| FACTS ABOUT THOMAS | |
|---|---|
| Started in Wärtsilä: | In October 2010 with Bachelor-Thesis |
| Position now: | Test Engineer |
| Country of Residence: | Germany |
| Nationality: | German |
| Education: | Bachelor of Engineering |
What is your typical day like?
“I am working in the department of Instrumentation and Measurements. At the moment I'm responsible for the application and measurement of strain gauges, which are devices used to measure the strain of an object. They have to be glued on several parts of the engine where the stress is estimated to be of the highest value. For the measurements, we need several kinds of sensors. For example, pressure sensors to measure combustion pressure or revolution counters to measure the engine speed. Due to the variety of sensing elements there’s a lot to be learned every day and many times you have to be creative as there are so many things you need to measure”
How did you end up working with engines?
“I always wanted to work with my hands as well as my mind. In my spare time I work with different engines, from motorbikes to cars. Maybe that’s why I wanted to become a Test Engineer, and I finally did. After having finished my thesis and graduated I started working at Wärtsilä here in Winterthur.”
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
“The best thing about my job is the chance to develop and work with big engines. It’s a big challenge and a great experience to be involved in developing the world’s largest marine diesel engines. That is one of the things that really make Wärtsilä different. I want to learn more about engines, the different components and the functional correlations. Here you can work on innovative products with the latest technologies and with the amount of experts working here you have access to a huge amount of knowledge.“
What is it about testing, that attracts you?
“I like the fact that I get a lot of responsibility. On my different journeys throughout the world we have to take very expensive equipment with us for our measurements. In order to obtain good measurement data the individual components should be well prepared and groomed. And it’s not just about the expensive equipment. The valuable data we collect requires a high degree of responsibility. Also, when we’re for example taking individual measurements at the licensees we never have much time. Because of that several engineers have to solve different problems on their own in a very short time. Each of us is responsible for the functionality of his own measurement equipment. After the measurement a suitable selection of the data take place. This is necessary for the evaluation of the experts."
What do you value the most at Wärtsilä?
“I value the support I get from my colleagues. My colleagues and superiors have always been ready to help me if I have any problems or questions. I hope that one day I can return the favour.”
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