Mr. Wakolbinger, how did you get your job as Production Manager?
At the time, HARTJES was looking for a production manager. A colleague drew my attention to this and it was he who suggested me to HARTJES.
You already have a lot of experience in this area ...
Exactly. After leaving school, I started as a production employee at the shoe company in my town, where I spent 16 years learning a lot of work processes, which led to me being used as a stand-in and eventually taking over the management of the department. At the same time, I took my final apprenticeship exam and immediately afterwards completed the 2-year master craftsman’s school in Carinthia.
I then spent 10 years working for various shoe companies abroad before finally joining HARTJES.
Why did you choose HARTJES?
I wanted to return to Austria, mainly because of my family, and at the same time continue to work in my trade. It’s great to now be able to work in a company that sticks to Austria as a location despite the difficult conditions, and I’m proud to be able to play my part in keeping it that way for a long time to come!
You manage production not only at HARTJES, but also at the subsidiary MUCOS. What do you like about it? What do you enjoy and find easy to do, what are the exciting challenges?
I really appreciate the fact that I can change and improve things and develop myself and my environment. I also enjoy working in a team with people from different backgrounds and with different characters.
Of course, there are also daily challenges to overcome. But that’s also fun because I’m involved in finding solutions.
People and humanity play a major role at HARTJES. How are relationships built, lived and maintained at HARTJES?
No matter which department you work in at HARTJES: Everyone will find a sympathetic ear for their concerns and someone who is willing to help.
The way we interact with each other is informal; employees are not just a number here, but real colleagues. When the managing director personally wishes everyone a happy birthday and personally invites everyone to company parties, when conversations are sought with everyone in the team and the tone is always friendly and respectful, that is an expression of great appreciation for me – and that often works wonders.
When you think about the future of HARTJES, what are you most looking forward to?
That together with a great team I can master the challenges we are currently facing and will continue to face as well as possible.
What are the most ambitious goals you have set yourself for your professional future? And where are you right now?
I have achieved what I always wanted to be and I hope that I can continue to do this for a very long time. I manage the great production department at HARTJES and MUCOS, where I am already doing exactly what I want to do in the future!
