Your first day of work was as an intern at the planning office for Taycan production. Were you disappointed that it didn’t smell like gasoline?
Marius Groß: "When I started at Porsche in April 2019, the new Taycan plant was in the final stages of construction and my department, which did the overall project planning for the Taycan factory, was still housed in containers. That made it all the more exciting to see all the new production systems in action on the first day in the plant. There isn’t any gasoline, of course, but it still has that whiff of a mechanical workshop."
What is it like to start working for a company that is at the forefront of a new field of technology?
Marius Groß: "It couldn’t be a better time. I was able to experience firsthand how Porsche made the technological shift to electromobility. With the Taycan, Porsche introduced the first all-electric sports car and built the factory of the future. I’m proud to have been involved. Of course I played just a small part, but my co-workers always gave me the feeling of being a full member of the team."
How do you go from a regular internship to a master’s degree internship?
Marius Groß: "Right at the start of my internship I was already thinking about writing my master’s thesis with Porsche. So I went to my boss and suggested a few topics to him. And then I applied for and got a master’s thesis position that Porsche had advertised for. Both ways are possible if you want to do a master’s degree internship, because there are all kinds of interesting topics right now. What’s important is that you’re active and that you approach people. I have the sense that there’s a more vibrant pioneering spirit in general here at Porsche than at other companies. The supervisors are interested in good suggestions from interns too, and they’ll help you put them into practice."
What will your master’s thesis be about?
Marius Groß: "I’m focusing on factory planning again. Porsche and Schuler AG are building a new pressing facility in the city of Halle to make components for the electric Macan. My job is to develop a track-and-trace system that lets you track every component from start to finish and also link up all the production parameters. Ultimately it’s about using cameras and object IDs to automate the quality control system. It’s an exciting project that’s setting up something completely new. And I’ve always been drawn by that type of thing."
You’re more interested in production than development, right?
Marius Groß: "Both areas have their attractions. For me, production is no less interesting than research and development. What I like about production is that you’re so close to the product itself, and every day you can see how the cars are being built. When you get to the office in the morning, you don’t know what the day will bring. Each day is different, but it all leads up to the final product. Furthermore, our department also does development work, on everything from 3D models to the factory itself."
Info
Marius Groß is studying industrial engineering and management, specializing in production technology, and has recommended himself for a position as an intern at Porsche.
Interview: Benjamin Büchner
Text first published in CAMPUS Magazine.
