Investment in the future: the Automotive Components business unit’s executi…

The Automotive Components business unit's ambitious Champions program prepares top young managers for the future. voestalpine Automotive Components in Linz is using its levelUP! program to continue to improve the leadership culture in production and systematically develop talent early on.

The Automotive Components business unit's ambitious Champions program prepares top young managers for the future. voestalpine Automotive Components in Linz is using its levelUP! program to continue to improve the leadership culture in production and systematically develop talent early on.

In the voestalpine Group's Metal Forming Division, continuing education and development are an integral part of the corporate culture and the employees' DNA. The Automotive Components business unit with its wide range of programs is already one step ahead-the latest development of its Champions program is a case in point. Unfortunately, the October 2020 program launch had to take place online. 'I hope we will be able to meet in person in the summer or fall,' states the determined program manager Ernst Balla. Business unit manager Harald Traxler has high expectations for the pilot project: 'The Champions program is explicitly not aimed at those with high potential, but rather at high performers who have stood out in management positions.'

Personal development path for participants

The candidates were selected by the Automotive Components business unit's managers at their personnel meeting. Next, a personal development path to the program target line was drawn up for all eleven participants, who also took part in a two-day development center with tasks to be solved individually and in teams. The five three-day training modules are supplemented by individual development modules. 'These could be activities such as taking part in a specific continuing education course or studying special literature,' Balla explains. The Champions program also takes the trainees abroad. With seminar locations in Krems, Linz, Dettingen, Schwäbisch Gmünd, and Bunschoten, the training is a tour of the business unit's value chain. Teaching is largely a management matter. 'A unique aspect of the program is that we rely almost exclusively on top managers from our own ranks,' says Balla. The curriculum reads like the table of contents of a management bible. From leading discussions, negotiations, and employees to looking at project management, processes, and production from the digitalization aspect to developing strategies, the program covers everything a champion needs to know and be able to do.

An investment in the future of the company

It is the skilled workers who operate, maintain and repair the production facilities at voestalpine Automotive Components Linz. Every day, they ensure the production of the high-quality products that customers from all over the world value so highly. That is why voestalpine Automotive Components Linz is keen on continuing education and not only offers a very broad range of courses but also takes an individual approach for each employee. As part of these efforts and taking into consideration last year's employee surveys, the company developed the levelUP! opportunity program. 'levelUP! takes one step ahead-the customized program is targeted at potential young managers in our highest staffed area-production,' explains Production Manager Georg Vaclavek. levelUP! allows voestalpine Automotive Components Linz to independently cultivate tomorrow's managers and win their long-term loyalty to the company. The program is scheduled to start in the middle of the year and consists of two or three modules spread over 16 months-the content of the program ranges from 'self-leadership, leading others, and managing systems' to communication, conflicts, and hands-on 'test cases'.

It's looking good for leadership skills: Susanne Spaun and Georg Vaclavek (left to right) developed the levelUP! program together with management and an external partner and with the involvement of the works council.