Career

Audi employees in the world – Responsibility, freedom and professional challenges in China

2024. 08. 23.

"For me, the driving force is two things: the opportunity to learn something new and the experience of responsibility. I am motivated by challenges and finding solutions to them. I always have the feeling of curiousity if I can do it.
I also believe that with responsibility comes the freedom that is essential for growth. I enjoy making an impact, creating something new. And that doesn't work without taking responsibility."

Our colleague Dániel Weisz arrived in Győr 13 years ago, where he not only found the perfect place for him and his family to settle, but also the professional challenges he was looking for.

Read the interview below to get a closer look at the mysteries of Chinese culture, and find out more about Dani's exciting career journey and his posting to Changchun.

Tell us about your experience at Audi Hungaria so far.

Dániel Weisz: I first met Audi at the University of Technology Job Fair in 2011. I was looking for a place for my practical training where I could also write my thesis. After my successful application, I started my 13-year journey at Audi Hungaria, initially as a trainee in the construction planning team of the new vehicle plant's construction project. These 18 months were one of the most defining experiences of my career when I could witness as the new vehicle plant was growing from the ground up.

At the end of the project, I joined the general planning team as a planner, where I gained an insight into the workings of the powertrain production after my experience in the vehicle plant. In 2016, my journey led me back to the vehicle plant, where I dived into the mysteries of equipment design and became responsible for the conveyor technology planning in the vehicle assembly shop. Among other modifications, I was also involved in the launch of the Audi Q3, which I will never forget.

In 2019, I returned to the Powertrain Factory for a short period of time, where I was involved in a project related to the structural changes to the conveyor lines for the production of the new PPE drives. This is where my relationship with electromobility began.

In 2022, looking for new challenges, I came across plans for a new factory in Changchun, based on the PPE platform. As the factory expansion project was probably the most life-changing period for me in the company, it was no question if I should apply for a vacant position in the field of conveyor technology planning. As a result, since September 2022, I have been a member of the project's assembly planning team. Initially, I was project manager responsible for nearly half of the conveyor systems at the assembly site, and since the beginning of March 2023 I have been overseeing the installation and commissioning process in China.

Why were you attracted by the possibility of a posting abroad?

D.W.: As a kid, I travelled a lot with my family, so I always loved exploring new places, and I also worked in the US in a summer break during my university years. It was the best summer of my youth, so it's not beneath me to work abroad.

Of course, it's a great challenge professionally to work in a completely different culture, but it's also a great opportunity for my family, which was an important factor in my decision.

My children now go to an international school with children from all over the world. This will give them an attitude that I hope will accompany them throughout their lives: to be open to new experiences, curious about other cultures and courageous in uncertain situations.

And being part of the realisation of a new factory is an extraordinary experience. I'll never forget when, in preparation for the topping-out ceremony at the Győr vehicle assembly, my then manager and I were walking on the roof of the building, and from this high point, looking down, he said with pride in his voice: "Dani, we have a project here that usually only comes along once in a lifetime: we can build a new factory." I am very happy to experience this uplifting feeling again.

Where do you currently work and what are your daily tasks?

D.W.: I’m a member of the conveyor planning team in the assembly planning department of the Manufacturing Engineering Division of AUDI-FAW NEV Co. in Changchun. I was involved in the project during the design phase as the leader of 3 sub-projects. It was an exciting time working with the Chinese contractors to overcome language barriers and develop technical solutions that I could then oversee the construction of from the moment I arrived on site. We are currently in the pre-series production phase, where we are optimising our equipment and preparing to put it into operation soon.

In the meantime, I have also been involved in the coordination of the whole conveyor technology planning team in the assembly, and since August this has been complemented by the coordination of battery assembly projects together with a Chinese colleague.

What is your relationship like with your colleagues there?

D.W.: I can safely say that it is good. They are very nice and helpful and I am also impressed by their experience. I have colleagues who have built up 3 factories before joining the company, bringing a depth of professional knowledge to the team. I feel that because of our Eastern European past, I am culturally closer to them, which they appreciate, and I sometimes act as a link between them and my German colleagues.

What do you think are the main differences between the workplace culture there and here?

D.W.: My experience is that they don’t put as much emphasis on standardized solutions as we do. They want the system we have built to get up and running and then work somehow, but they are less concerned that it should be transparent, easy to change later, efficient and stable. I think that as delegates posted persons, we can change this approach a lot. But they also taught me a lot about the importance of being curious and hard-working. Once they have a clear goal, they work hard and tirelessly to achieve it.

Who did you travel to China with and how do you spend your free time?

D.W.: We set off with my wife and our daughter, now 12, and our 9-year-old son.

Since weekdays are essentially about work, weekends are typically family time. This gives me time to relax a bit, play games, and spend time on my hobbies of cooking and baking bread. There is a large lake with a well-kept park near our complex, and we often walk there. And we use the holidays to travel within China and to neighbouring countries. In China we have also visited several big cities from Beijing through Shanghai to Shenzhen and Hong Kong, but we have also had the opportunity to get a taste of rural China, visiting beautiful places like Yangshou and Yanji. The country has so many incredible faces, so much to discover because of its size and thousands of years of history, that even 2 postings would not be enough to see it all.

In addition, from Hungary remote and exotic places such as South Korea, Japan and the Philippines are within easy reach from here.

For us, the most memorable experiences were the beautiful mountains of Yangshou, the vibrant atmosphere of Hong Kong, and the modern city of Seoul, which combines Far Eastern and Western culture.

It's also important to mention the Hungarian community of more than 20 people living here in Changchun, from whom we received a lot of help even before our arrival. One family living here was so kind to help us with questions and orientation during our preparations, and another one surprised us with a small package after our arrival. They showed us around the complex, told us the most important things to know, and started us on our journey.

It's a great experience that we get together every 2 months or so to make goulash soup or pizza, and then we take out the pálinka and Unicum we brought from home, and some good Hungarian music. We also spent Christmas together, cooking fish soup and celebrating all night long. Sometimes we travel to nearby attractions together on weekends. So a little slice of home is always with us, and real friendships have been made.

What do you miss most about being here and how often do you visit home?

D.W.: What I miss most is the food: the cottage cheese, the home-made smoked sausage, a good home-made breakfast, and the smell of fresh baked goods and deli counter food that you're used to from the grocery stores. And of course the rest of the family and our friends.

In the last 18 months, I have been home 2 times for a week each, not to rest, but because of work commitments. The first time I was home was exactly one year later.

What do you think are the personal/professional qualities that are essential for someone to succeed in a foreign assignment?

D.W.: I would like to highlight two things: courage and a positive attitude.

It takes courage because moving to the other side of the world means facing a lot of unknowns, such as a lot of paperwork, a new culture, living environment, job and colleagues, not to mention the fact that moving takes your family completely out of their comfort zone. All of this, of course, creates uncertainty, which takes courage to overcome.

And let's not forget the completely different eating habits! Sometimes I had to be courageous not to go through the day hungry. Chinese cuisine is incredibly tasty, and here it's completely different from what you're used to in the Chinese restaurants around the corner back home.

Another essential factor is a positive attitude. In the midst of all the uncertainty, we must be able to see the good in it, because with it all comes good. This helps to maintain stability even in the most extreme situations.

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