International Job Rotation Program Kendrion
The International Job Rotation Program at Kendrion was launched in 2022 and offers internal employees the opportunity to use their skills and experience at various locations worldwide. Whether in their own country or internationally – from the USA to India to China – seconded employees actively support the locations with their expertise. This program enables participants to gain valuable experience abroad, to develop professionally in a new environment and to surpass themselves personally.
Currently several Kendrion employees are participating in this program. Josua Rohmund, from Aerzen in Germany, has been working as an Industrial Engineering Manager at the Kendrion location in Atlanta, USA since 2023. Konark Sharma from Pune, India, has also been supporting Kendrion in Atlanta as a Business Development Manager since 2023. Johannes Röhr from Malente works as a Project and Product Manager for fluid technology at Kendrion Mishawaka, USA, and Timo Frankenbach from Donaueschingen contributes his expertise as an R&D Engineer at Kendrion Suzhou, China. In this article, Josua shares his exciting experiences and adventures in the USA.
Josua’s Professional Journey
From 2011 to 2015, Josua Rohmund completed an apprenticeship as a mechatronics engineer at Kendrion INTORQ in Aerzen. But this was just the beginning of his exciting professional journey. After his apprenticeship, he joined the maintenance team, where he further honed his technical skills. At the same time, he completed a challenging further training course class to become a state-certified electrical engineer. From 2019 to 2023, Josua took on a crucial role as an assistant to the production manager. In this position, he not only gained valuable experience in leadership and organization but also learned how to efficiently manage complex production processes. His hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed. In 2023, he was offered the exciting opportunity to support one of Kendrion’s US locations through Kendrion’s International Job Rotation Program. Since March 2023, Josua has been living and working as an Industrial Engineering Manager at Kendrion (Atlanta) Inc. in the USA.
The road to the USA
His journey to the USA began in 2017 when he had the opportunity to visit the Kendrion location in Atlanta and meet the managing director Olaf Detlef during a machine commissioning. This first business trip aroused his curiosity about the country. When vacancies for the International Job Rotation Program at Kendrion (Atlanta) Inc. were announced in 2022, Josua did not hesitate for long and applied. He saw the opportunity to get to know the country and develop both personally and professionally.
When moving to the USA, he received extensive support from the company and his colleagues, including assistance with official formalities, opening a bank account, and finding accommodation. A rental car was immediately available to him and after getting the driver license a company car, which made it much easier to get started on site. He could easily get everything he needed for his apartment, explore the area and also get to work easily.
Impressions of the location and country
Looking back on his first business trip in 2017, Josua immediately noticed the large trucks and the up to eight-lane highways. The traffic rules are different from those in Germany, as you can overtake both on the left and right in the USA and an intersection with stop signs runs by “first to arrive, first to proceed order”. He was also impressed by the excess of restaurants, fast-food chains, and supermarkets. The friendly and kind people, whether in the supermarket or just on the street, left a particularly positive impression on him.
During his second business trip in 2022, which accompanied his move, his first impressions were confirmed. He found himself in a huge country where the city of Atlanta was much bigger than Aerzen. Nevertheless, the Kendrion location in Atlanta was surprisingly smaller than in Aerzen but Josua saw already positive changes and enormous growth potential at the site early on.
Work culture in the USA
The work culture in the USA differs in some respects from that in Germany. As many of his colleagues have German roots, he didn't notice the difference much at first. However, working with customers he figured that Americans could approach their tasks more relaxed. This relaxed approach and the friendly nature of the people contribute to a pleasant working environment. Adjusting to the American working culture also brought some challenges. Cultural differences in greetings and small talk were unfamiliar. It is common to ask how someone is doing when greeting them without expecting a detailed answer, but Josua quickly got used to all of this.
Professional development and new skills
His stay in the USA has significantly influenced Josua’s professional development. He gained insights into new professional fields, is now working in Industrial Engineering there, and is also managing a customer project. These new tasks have expanded his skills and given him a more comprehensive overview of the entire company structure in the USA. During his time in the USA, Josua acquired a lot of new knowledge, particularly in the field of Industrial Engineering. He conducted time studies, created work instructions, and optimized processes. Project management taught him how a project runs and how to conduct customer meetings. In materials management, he gained experience in ordering customer parts and releasing customer orders.
Team and projects
The Kendrion team in the USA is relatively small, which leads to close team dynamics and regular communication. This solidarity and regular exchange strengthen the team spirit. There were hardly any language barriers, as Josua was able to improve his English skills and technical vocabulary through previous business trips. Josua’s tasks on-site also included supporting the relocation, planning electrical and pneumatic systems, setting up and calibrating equipment, and optimizing processes in production, shipping, and incoming goods.
Ready to embark on an international adventure with Kendrion? Explore our current job openings and become a part of our dynamic team!
