appealing about his work.
How are you doing at the moment and why?
I'm fine, I'm working on a lot of cool projects now. I always try to see the positive in everything.
What does a typical working day of yours involve?
Since we work in a multi-shift operation at IGP, I must work through everything first when I arrive. I take part in the production shop floor every day and invest a lot of time in the work preparation of projects. I am also responsible for the distribution of work within the team and take care of repairs when technical problems arise.
Why do you like coming to work?
I have the opportunity to do exciting things and contribute my own ideas. As a result, the work always remains varied. I particularly appreciate the freedom I am given in the implementation. The team cohesion is also great, which makes the cooperation even more motivating.
What motivates you personally – at work and beyond?
Motivates me to live out my passion for technology both professionally and privately. Often the know-how from work is often combined with personal projects such as drawing constructions or DIY projects. This mixture of creativity and practical implementation gives me a lot of energy.
What does good cooperation mean to you?
For me, good cooperation means that everyone is well prepared and can thus contribute to success. New visions and courage are also important to me, but they should be realistic so that we can achieve the goals.
What do you do in your free time / What are your hobbies?
In my spare time, I run a recording studio with a colleague, and we also do live engineering. At home, I like to be active with my hands and take care of the garden, especially the automation of irrigation. In the summer, I enjoy grilling, and when cooking, I always like to try out new recipes.
Can you tell me a quality that makes you unique?
A trait that makes me unique? Maybe I'm a bit clever (laughs). I attach great importance to accuracy and always want to do things right. For me, quality is clearly more important than quantity, and I am an open person when it comes to change.
What are you particularly proud of in your career so far?
I am particularly proud to have successfully completed my training as an automation technician. In addition, I have implemented many small projects in the field of energy efficiency and managed to put an extruder back into operation that was actually supposed to be scrapped. The relocation of the machines from IGP Switzerland to IGP Poland is also one of my prouder moments. And I am happy to pass on my knowledge to the subsidiaries to help others as well.
If you had to describe IGP as a company in three words, what would they be?
Colorful, because the culture and processes are very diverse; Home because I grew up in Rickenbach and work in the same community where I live – as a child I played on the meadow where the IGP now stands; and varied, because the work here never gets boring. I could well imagine staying here in the company and retiring at some point.
Is there a working day that you remember in particular?
One morning I came to work, and everything was dark and quiet. At first, I thought it was a holiday, but then it turned out that only the CSB (ERP system) had failed, and production was at a standstill. That was an unexpected and at the same time quite funny start to the day.
Is there anything else you would like to tell?
I have to say, after all this time here, I'm still really excited about the canteen. The food is great, and I love how much effort they put into it every time. There's always something varied and delicious – I really appreciate that.
