Dual education and training: a recipe for success.

Another aspect of German corporate culture embraced by the Gaomi plant is the dual education and training programme for technicians. The system is virtually unknown in China, explains Qian Liu, the plant's Dual Education and Training Manager. The 38-year-old engineer joined CLAAS in September 2021 having previously worked for BMW in China and is familiar with the German apprenticeship culture.

Chinese companies normally recruit university graduates and then train them. In contrast, apprentices at CLAAS spend much of their time working in the factory as well as attending college. "When they graduate, these young technicians are already familiar with the company and have a clear career path to follow", says Lui. "That's something they really appreciate." Twelve graduates have completed the programme to date – and if the company has its way, there will be plenty more to follow.

A key future market.

That tallies with the company’s plans for China: CLAAS is developing the export share of the Gaomi factory – with combine harvesters for Europe, Africa and Central Asia. The side of the business that supplies components to other factories is also growing as it helps CLAAS play to its strengths in terms of procurement and in-house production.

"China will remain a key future market for us, although we must always keep a judicial eye on its distinctive characteristics and framework conditions", says Bernd Kleffmann, Senior Vice President Product Unit Combines Range C-F at CLAAS. "China attaches great importance to food self-sufficiency. That's why products from different CLAAS sites have Chinese customers waiting for them. And that includes combine harvesters in green and red from Gaomi."

Xi Chen lives in a small apartment in Gaomi during the week. At the weekend he takes a six-hour train journey back to his wife and three children in Shanghai. On Sunday evenings he commutes back to Gaomi.

Chen plans to progress the factory even further in the coming years, something that the workforce welcomes: "Our colleagues are always willing to learn new skills and look forward to the further development of the factory."

To drive this development forward, Xi Chen will be back in his office again next Monday, by seven at the latest.

The factory in China's breadbasket.