4/2009 - Dachser GmbH und Co. KG

Forum: People & markets
Dachser Academy
Practical expertise from the experts
Knowledge is the
greatest asset:
Felix Möhlenbruch,
head of the Dachser
Academy in Cologne,
on initial and advanced
training for future-proof
logistics.
The Dachser Academy opened its doors at
the beginning of this year. What are the key
training elements?
The Academy concentrates on building
Dachser-specific process and systems knowhow
in all corporate divisions. We focus particularly
on the integration of new companies
in Germany and abroad, with the aim to
specifically and intensively familiarize our new
colleagues with Dachser’s workflows and corporate
philosophy.
Lifelong learning is on everyone’s lips.
What is the advantage of an in-house training
academy?
We can convey the learning contents in a
hands-on and targeted manner. We use inhouse
instructors who are active at operational
level. As professionals, they are familiar with
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day-to-day operations and the problems and
challenges that can arise. The participants benefit
directly from this in their daily work, because
it is easy to translate what they have
learned in the classroom into practice. Furthermore,
the Academy does not target the
market. It is and will remain a purely Dachser
institution.
What target groups is the Academy direct -
ed at?
In principle we are addressing all employees on
all organizational and hierarchy levels. The
offer ranges from introduction courses for
new members of staff, through coaching for
experts, to courses on specific Dachser processes
for senior staff members. Depending
on the composition of the group, courses are
held in German, French or English.
What balance can you draw at the end of
the first year of training?
The Dachser Academy opened its doors in
February and the first seminars were held in
March. We can be more than satisfied with the
results so far. By the end of 2009, around 1,200
employees will have attended our training
courses.
Cologne: regional competence
Where do you see a need for more training
opportunities in the new academic year?
We plan to – and will – continue to develop.
In this context, we intend to expand our programme,
add new training courses – for example
in the field of controlling – and will further
increase our capacity utilization. This means
intensifying training opportunities for all three
business segments: Dachser European Logistics,
Dachser Food Logistics, Dachser Air &
Sea Logistics. Dachser certification courses for
international sales staff and human resources
managers are also on the future agenda.
When were you last in a classroom situation
yourself?
Not so long ago, actually. I completed a
Dachser training course in “Labour law practices
for HR experts”. And I attended an
external train-the-trainer coaching seminar.
What would be your next personal learning
goal?
You can always learn something new. When
the opportunity presents itself, I will certainly
intensify my instructor training. I am also
fascinated by personnel management. The
Dachser training catalogue offers plenty of
valuable gateways in this field.
“Our customers appreciate our combination of regional competence and
a closely meshed pan-European logistics network.” For Michael Schilling,
managing director of Dachser European Logistics, the Cologne location
plays a special role in Dachser’s pan-European overland network. The internationally
active logistics provider has been present in the Rhineland
metropolis since 1951. Because capacities at the branch could no longer
keep up with continuously increasing demand, Dachser invested 20 million euros in expanding the facility. “The
decision fell in favour of relocating to the Cologne district of Gremberghoven,” says branch manager Markus Wiegand.
On an 80,000-square-metre site, Dachser has constructed a 10,300-square-metre transshipment hall with 115 hall
bays and 5,100 square metres of administrative and technical buildings. The new facility has been integrated into
the Dachser network since February 2009, so far with more than positive results. Over 55,000 shipments are dispatched
from the Rhineland every month.