Philipp Grosse reports

Trust and responsibility from the outset

To successfully complete my master’s in industrial engineering from the University of Darmstadt, I decided to undertake my master’s thesis at SEW-EURODRIVE. I had already been familiar with SEW-EURODRIVE for some time, as I came across it while studying for my bachelor’s degree at the University of Karlsruhe. Based on the many good reports from my fellow students and professors, it was clear for me early on that I would like to spend some of my degree working there. This was why I applied to undertake a thesis in the Maxolution department and soon after I was thrilled to be invited to an interview. This went very well, and was conducted in a friendly manner that reflected the atmosphere at the company. A short time later, I received a response and was thrilled with the task I had been given – to spend six months researching potential service business opportunities for automated guided vehicle systems.

Within just a few weeks, I realized that the positive stories I had heard from friends and acquaintances were absolutely true. From the outset, a lot of trust was put in me, and this made it possible for me to work independently. This trust could also be seen in the high profile of the topic. In addition to the two regular set appointments each week, I was also able to talk to both my mentor and any other colleague to ask their opinion about aspects of the topic. The shared team office played a part in making this possible, as it gave me an excellent insight into the diverse nature of project work, while also creating a friendly working environment. My workplace was also very generous, with cutting-edge technology, and identical to those of my colleagues in terms of equipment. This equipment included a personal laptop that enabled me to work from home or from the library.

The work with my university supervisor went very smoothly, and we always quickly found a date for a meeting. This was also partly due to the fact that SEW-EURODRIVE is very interested in expanding its contacts with universities so that both sides can benefit from sharing experiences. Its internal provision for students is also very comprehensive. Alongside the weekly informal student meetings, the company also offers regular training opportunities such as seminars on personal development, public speaking and project management.

Really, all you need to successfully complete your thesis with SEW-EURODRIVE is drive and motivation, because everything else is already in place. I was very happy with my decision to complete my thesis with SEW-EURODRIVE, especially in light of the independent working methods, the friendly working environment and the opportunity to totally focus on every aspect of my thesis.

For this reason, I can only recommend to other students that they apply for an internship, a student work placement or a thesis placement with SEW-EURODRIVE. Even if there doesn’t seem to be a suitable position advertised, it is always worth sending in a speculative application.