Coburg
Brose exports training to Michigan
Brose is supporting the introduction of a dual-track vocational training system in the State of Michigan. Jürgen Otto, CEO of the Brose Group, presented a dual-track training project to the US Consul General in Munich, William E. Moeller, last week when he visited the family-owned company’s Coburg site.
“North America is a very attractive market for us and offers long-term growth,” Jürgen Otto explained during their talks. This means that Brose’s four US locations in Detroit, Tuscaloosa, Jefferson and New Boston, which together employ around 1500 people, are very important for the company’s future development. “Implementing the same quality standards worldwide is key to our company's success,” said Jürgen Otto. “This applies to our products and to employee training. So we decided to export the successful dual-track vocational training model to the US."
Since July 2012, the automotive supplier has been working with other German companies, and with public authorities and chambers to establish a training scheme for mechatronic technicians in the State of Michigan. The initiative is being supported by the Governor of Michigan, Rick Snyder, who visited the Brose site in Würzburg last year and saw for himself the quality of Brose’s
apprenticeships.
William E. Moeller was also particularly impressed with the apprentices’ workshop and the concept of the Brose Junior Company during his tour of the Brose site. As the diplomat explained, the US President also aims to introduce a dual education system. In his State of the Nation address in February, Barack Obama described German vocational training as a model for the United States.
Training activities at Brose go far beyond the training of young people. High importance is also placed on know-how transfer and sharing personal experience. This is why a large number of foreign employees work at the company’s central locations in Coburg, Bamberg-Hallstadt and Würzburg. Americans Lorrie Dryer and Todd Carlson told the US diplomat about their experiences at Brose’s Coburg location.
Lorrie Dryer has been here since April and will be working in the Customer Team Seat Systems for the next three years. “I am delighted to have the opportunity to work in Coburg,” she said. “By being close to development and to the Brose central functions, I can learn even more about the company. This will help me advance my career. And of course I want to improve my German as well.”