Ronja Winter

"Continental provides me with the opportunity to apply my studies to practical business situations"

Since when have you been employed at Continental?
Since August 2007

How did you find us?
After completing my basic study period, I planned to take part in an internship program.  An acquaintance, who works with Continental, told me about a vacant position there. At the job interview, I found the explanations to be so interesting that I decided to begin the internship.   

Why did you decide to be a working student at Continental?
Continental offers me a wide range of opportunities to advance myself and to continuously explore and learn new things, which is something I want to do after my studies. I especially like the international mindset within the company, as I very much enjoy being in touch with people from around the world.

What does a typical workday look like for you? Is there such a thing?
One of my main tasks is working on the Continental Tire Manufacturing System (CT.MS), which is the production system for Continental’s tire division. It unifies control and organizational standards within the plants using lean manufacturing tools. This allows standardized processes to continuously be achieved and furthers an interchange of information spanning the plants. In collaboration with my colleagues, my job is to assure sustainable implementation and the continuous expansion and improvement of the system. I am also responsible for the communication, for example the CT.MS Intranet page. Generally, I can say that my duties are quite diverse. That alone makes it difficult to describe a typical workday.

Which character traits and skills should working students bring with them?
Motivation, openness and curiosity are the crucial factors for me.

Which was your most exciting day at Continental thus far?
When I found out that in the course of the CT.MS project I would be travelling to the tire factory in Brazil. What especially pleased me was to be able to support the on-site implementation of the Continental Tire Manufacturing System. Like I said, I like working closely with people from other cultures. Here was the opportunity to work in Brazil for two months, to learn another language and to expand my network, which was, of course, ideal. 

How do you balance work with university, leisure time and family?
This balancing act is not always easy, especially during exam times. Mind you, my department is most accommodating. I work more during lecture-free periods than I do during the semester.  

How do you spend your time off?
I go to concerts, exhibits and I like to travel. I also try to create a balance by doing sports.

How do you picture your professional future?
I can well imagine working at Continental after graduating. However, for now my master’s project is due and I hope to be able to work on it in collaboration with the company.