Meet Manuel: Head of Quality for fabrication in Nenzing
"Whoever wants to do, can do!" Hydro Nenzing offers everyone the chance to climb the career ladder! Manuel Battisti is 38 years old and has been with Hydro Nenzing since 2007. He rose from machinist to quality manager for fabrication. In an interview, he tells us how he mastered this path.
Manuel, how did your professional path start?
Originally, I wanted to do a technical Matura at the Higher Technical College for Electrical Engineering in Bregenz. But after just one year, I wanted to start working instead and decided to do an apprenticeship as a mechanical engineer and technical draftsman. Then I worked for 5 more years as a steel construction and mechanical engineer.
How did your career at Hydro Nenzing begin?
In 2007, I started as a qualified machinist and technical draftsman at Hydro in Nenzing.
At that time, I was employed in the area of initial sampling. My area of activity was the initial sampling of profiles and their digitization. At that time, I was already able to take on a lot of responsibility and introduce a second Ascona machine to improve our processes. I particularly enjoyed the optimization and automation of our processes and seeing how the other departments in our company benefited from my work was incredibly motivating.
Lateral entrants in quality management
Later I got the opportunity to change internally and started my career in quality management as a quality clerk. Since I came from a technical profession and had not previously dealt intensively with quality, I was able to do a lot of further training in the field of quality management. For example, I completed further training to become a system manager for quality, surface metrology and an auditor for quality, environmental, safety and health management systems. From 2016 I looked after automotive customers in the quality department. This professional challenge brought me a big step forward and I also enjoyed it a lot. My main tasks consisted of supplier management, feasibility studies, test planning, measurement technology and initial sampling, so it was very varied.
How is it that you are now in charge of the quality department for further processing?
I am the best example of the fact that all doors are open to you at Hydro if you want to develop further. At the end of 2016, I began my master’s degree in Quality, which I have now successfully completed. I have also completed various specialist certifications and trained as a welding coordinator. All this enables me to further develop my skills in the field of quality management.
Since 2020 I have been able to lead the quality team in our further processing at the Nenzing site. With my two employees, we ensure every day that the requirements of our customers are also implemented in the products ordered and are responsible for quality-related production issues. What I particularly enjoy is that we are always working to get the best for our customers and to improve ourselves every day. We want to inspire the customer.