101 new Trainees at Tognum’s Friedrichshafen Site

• Training continues to feature top of the agenda at Tognum
• High-quality training offered by propulsion and power solutions specialist Tognum continues to receive high levels of recognition

Friedrichshafen, 2nd September 2009. For an amazing 90 years running, Tognum subsidiary MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH has been putting a premium on professional qualification and training - even in times of economic hardship. In this vein, 101 new trainees started their program on 1st September 2009 at the Friedrichshafen site of propulsion and power solutions specialist Tognum. “Qualified up-and-coming colleagues enable us to manufacture competitive and high-quality engines and power generation systems“, Matthias Jobmann, Head of HR pointed out when welcoming the young Tognum staff members in the Karl-Maybach-Haus, Plant 1 in Friedrichshafen.

Featuring a wide variety of 16 training programs, Tognum’s training scheme offers a broad range of opportunities, whilst a quarter of the future staff members are girls. With a total of 72, most of these trainees are heading for technical qualifications, ranging from 49 industrial mechanics, eight mechatronic technicians, all the way to six automation electronic technicians, four assembly technicians, two parts finishers and two machining technicians. The rest comprises one work safety specialist, five industrial assistant managers, five office communications assistant managers and one social insurance case manager. These are accompanied by three technical draftspeople recruited within the cooperative training scheme run in cooperation with other regional companies. Tognum also offers 15 students the opportunity to gain the qualification of “Bachelor of Engineering“ in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, Industrial & International Business within the programs of the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative College.

Around 1,300 school-leavers had submitted their applications for these highly coveted apprenticeships. “What is decisive for any applicant aiming for employment within our internationally oriented group is - apart from the superior-quality training levels - the retention levels following the completion of their individual program“, Jobmann pointed out. As long as the current trainees’ performance turns out to be in line with Tognum’s expectations and as long as the current economic situation permits, the entire yearly intake of apprentices and trainees would be able to count on full integration into the workforce. In this vein, all trainees completing their programs by July 2010 will be employed on a permanent basis. “Apart from the specialist training they receive we would like to instill a sense of independence and creativity in them during the time of their training. They will also learn to take on responsibility and to cooperate with other trainees within the team“, Dr. Klaus Waldschmidt, Head of Personnel Development, Training and Education, explained the details of Tognum’s corporate philosophy.