Chemnitz_zieht_an_Magazin_2024_englisch

Founded in 1990 as a development
service provider for intralogistics, the iFD
Group is now a force to be reckoned with
in the field of logistics software. Covering
everything from systems for warehouse
management to material flow control
and forklift control, the company develops
modular applications for automated
and manual intralogistics in industry
and commerce. These solutions can be
integrated into almost any logistics environment
and are highly intuitive to use.
Companies such as BMW, Audi, Komsa,
Siemens and Schnellecke Logistics rely
on the expertise of the more than 100
employees of the iFD Group, which has
its headquarters in Chemnitz. And ten
per cent of this expertise is embodied by
international specialists who find their
way to the company in very different
ways.
For example, Hossam, a student trainee
from Egypt, was recommended by a
technical partner of the company from
Karlsruhe, who had first met the now
45-year-old when he introduced himself
at a careers fair. “This is already my
second stay in Germany. The first time I
came here was in 2012 as a scholarship
holder as part of a cooperation between
Egypt and Germany.” After completing
his master’s degree in Kassel, he was
initially drawn back to his home country,
where he worked for several years as a
project manager. But Germany, the “land
of ideas”, never completely let go of him.
“I was always impressed by the way that
German companies think into the future
and don’t rest on their laurels.” This is a
quality that Hossam also has. His interest
in the future topics of big data and
artificial intelligence eventually led him
to the Faculty of Business Information
Systems at Furtwangen University. He
began writing his bachelor’s dissertation
at iFD GmbH one year ago in summer
2023. For Hossam, one thing is certain:
“My future lies in Germany. I still have to
improve my German to achieve that,” he
smiles, almost apologetically, from under
his baseball cap.
“The reverse is also true for us,” adds
authorised signatory Susann Erkmann.
“We recently took the arrival of our
student trainees as an opportunity to
introduce English Days – three days a
month on which only English is spoken in
our company. We also organise regular
English courses through the adult education
centre to improve or refresh our
employees’ knowledge.” This is important
in order to be able to open up international
markets in the future. A multicultural
company that employs people
from all over the world also has another
competitive advantage: “In discussions
with customers – in the Arab world, for
example – it’s always different when
native speakers communicate with each
other. That creates a foundation of trust
right away.”
However, this enormous value that
international skilled workers offer is
something that many people still haven’t
grasped, says Hossam: “Lots of qualified
people with a real determination to
develop move on because they don’t feel
they have found their place here. That
absolutely has to change.” What’s more,
he adds, Germany is more inflexible and
complicated than other countries. “Many
things could be quicker and simpler. The
country is overly organised and systematic,”
says Hossam, who backs this up
with an anecdote about his broken fridge.
“It was inspected by two people before a
third person finally fixed it. I guess it had
to do with responsibilities.”
Ashfag has to laugh and nods in agreement.
Hossam’s 22-year-old roommate is
from India and has also been working as
a student trainee at iFD GmbH since July
2023. In addition to writing his bachelor’s
thesis, he is getting to know the company
and its software through many small
projects. The quality of German work,
especially in the software sector, attracted
him to Germany. India is catching up
in this field, but finding a job and earning
money is much more difficult in his home
country. What does he appreciate about
his current workplace? “The good environment
and open communication. I’ve
received support with all my questions
from the very beginning. Unfortunately, I
haven’t seen much of the city yet because
I’ve been busy setting up our flat.”
Nikunj steps in for Ashfag and describes
the city as remarkably green and not too
big or too small. “It’s just the right size,”
says the 30-year-old. He should know;
after all, he has already stayed in several
cities during his studies. After graduating
in India, he went on to study for a master’s
degree in Germany in 2015. During
this time, he completed an internship
in Frankfurt, wrote his dissertation in
Augsburg and then worked at Siemens in
Stuttgart. He signed a permanent employment
contract with iFD two years ago
and gained a foothold in simulation. Currently,
Nikunj is continuing his education
in the field of software development.
Susann Erkmann sees the international
specialists has having much more than
“just” economic added value for the
company. “With their very different mentalities
and religious and cultural backgrounds,
they have a positive influence on
our employees’ mindset,” she says, and
she can speak from experience. “Having
diverse perspectives broadens our own
horizons of experience, and we have even
been served one or two typical delicacies
from their home countries,” Susann Erkmann
recalls with a smile. “Professionals
from abroad are simply an asset on so
many levels.”
WEITERE INFOS:
iFD GmbH
chemnitz.jobs/ifd
People from nine different
nations work at the Chemnitz site:
Germany, Russia, India, Syria, Egypt, Ukraine,
Bulgaria, USA, Moldova.
Applications can be submitted in German, English or
Arabic. Send applications to: personal@ifd-gmbh.com
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