Management seminars at the Krones Academy

Cost-efficiency considerations mean that nowadays lines are being run with progressively lower staffing levels. So it’s all the more important to have responsible employees and deploy them to optimum effect. Good human resources management is a crucial building block for upgrading line efficiency. This was the thinking behind the first event in a new series of management training seminars at the Krones Academy run by Krones AG, Neutraubling, Germany. The aim is to enable managers from beverage filling facilities to tighten their focus in terms of man-management and line efficiency so as to upgrade the efficacy of their plants.

“I’ve enjoyed several in-house training events already, and they were very good, but this one was even more fruitful for me: the big difference was that the group was composed of people from different companies in the beverage bottling industry, which made for more extensive mutual feedback than if we had all come from inside the company” was the verdict from Michael Lutz, Country Manufacturing Manager Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria.

Two seminar blocks in six days
The event is divided up into two blocks of three days each. These are separated by a six-week interval, during which the participants can put into practice what they have learned and exchange views and insights. To quote Rudolf Wahl, a Senior Department Manager at the Bitburger Brewery: “Each participant comes from a different background. What I particularly liked was that we also addressed topics for which there is no patent remedy as yet.”

The first management seminar featured twelve participants from Germany itself, followed by another management seminar with conferees from other nations as well. The event was well received by those attending. To quote Roger Schmitt, a Department Manager at the Krombacher Brewery: “The Krones management seminar was in my view a complete success. I gained a lot of interesting insights and new ideas – thanks to the constructive and harmonious working atmosphere.”

In view of the fact that time is what managers are most short of, the Krones Academy thought seriously about whether the new format of two times three days provided genuine added value. Jörg Hans, Master Brewer at the Pfungstädter Brewery, had nothing but praise for the pilot seminar: “This was six brilliant days, split into the two seminar blocks. What I really liked, in addition to the mutual feedback, were the practical examples, the fireside evening with Volker Kronseder and the felicitous methods. It was a successful event, I hope we’ll soon be seeing each other again.” For the Krones Academy’s Director, Dr. Puma, it was “impressive to see how the participants here not only learned a lot, but were also able to utilise and upgrade their intercultural skills. I learned a lot myself as well, and really enjoyed taking part in the event.”

As from the autumn of 2008, management training events will then be a core constituent of the Krones Academy’s programme. In future, this advanced training option will be progressed on an expanded scale not only in Neutraubling but also in Johannesburg, Bangkok and São Paulo.

06.20.2008