When everything runs smoothly, she has done a thorough job. Some tasks are most noticeable when they are done well. Because then nothing happens at all. Angela Benedix knows this principle exactly. As a quality manager in advanced product quality planning, she works with project management to ensure that new customer projects are guided smoothly through to the start of series production. “If we do our job well, there are no problems at all in series production,” she says. The fact that she now carries this responsibility was by no means preordained, as her route there began somewhere entirely different.
From quality control to Quality Manager
When Angela Benedix joined KSK, she says she had “no idea at all” about coating or the automotive industry. Having come to Germany from Romania at the age of 15, she completed her A-levels here and began studying mathematics, which she had to discontinue. After starting a family, she wanted to return to work and initially joined KSK in quality control through temporary agency work. “I enjoyed it from the very beginning. I immediately felt: this suits me well.” After around a year and a half, KSK offered her a permanent position. Years as a quality assistant followed, then part-time seminars in quality management and finally the role of quality manager: “When people see that you make an effort and enjoy your job, you get an opportunity here. That is what I value most in an employer.”
Learning in every production hall
Angela Benedix attributes her progress not only to ambition, but also to her environment. Rather than rushing ahead, she first wanted to “get a feel” for the halls, look over her colleagues’ shoulders and learn. “I really learned a great deal in the hall, from every colleague,” explains the 39-year-old. Induction plans for individual quality topics, close exchange with experienced quality managers and the opportunity to work in a wide range of areas gave her the tools for her current role. She has experienced first-hand that KSK invests in employees who show commitment.
Two years ahead of series production
Today, Angela Benedix’s work often begins around two years before the first component is coated in series production. During this time, numerous customer meetings and audits take place, processes are established and tests carried out to ensure everything functions reliably at the start of series production. This also includes the multitude of documents required for thorough advanced product quality planning. Because the team is deliberately kept lean, the mother of two is involved in virtually every project from the outset. She clearly identifies what she needs for this: communication with customers, teamwork, good English and a genuine understanding of quality.
Family, sport and switching off
After work, Angela Benedix becomes, as she says with a laugh, a “taxi driver” for her two daughters, who have many hobbies. Even so, she goes to the gym for an hour almost every day. It is less about training than switching off: listening to music, unwinding and clearing her mind. At weekends, the family spends a lot of time together, eating out, taking short trips or enjoying nature. During carnival season, her daughters’ performances are in the diary, while winter means skiing. One particular trip remains memorable: Siena in Tuscany, named after her younger daughter.
Team spirit at KSK
What Angela Benedix appreciates about KSK is something she felt from day one: people genuinely matter here. Those who show commitment are given opportunities and support to develop further. Her own story is the best proof of this: from quality control to quality manager, supported by colleagues who shared their knowledge. For her, that is precisely what the “we” at KSK means: a family-owned business with around 260 employees, where career changers become specialists and commitment counts.
Join the KSK team
At KSK, the person behind the process and the willingness to keep learning count. If you would like to work in an owner-managed family business that invests in its employees, values short decision-making paths and offers genuine prospects, we look forward to hearing from you. Discover your opportunities at KSK.