Author: Marisa Neil

Today we had the opportunity to visit the Mercedes Benz Bremen plant. It was an extremely stimulating experience which was only enhanced by our amicable guide Max. Despite only learning English 4 years ago he still gave us an informative tour. When we first arrived, we were led into a giant welcome center that displayed 3 different models of cars, unique seating areas, a merchandise shop (that had everything down to nail polish), a kid’s playground, a Virtual reality simulator and a mini cafe.

We were then handed headsets we could use to hear Max as we went along in the noisy environment. We had the opportunity to walk through the part of the factory that dealt with the body of the car so we got to see an actual assembly line of parts moving through via these giant machines and conveyor belts. In the second section of the tour we got to see the attachment of doors, windows and engines. Our group asked a few questions during this time but everything was “top secret”. We unfortunately weren’t allowed to take any pictures of the actual production.

It was so fascinating to see the combined efforts of 95% robotics and 5% human engineers working on the cars. It was really clear that the workers were specialists in the field and Max pointed out that within their 8 hour shift they switch duties so as to not get bored.

I’ve always been a fan of the European car company so I’m so glad I got to see it first hand today.

Throughout this entire trip I had been noticing subtle differences in culture, not only between Europe and the US, but also Europe and home. One of the things that really made an impression after some time was during the church service in Dreseden, Germany. As I was sitting there, not understanding a word that was being said (I did manage to make out the word ‘Germany’), I began to take in the grand architectural design of the cathedral. Despite being a Protestant church it’s grandeur was at the same level as that of a Roman Catholic Church. With the Golden painted altar and statues hanging from the ceiling, I couldn’t help but think “why?”. Yes I understand that it provided a job for local sculptors and the like, but at the core is it all necessary?

I was raised in a Brethren church at home (though we don’t practice all of their customs) where our church consisted of 3 plots of land (for 3 separate occasions) with one having the main church which was quite sizable, but had regular single padded chairs, air conditioning (most other churches just have fans), a sizable band and a hard working special effects and lightning crew. It was quite a modern church so I was never really a fan of the whole big cathedral type churches that existed elsewhere on the island, with traditional pews and hymnals and all the works. I was content with the simple atmosphere I had to worship God. I just never thought that it mattered where you were worshipping, just that you were in fact worshiping. So to see all of these huge churches with their ornate organs I kept wondering if God cares about any of that.

Another difference I thought was significant enough to point out were all the cobblestone paths and roads! Sometimes I’d be watching tv and I’d see ads for European brand cars driving in the streets on these brick roads and I’d always think “nah it’s not actually like that”. Imagine my shock as I walked down one of these only to have to jump out of the way because of on oncoming car. I always just thought the standard for roads was either asphalt or concrete, which I have to say both have their drawbacks, so I’m glad I was able to correct my ignorance and actually agree with the commercial.

This trip has been filled with so many other experiences that I will cherish for a lifetime. I thank God everyday for his richness in blessings and grace for being able to be a part of it.

Today we visited the Munich branch of the Steelcase company, originally based in Grand Rapids MI. This particular facility was named the Steelcase Learning + Innovation Center, and upon arrival, seemed like an unassuming business place. However, once you entered you immediately knew this was not the case. Instead of having a traditional front desk and reception area, we were greeted with lounge chairs, unconventional furniture and even samples of their products.

Klaus Pronaf was our guide throughout the facility and we were immediately aware that Steelcase was unlike any other. In addition to having three separate buildings, each floor was specifically designed to suit the needs of the business, curated after years of analysis. We were taken on a tour through the cafe floor, where they have an in-house barista and refreshment station, the leadership floor that reversed the idea of traditional hierarchy by having the managers in an accessible and practical place, 3 floors of dynamic work stations and a top floor with plenty of seating for “town hall” discussions and creative exploration.

What immediately caught my eye was just how far they strayed from the traditional, conservative workplace setup. On one floor, I noticed that instead of a desk someone had a couch, a tv screen and a low table with their laptop on it. It’s obvious that Steelcase recognizes that the world is changing and so are people and the one-size-fits-all mentality that has been assumed all these years is no longer producing the results they want. I was also impressed by how they integrated technology into the workplace with the use of consoles outside of meeting rooms that were connected to the building’s server, telling people which rooms were occupied and or reserved and by who.

Overall, I really enjoyed our visit to Steelcase. After seeing and understanding how their facility works, I know why Steelcase is as successful as it is today. By not sticking to the status quo and allowing the core beliefs of the company to guide their direction, Steelcase is a pinnacle of innovation and I only hope that one day I have a business that runs so well.