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In May 2010 after earning my Bachelor´s degree GEA offered me the opportunity to start a traineeship with GEA Group AG for the Ideas- and Improvement Management department. This was the beginning of an 18 months lasting first job experience.

Literally the ideas and improvement management at GEA is a very creative and challenging task. The challenging point is that GEA Group is one of the few companies which operate a worldwide integrative Ideas Management. One system, with an interface in 17 different languages, operating in more than 50 different countries. This entails the direct work environment being remarkably international. My department is in close contact and exchange with GEA colleagues from all Segments around the globe on a daily base. Furthermore, the traineeship is characterized by many different outbound trips. I had the opportunity to work in GEA companies on all five continents during the 18 months.

GEA´s Ideas and Improvement Management is a great opportunity for all employees to shape and transform the nature of GEA with their personal or group idea. This brings us to the creative part of the job: It is a core business to encourage and motivate colleagues to use their expert knowledge for shaping and reinventing the future for GEA. Hence, it is a tremendously important task for us to manage our expert knowledge in a permanently changing and competing environment.

Besides all work- and personal experiences I made during my traineeship my personal highlight of these 18 months was the perception by external parties. GEA´s Ideas and Improvement Management was awarded for “Best Ideas Management of the Industry 2011”.

Report of Torben Borgmann – Trainee Ideas and Improvement Management

Learn more about our trainee program