- The first 30 young people started training at the plant in 1916.
- In 1978 the first girls began their vocational training in technical disciplines at the site, plus training programs were offered to young people with learning difficulties.
- Trainees at the Mercedes-Benz Mannheim plant and EvoBus GmbH have been learning together under the same roof since 1995.
- Since the training workshop was established, almost 11,000 young people have completed their vocational training in Mannheim.
- There are currently around 380 young people training at the site – in nine disciplines and on three dual-study courses.
This year the Daimler Mannheim site is celebrating one hundred years of vocational training. In the presence of Dr. Ulrike Freundlieb, Mayor for Education, Children, Youth and Health of the city of Mannheim, and numerous other guests from politics, education and business, Yaris Pürsün, Head of Global Powertrain Productions Daimler Trucks, Dr. Marcus Nicolai, Head of Production at Daimler Buses, and Joachim Horner, Chairman of the Works Council Mercedes-Benz Mannheim plant and EvoBus Mannheim of Daimler, looked back on a century of training at the plant during a ceremony held at the site.
In his address, Yaris Pürsün said: “We attach great importance to the promotion of young talent here at the Mannheim site. Since our training workshop was established in 1916, almost 11,000 young people have started their vocational training at the plant. Our thanks go to all the trainers and trainees, who bring their knowledge and experience to the table every day with great dedication and help maintain the site’s high quality standards.”
“Strong vocational training is the basis for our corporate success. In Mannheim we have been offering young people an ideal start to their careers for a century. As specialists of tomorrow, their in-depth training will help us to continue our success story here at the site in the future, too,” added Dr. Marcus Nicolai.
Dr. Ulrike Freundlieb: “The one hundred year anniversary of vocational training here shows that EvoBus and the Mercedes-Benz Mannheim plant are aware of their responsibility as one of the largest employers in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan area. By imparting in-depth specialist knowledge, the site creates ideal prospects for the young generation in the region.”
“Within the scope of co-determination we at the Work Council will do our best to offer young people a good and sustainable vocational training at the Mannheim site. It is the basis of a successful career. Especially in times of digitalization skilled work is also the foundation of economic success of the company. The vocational training in Mannheim is prepared for that,” states Joachim Horner.
A century of tradition: Vocational training then and now
The story of vocational training at the Mannheim site began in March 1916 with the establishment of a training workshop at Benz & Cie. With this new training facility, Daimler once again displayed its pioneering spirit and for the first time created an area that all teachers and trainees at the plant could share. Full-time trainers initially guided 30 apprentices along their career streams as upholsterers, wainwrights, locksmiths, and lathe operators. One particular focus of the teaching content here was the production of replica vehicle and engine models. In addition to this, the apprentices attended the local vocational school on two half-days a week.
Commercial vocational training started in 1953. When the Mannheim site celebrated 50 years of vocational training in 1966, almost 2,800 young people had already completed their training here. In 1978 the first girls began their technical vocational training, specializing in automotive electronics and vehicle upholstery. Training opportunities for young people with learning difficulties were introduced at the plant in the same year. Trainees at the Mercedes-Benz Mannheim plant and EvoBus GmbH have been learning together under the same roof since 1995.
With a workforce of over 8,500, divided between bus production, engine production and foundry, the site is now one of the largest and most tradition-steeped employers in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region. At the engine plant and EvoBus in Mannheim, there are currently around 380 young people across all years doing their vocational training or a dual-study program.
Vocational training is offered in a number of disciplines: foundry mechanic/specializing in machine molding, production mechanic, motor vehicle mechatronics technician, industrial mechanics, technical model-maker, milling machine operator, electronics technician for automation technology, warehouse logistics operator. In addition to this, there are dual-study programs for Bachelor of Engineering/Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering/Mechatronics, and Bachelor of Science/Business Information Systems.
High practical relevance and the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art production and manufacturing technology give the young talents the ideal preparation for the careers of the future. The online platform DAS@web allows learning content to be called up at any time, even from home, and supports trainee networking between the production sites. In the training workshop, knowledge is passed on by incorporating PCs or tablets on the workbench or by using learning programs at learning stations, for example.
Doors open for interested school students
In its anniversary year, the Mannheim plant is once again opening up its doors to interested school students. For the eleventh time, the site is joining eight other companies from the region to take part in the “Night of Training”, which takes place on June 3, 2016. School students and their parents can come to gain an insight into the current vocational training and dual-study courses as well as to talk with trainers and trainees.
The application phase for the training year 2017 begins on June 1, 2016. Interested school students can obtain further information about vocational training and the application procedure at www.career.daimler.com.
