René Pyka (left) from GF Casting Solutions accepted Jan’s invitation to the GF Uponor plant in Zella-Mehlis (Germany).

Globe XChange Day

Talking shop right away

Testimonial by Jan Dömming

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Here at GF Uponor in Zella-Mehlis (Germany), we produce multilayer composite pipes, and I am responsible for production, production control and production logistics. When I arrive at work in the morning, the first thing I do is have a quick chat with the two production managers. Afterwards, I check the data from the previous day and note specific key figures for the daily meeting at half past nine, when all departments are briefed on the current production status. Then we talk about occupational safety issues, resources where we might encounter bottlenecks, unplanned downtime – simply everything that might affect production. Based on this, we initiate the necessary measures for the day.

Common ground quickly found

René Pyka visited us on Globe XChange Day. René works at GF Casting Solutions in Leipzig (Germany), just a two-hour drive from Zella-Mehlis. While the two sites produce different things – we make pipes, René makes cast components – he and a colleague in Leipzig are responsible for detailed production planning, which is also one of my areas of responsibility. We quickly discovered we had a lot in common and started talking shop right away. René was open-minded and very interested in our processes, so it was a pleasant and enjoyable meeting right from the beginning.

Jan Dömming

Position: Manager Operations
Division: GF Uponor
Location: Zella-Mehlis (Germany)
Joined Uponor in: 2006

“We were amazed to see how similar the processes that we manage are.”
Jan Dömming, Manager Operations at GF Uponor

Jan thoroughly enjoyed the Globe Xchange Day with René from GF Casting Solutions.

During the tour, Jan and René share experiences from production planning.

Deeper understanding through direct comparison

I had obtained samples of our pipes to make it easier for René to understand what we produce in Zella-Mehlis. As we toured the production facility together, we were amazed to see how similar the processes that we manage are. When it comes to organizational routines, there are differences. For example, the two sites use different planning software. And we handle our longterm production planning at the European headquarters of GF Uponor, while I am responsible for short-term planning locally. This is done differently at GF Casting Solutions.

In René’s opinion, our level of digitalization is quite advanced. Naturally, we are proud of this. As René pointed out, some of the processes in Leipzig are more complex than ours – and with around 280 employees, that plant is also considerably larger than our site, which currently has 115 employees.

The first seamless multilayer composite pipes from GF Uponor were produced in Zella-Mehlis.

Exchange of best practices

Despite these differences, I believe that comprehensive collaboration could work very well. This could involve, for instance, sitting down together to analyze the following: How do our colleagues at GF Casting Solutions go about it; how do we do things? Which process is better and how can each team tap into the advantages of the other one? With his wealth of experience, René could provide us with valuable input for process optimization, so I would be delighted if we could stay in touch. And who knows? Perhaps I can make a return visit to Leipzig and gain some insights into the casting production. That would be something completely new for me – and a wonderful opportunity.

Further impressions:

René Pyka (right) from GF Casting Solutions talks about his day with colleague Jan Dömming from GF Uponor in Zella-Mehlis (Germany).

Read the testimony of René's visit to Zella-Mehlis.

Come together

GF Uponor is part of the family

GLOBE XCHANGE DAY was born out of a desire to deepen personal connections within the newly formed GF family. On this unique occasion, four dedicated colleagues from GF Uponor were thoughtfully paired with four counterparts from GF Piping Systems, GF Casting Solutions and GF Machining Solutions, considering shared areas of responsibility and pinpointing common Uponor or GF locations in Sweden, Italy, Germany and Canada on the world map. You will discover compelling testimonials from your colleagues, offering a holistic view of Globe Xchange Day and the profound connections forged across our extended GF family.