What does an employee in Validation & Benchmarking do, Mr Stiegele?
Gerold Stiegele has truly grown up at GEZE. Although he is not yet thirty years old, he has already enjoyed an impressive ten-year career with our company. Today, he leads the “Validation & Benchmarking” team, with an attitude of pride in his work – and gratitude.
The best way to network at GEZE – a dual studies programme
In 2012, the freshly-minted Abitur recipient was looking for good training opportunities in the region. The practically-minded young man was not interested in just a degree programme. But he was interested in electronics, computers, and mechanical engineering – so he registered at the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) and applied at GEZE. He particularly enjoyed the area of validation, so he started working there after completing his degree.
Although I was not familiar with GEZE at all, my initial contact with the company was very positive – and I was not disappointed. I went through the design, development, and validation departments, as they were relevant to my interests. Even in the first few years, I was able to build a large network and try my hand at different things.
Gerold Stiegele, Team Lead Validation MechatronicsSometimes, being a bean counter is part of the job description
The Pforzheim native also regularly works internationally – with colleagues in locations ranging from Spain to China and Serbia. He spent four weeks there during his apprenticeship. © GEZE GmbH
Gerold Stiegele has a degree in mechanical engineering, and he likes to talk about standards. No wonder, as his job, ultimately, is to validate GEZE products as the head of a 12-person team, in order to ensure their readiness for the market. With the size of the GEZE portfolio, this is truly a mammoth task: “Our products have to be certified. Because of this, our focus in validation is to review standardised and individual customer stipulations until they are fulfilled in full. Only then are products ready for series production. Sometimes, Gerold Stiegele’s team may send products back if a component does not pass muster on the test bench. “Of course, no one likes to cause delays and additional expenses. But that is our responsibility: We can only release a product if it fulfils both the customer’s stipulations and statutory regulations 100 percent – and is finally certified by an external testing institution."
We can only release a product if it fulfils both the customer’s stipulations and statutory regulations 100 percent.
Gerold Stiegele, Team Lead Validation MechatronicsLots of communication and responsibility – you have to like both
The young man says that this work demands a high level of tact, empathy, as well as assertiveness, ideally in person: “The coronavirus clearly showed us we can do a lot of things virtually. However, when it comes to sensitive and persuasive work, looking someone in the eyes is very important to foster understanding and trust”. Having a reliable team is just as important: “That is what is so extraordinary at GEZE. There is a very strong, even familial atmosphere of solidarity. This is really different than what I hear from my friends who landed at large group companies. At GEZE, you can really make a difference and shape your own job description and career path. However, you can only do so if you are willing to take on responsibility”.
GEZE is a real family business – which means it is a place where you can be proactive but also a place where you are expected to take on responsibility. You always have plenty of freedom and above all trust to do so. For that, I am very thankful!
Gerold Stiegele, Team Lead Validation Mechatronics
Material science and operational stability were not necessarily his favourite topics during his studies. However, at GEZE they became just that, and Gerold Stiegele now teaches the first and second semesters in these disciplines at his former alma mater. © GEZE GmbH
Essential job skills – planning, structure, and organisation
Gerold Stiegele possesses all of the key skills for being successful at GEZE. The fact that he now leads the Validation team is proof of this. “Yes, I am having a lot of fun helping to direct our team here. We are all generalists in mechatronics and mechanical engineering. In addition, we specialise in certain segments: There are four colleagues in sliding doors, three in windows, and four working with automatic swing doors and locks”. All of this takes lots of planning, structure, and organisation. “We are very well equipped to do this here at GEZE: We use modern collaboration platforms and ticket systems that allow us to work in a quick, objective, and engaged way within the organisation”.
Red hot – for automatic sliding doors
If you were to ask him what he finds most fun about his job, he would grin: “Well, the automatic sliding doors were what attracted me. That might sound crazy, but it isn’t: Just imagine what that kind of door has to be able to do in extreme circumstances! The sensor has to check millions of times whether the door can or should open and close. Sliding doors at petrol stations, for instance, face the interesting task of having to be able to let people out, while not letting anyone else come in. Or sliding doors in an operating room, which need to close hermetically to prevent any particles from coming in. And sliding doors on ships have to be able to withstand wind, weather, salt, and the angle of inclination. Validating all of these stipulations and ultimately specifically releasing them for the product ... that’s really fun for me!”
Just see where the road takes you? Only on vacation!
With a job that involves so much responsibility, Gerold Stiegele knows how important it is to take breaks. “I keep in shape with football, cycling, and running – and I enjoy taking breaks from my everyday life”. He and his girlfriend recently returned from a three-week vacation. “You know, we just hooked up the camper and drove to Portugal, then stopped wherever we felt like it. And when bad weather was in the forecast, we just kept driving – without any particular plan at all. I really enjoy that, since it's exactly the opposite of my professional life”.
What are some key requirements for working in Validation & Benchmarking?
- English (business fluency), additional languages are an advantage
- Enjoy interacting with people and cultures around the world
- Ability to work well on a team
- Good organisational skills
- Eagerness to take on new challenges
- Creativity – particularly when finding solutions
Current vacancies in the development area
