Past Mechanical Engineering student

Where are they now? Thomas Lindner

 

Being identified as someone with potential early on is a promising start to any career. For Thomas Lindner, past CEED student and current State Manager for the Northern region at ABB Australia’s Motor and Generator Service, this certainly proved to be true.

 

Thomas undertook a project at ABB in 2006 during his Mechanical Engineering degree (as his final year thesis). Although a diverse enterprise, this branch of ABB manufactures transformers for the power industry. His project involved reducing the lead-time of the production line for single and three phase distribution transformers.This required Thomas to investigate the production facility and assess the functionality of the system, identifying any issues as well as applying principles learned to alleviate constraints.

 

 

Pictured is Thomas Lindner - past CEED student, still  with ABB Australia

In Thomas’ eyes, the highlight of his project was that it was industry-based. He says it was interesting to be able to see how classroom-learned concepts apply in a real life scenario, and his CEED project was rich with such opportunities.

 

First year Engineering was not Thomas’ first year out of school. Previously, Thomas had tried his hand at an IT degree for a year, which he didn’t like; and a Fitting, Turning and Boiler Maker trade, which, although he completed, he got bored with. During his trade he took up Mechanical Engineering part-time, knowing he’d launch back into full-time study once completing his trade. He says this wasn’t the path he expected and it was definitely a longer road than anticipated.

Nonetheless, he tells current students not to be concerned if a couple of years are spent doing something you end up either not liking or further pursuing. “It’s not wasted time,” he says, “you just move on and find something you do like.”

 

He may not have taken the typical school to university to workforce route, but as a CEED student, his maturity was no hindrance. Thomas reckons that the most useful thing he learned during his project was not technical knowledge, but rather the ability to interact with all levels of the business. “I’ve got no qualms talking to anyone at any level of management. They’re just people,” Thomas says. He explains that there’s no problem, “as long as you don’t sound stupid, and you know what you’re talking about.”

 

The project went well on the IT front, too. A reduction in lead-time of 30% for larger units and 40% for smaller units was achieved. Further, Thomas managed to cut inventory costs by 50%. These outstanding project results revealed themselves in his university results; Thomas achieved four High Distinctions, graduated with Honours and says the project was fantastic. This was just the beginning of Thomas’ successful endeavours at ABB.

 

Observing his ability to excel, he was offered a position with ABB after his project – starting immediately. Although another graduate offer from a different company was also on the table, after discussions with his ABB manager about Thomas’ evident capabilities, ABB ‘upped’ their offer with a near-future promotion. This came to pass. Thomas started as a student, with degree in hand became a Production Engineer, and after just eight months was fast-tracked to a Production Manager. Thomas has since become the Northern Region State Manager – all in five years.

 

In each position, Thomas has been challenged. After his boss retired and he was promoted into that position (Production Manager), Thomas felt out of his depth. Fortunately though, he thrived on this fast-paced and demanding learning experience. He feels that this “sink or swim mentality” is the best way to learn. “If everything is given to you very cautiously, you get very hesitant. Whereas, if you find yourself in the deep end and you fail, so what? You just have to move on. Keep going, keep ‘swimming’, and get on with it.”

 

Thomas’ managerial roles since his initial job as a Production Engineer have added a business-mindedness to his job description. He says that his training – both his trade and university degree – focused on technical expertise involving systems and processes. Now, managing a service industry, client satisfaction has ascended to the top of his priority list.

 

Remaining focused with set goals is something Thomas does well. He draws a comparison to the desired outcomes set in a CEED project over a certain period of time, and says he applies the same idea to his own work. Thomas sets goals for himself regarding what he wishes to achieve and how to improve the business over a set time. Boredom is then entirely avoided, and with higher goals always on the horizon, he remains motivated.

 

The ABB work ethic plays a big role in Thomas’ attraction to remaining a part of the company, in the long-term. ‘Power and productivity for a better world’ is ABB’s mission. Thomas says, although he’s “not a tree hugger per se”, he does admire that ABB accepts its responsibility in creating environmentally friendly policies. Social responsibility and OH&S policies are strict, catering to a business of 143,000 employees globally. As a large company, thus large polluter, it nonetheless ensures waste is minimal and that systems are efficient, productive and sustainable.

 

In his time at ABB, additional CEED students have participated in other projects. Reflecting on his own experience, Thomas says doing a CEED project is especially valuable as it “builds the foundation for a long and prosperous career” and adds that, “company-based projects are ideal for future engineers wanting to do their thesis – especially if theory isn’t their forte”.

 

Thomas recalls an especially outstanding past CEED student who undertook a very interesting project and later gained graduate employment with ABB. He was required to reverse engineer part of an Australia Post mail sorting machine. At the time, the coding for the system was in German, so the student (who did not speak  German) reverse engineered it, created his own manual, and the CEED project manual then became the manual used by the manufacturer. Although completing his project at Australia Post, it was due to the quality of his CEED project that the student was later hired by ABB. That student was Alan Stapelberg (who still works with ABB – in Beijing).

 

Thomas enjoys a challenge. As with many, he has given much thought to the ultimate question of which direction to take in life and in work. Although it remains a burning question, Thomas attributes his CEED project as a driving factor, which gave him the direction he needed when he graduated. “Without it,” he says, “I don’t think I would have found my direction as easily, there’s just no way.”

 

Written by Katherine McElrea (CEED Marketing Assistant - summer 2012/13)