ThyssenKrupp Magazin

82 MATERIALS SELECTION
Searching for the optimum solution
heavy plate mill was such a stroke of luck. Adams took the trouble to
study everything he saw, everything that crossed his path, and calculate
figures and compare the results – and then record all these facts
gradually in a database. His life experience, however, has taught him to
exploit all the benefits of computer technology without running the risk
of overrating them. He would be unable to do that: “The computer cannot
replace everything, but one cannot replace the computer completely
either.”
He demonstrates how this works in practice with the passion that
is typical for him. He often stands up in the middle of the interview,
rushes to one of his cupboards, the contents of which – hardly comprehensible
for an external observer – he appears to know page for
page, and pulls out a file purposefully. In Adams’ case, the comment,
“I can show you everything in black and white,” is no coquetry, but an
expression of the seriousness of his intent – which he knows how to use
when disputes arise in such a way that his reference to one or other
passage in the technical literature almost always puts and end to the argument.
“Such experience is particularly useful in the event of arguments,”
he says, “provided that one has read all the technical reports
and knows exactly where to find every detail.”
DETAILED KNOWLEDGE PUTS AN END TO ARGUMENTS
Normally, customers come to Jochen Adams looking for the ideal steel
solution. With today’s possibilities, he can serve them promptly. Assuming
that a commercial vehicle manufacturer is looking for a heat
treatment diagram, and determines all possible properties such as
hardening ability, yield point, fold radius, welding ability, sheet thickness
– then he can present them with one or a selection of suitable
types within seconds with the aid of his computer, which – generally one
of the most important aspects – is also actually available. “What use is
the most beautiful steel if I cannot deliver it to the customer?” asks
Adams, this time in the role of trader, beyond the function of metallurgist.
Yet, if he finds a result in his computer for all parameters, Adams’
expression brightens. “Bull’s eye!” This is not insignificant, as it leads
to new turnover for ThyssenKrupp Schulte, and Adams is once again
contributing to the company’s prosperity in his own way.
Is this a boring job? Not at all, says Adams, there has not been
one day in his long career on which he did not want to go in to work, not
least because there are continually new challenges, he says.
INDICATIONS ARE IN LINE WITH EXPERIENCE
Then he becomes even livelier than usual. “I seek application-oriented
solutions together with the customer. This has nothing to do with research,
however.” Nonetheless, the distinctions are blurred between
the two. If he mentions the materials “TS-ThermoCut 1 and TS-ThermoCut
2,” it quickly becomes clear that he can (also) be termed an inventor
with a clear conscience in this area too, for he developed these
two types of steel for thermal extraction processes – especially laser
cutting. Moreover, the colored brochure which describes the properties
of these new inventions mirrors Adams’ personal expertise and standards,
not just with regard to the details, the clearly portrayed information
about the chemical composition, thermal extraction processes,
laser-beam cutting, laser-beam welding or cold forming. The statement:
“The information with which we wish to advise you corresponds
to our experience” could be a direct quote from him.
Jochen Adams has long taken a particular interest in problem
cases related to materials. Being pragmatic by nature on the basis of
secure knowledge, he takes one or other object, places it on the table
and explains where the actual and not the putative problem lies. The vehicle
manufacturer, for instance, who does not fold using the stipulated
radius of 10 millimeters, but only with 1 millimeter, at which point the
edge breaks: “That will never work.” Then there is the maker of a machine
which vacuum-packs meat: The machine is rusting in every imaginable
place, and the manufacturer and operator of the machine claims
to know with certainty that this is caused by the wrong materials. However,
Adams knows with even more certainty that it is caused by the
TK Magazine | 1 | 2004 |