Sairam Damparala

Alumnus

Sairam Damparala

Position

Global Quality Management –

Factory Coordinator

Company

BSH Hausgeräte GmbH

Graduated

2021

Faculty

Technology and Bionics

Degree programmes

Mechanical Engineering, M.Sc.

Bionics & Biomimetics, M.Sc.

Date of the interview

April 2023

 

What motivated you to pursue your master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Bionics & Biomimetics at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences?

Pursuing a master's degree in Germany is particularly attractive for several reasons. Being home to many renowned universities such as Rhine-Waal University, Germany offers excellent engineering degrees almost at no cost. This means that in Germany many degree programmes in public universities are tuition free. On top of this, the standard of education in Germany, especially in the field of engineering, is very high. After doing my research, I concluded that pursuing a master’s in mechanical engineering in Germany (and especially at Rhine-Waal University) would help me achieve my career aspirations.

Rhine-Waal University is a young university with a young and dynamic teaching cadre. It was founded with a focus on international students, which is reflected in its many English-taught degree programmes. This was advantageous for me because it creates an environment with diverse cultures and connections, which helped me to develop both my future career and my interpersonal relationships.

From my research, I also felt that the location and campus would be serene for learning and give me an opportunity to meet with locals. Rhine-Waal University has strong connections with industries in the region that can lead to internships, academic research opportunities and even permanent employment, too.

During my time as a student at HSRW, the Submarine Team and its work in submarine development research really fascinated me and motivated me to join the team, which in turn led me into studying MSc in Bionics and Biomimetics alongside my MSc in Mechanical Engineering.

How was your time in Kleve? (Student life, student jobs, free time activities etc.)

When I was studying in Kleve, I joined the HSRW Submarine Team because of my enthusiasm for science and technology. It was a rewarding experience, especially working as the team’s management lead, where I was responsible for sourcing funds and competitive opportunities for the team.

I also actively participated in university politics as an elected member of Student Parliament (StuPa) for 4 years, where I served in various capacities, for example as vice-president of StuPa for 3 years, etc. I was also elected to the Faculty Student Council (FSR) for Technology and Bionics for 2 terms, as well as to the elected Dean’s member for 2 terms.

Alongside my academic activities, I worked with Eat Happy GmbH as a quality specialist for a year and half to earn some money on the side and for my physical and mental well-being. It was a worthwhile experience during this time, managing and balancing my time to achieve my goals. At the very beginning, my German skills were very bad, but working with Eat Happy GmbH exposed me to native Germans a lot, which really helped to improve my German.

HSRW is an international university, which gave me the opportunity to interact with people from diverse cultures, learning different ways to do things and understanding other people’s cultures, which is key to success. In my free time, I also learnt badminton, skateboarding, and scuba diving. I also can’t forget the adventure of riding a bicycle from Kleve to Nijmegen with international friends on the weekends, where we used to visit parks and beautiful sceneries.

Above all, my time at HSRW in Kleve allowed me to develop strong communication skills, leadership skills, the ability to give and receive feedback, a willingness to teach and learn new things, interpersonal skills, and I also learned to overcome my stage fright and work effectively in (or lead, as needed) teams.

You’re currently working in quality management at BSH Hausgeräte GmbH. Please tell us more about the path you took to this career.

It has always been my desire to work with Bosch because of their reputation and the quality of their products. Getting a permanent position in German companies straight away can be difficult. To improve my chances, I started by applying for internships. After several applications, I got an interview with BSH Hausgeräte GmbH (Bosch Siemens Home Appliance), which was a success and led to an internship in their production department, which in turn led to a master’s thesis opportunity for my master’s in mechanical engineering.

Due to the quality of my thesis, the company gave me another thesis opportunity, this time for my master’s in Bionics and Biomimetics, in the area of project execution. During my 2nd master’s thesis in Bretten, I saw an open position in Giengen in Global Quality Management. I applied, got an interview and then a job offer.

Today I work at Bosch Siemens Home Appliance as Factory Coordinator for the company’s factories across the globe.

What are your main tasks and responsibilities and what do you enjoy the most at work?

I work as a Factory Coordinator in Global Quality Management at BSH Hausgeräte GmbH. My job entails overseeing factories in India, Turkey and Germany, specifically in the area of quality management for refrigerator manufacturing. This involves visiting factories, meeting with the countries’ local management teams, and discussing issues regarding quality and improvement.

The refrigerator segment of BSH Hausgeräte GmbH comprises 4 modular designs: I am responsible for the complete lifecycle of one of these designs, i.e. each refrigerator from the production plant, to the consumer, and until the product is eventually scrapped. This involves working closely with customer service to obtain current feedback on technical issues from the customers. I gather these clues and pieces of information and use them to improve our products and solve glaring problems for our customers with the help of our technical department. I also support the factories under my supervision, helping them in finding solutions, using new technology for problem solving, knowledge sharing, etc.

I am also responsible for quality production for one of our refrigerator subsystems, which involves a continuous exchange with development, production and purchasing teams to ensure the best possible product for our customers. I work as a project lead for reliability, which involves monitoring the life span of our products and investigating any anomalies, and discussing improvements with our development team to keep our customers satisfied. My role gives me the opportunity to travel, meet different people and deal with many numbers and figures as an engineer. I have a lot of data to play with which is so exciting to me.

Recently, I’ve been given a new role: monitoring key performance indicators for quality (KPIs), their potential impacts, as well as quality performance reporting to help our refrigerator factories set and achieve performance goals. I also work to establish automated reporting standards for better comparability and use of resources.

Apart from my daily activates at work, I also contribute my free time as a mentor in StartGlocal, a project of the Centre for Research, Innovation and Transfer at Rhine-Waal University, which I managed to get through my first startup, which I founded on the side.

Which important skills for this position did you acquire during your studies at Rhine-Waal University?

Graduating from Rhine Waal University enabled me to develop my managerial and analytical skills, there is no doubt about it. I developed my leadership skills through my work as vice-president of Student Parliament. I overcame my stage fright because I had to meet with both students and lecturers in various extra-curricular activities while working as an elected member of the Dean’s Office and the Faculty Student Council for T&B etc.

My experience in the courses I chose also exposed me to fields such as materials engineering, business management, software development and more, which are very useful and applicable to my current job. The field of bionics and biomimetics awakened my innovative sense, something very much needed for my job, i.e. thinking out of the box.

Which advice do you have for our engineering students?

Stay organised: Engineering studies can be demanding and require a lot of work. Make sure to stay organised by keeping close track of your deadlines, assignments, and projects. Use tools like calendars, planners to help you stay on top of your workload.

Networking: Networking is crucial in engineering. Attend job fairs, join professional organisations, and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn. This can help you build relationships that may lead to opportunities in the future.

Take advantage of resources: Germany has a wealth of resources available to engineering students, including libraries, research facilities, and industry partnerships. Take advantage of these resources to gain practical experience and knowledge that can help you succeed in your studies and future career.

Learn German: While many engineering programs in HSRW are taught in English, learning German can be an advantage. Being able to speak the language can help you communicate better with colleagues and clients, and can also make it easier to navigate daily life in Germany.

Balance your studies with extracurricular activities: While it's important to focus on your studies, make sure to balance your academic work with extracurricular activities. Join clubs or teams related to your interests, or pursue hobbies that help you relax and recharge.

Remember, everyone's path to success is different. Take the time to reflect on what works best for you and what you want to achieve in your career. Good luck!

If you wish to get in touch, feel free to contact me on LinkedIn!