To ensure that industrial mechanics also have the necessary skill set relevant to trade proficiency and safety in future, for example being able to reconnect and commission a motor, preliminary measures have already been implemented at Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH in order to further develop the trade training programme: “We are currently working on integrating certain core and trade qualifications in our training programme”, reports Ferstl. To do this, the training content is not just orientated around the latest technology in the workshop but also entails the integration of completely new modules, e.g. from hydraulics training. “We were able to gain first experiences on which we are currently building our concept while rewriting details about a transducer from the area of automation as a training module for our industrial mechanics.” The aim, however, is not just to arm the industrial mechanics with as much knowledge of electronics as possible during their training – conversely, this approach is also pursued to facilitate optimum co-operation. “In training, the idea is to encourage trainees to feel that there are people around them. They should know that problems are solved together, decisions are made together about who the right point of contact is – as a company, as a team”, emphasises the training manager.

Two additional qualifications have therefore been included here, which the IHK (German chamber of commerce and industry) has been offering since the summer of 2018. Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH took immediate advantage of this further training opportunity and has assumed a pioneering role nationwide. The first examinations for the additional qualification “certified electrician for specific activities” were held in July 2019 and will be taken as an in-house test in future by all industrial mechanics as a permanent element of their trade training. All apprentices with a special interest in electrical engineering have a second module option available to them that upgrades the training profile for industrial mechanics significantly: The additional qualification “certified industrial electrician” can be obtained in the third year of training and consolidated with a final IHK (chamber of commerce and industry) examination.

Starting with simple assembly tasks, this training programme at Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH has been permanently established as a training module since 2000 – about 90 to 95 percent of apprentices travel abroad to partner organisations for four to eight weeks. Evidence of the effectiveness of this module was confirmed this year once again: “During their foreign assignment, our apprentices really became aware of how closely mechanics and electronics are connected and how great the necessity for additional professional qualifications has become. Their enthusiasm for acquiring relevant knowledge is so much the better for it”, says Walter Ferstl happily.