23.10.2023

Women with power at WINTERSTEIGER

Women with power at WINTERSTEIGER In the photo (from left to right): Daniela Frauscher, Ulrike Mandl, Sabrina Aigner, Kerstin Hargassner, Julia Gadermeir
© rambossek

From production planning and logistics to purchasing and finance, a lot of the responsibility at WINTERSTEIGER Operations GmbH lies in female hands.

 

WINTERSTEIGER Operations GmbH produces the machines for the three divisions based in Ried: field trial technology, ski service, and wood thin-cutting. Being qualified is the only key to professional success at the company, where equal opportunities are embodied, and women take on responsibility and leadership roles.



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A career of determination

© rambossek

A career of determination

Kerstin Hargassner is one of these women. The 28-year-old has worked her way up from being a mechanical engineering apprentice with high school diploma and subsequent training as a supervisor to become the head of production planning. Together with her 15-strong team, she looks after 70 different types of machine and handles around 148,000 production orders a year. “At WINTERSTEIGER, I was given the chance to develop and grow. Now, as the head of production planning, I am in the perfect position to put my ideas for improvement into practice.”

Seizing opportunities with courage

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Seizing opportunities with courage

Daniela Frauscher (31) and Sabrina Aigner (28) are both good examples of employees who joined WINTERSTEIGER as young trainees and went on to embark on an impressive career path. Both completed an apprenticeship as plant logisticians before spending several years at WINTERSTEIGER performing shift work. During a restructuring of the warehouse, Daniela Frauscher seized the opportunity to become a team leader for dispatch and shipping. “Together with my team of 13 creative and intelligent minds, we set about our tasks with utter professionalism every day.”

 

Sabrina also made the most of her opportunities at WINTERSTEIGER and is now assistant to the head of logistics: “I am basically the central hub for all materials management and have contact with the entire company. That's where a lot of friendships have developed.”

“Our logistics center holds 65,000 different items with 46,000 packages having been shipped in 2022. Last year, 860,000 article movements were processed to supply the production lines alone.” Daniela and Sabrina are responsible for keeping an eye on things every day.

Developing and nurturing talent

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Developing and nurturing talent

Julia Gadermeir (30) could not have had any better preparation for her role as the head of purchasing, having spent two and a half years participating in a development program for social and leadership skills. With her team of 8, she manages 700 suppliers and 37,000 purchased parts. “Team cohesion is especially important to me, and it's rather unique with us!”

Taking a new path

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Taking a new path

At 26, Ulrike Mandl is the youngest of the female leaders, having decided to take her career in a totally new direction. After completing her Master's degree in supply chain management, she joined WINTERSTEIGER to take up a position in the Controlling department. One year later the new role of Financial Business Partner was created in WINTERSTEIGER Operations GmbH and Ulrike Mandl ventured into new territory. Since then, she has been monitoring the budget, analyzing and evaluating the relevant figures, and reporting to the Management Board. “At WINTERSTEIGER, I moved from studying logistics to having a more financial focus. Having knowledge of both logistics and finance fits together very well in my current position.” 

Everyone is welcome

Anyone looking for a new challenge or to develop their skills is welcome here.

© rambossek

Everyone is welcome

Anyone looking for a new challenge or to develop their skills is welcome here.

As different as their career paths are, the five colleagues share one common belief: "Teamwork makes the dream work" (after John C. Maxwell). They support and encourage each other and know that they can always rely on one another for help. As well as mutual trust, they also appreciate the flexible working hours and the many training opportunities at WINTERSTEIGER.

WINTERSTEIGER Operations GmbH

WINTERSTEIGER Operations GmbH is a pioneer in the manufacturing industry. The company develops and produces machines and plant for the three sectors of field trial technology, ski service, and wood thin-cutting. With an impressive range of manufacturing techniques, from machining to welding and laser cutting to electrical and mechanical assembly, the company has established a unique position on the market. WINTERSTEIGER Operations GmbH combines skilled trades with innovative technology to design and supply products of the highest quality and precision.