WOMEN IN THE TRADES - INTERVIEW WITH NADIA FEKIH
Nadia has been working in production at KPM for three years. To mark International Women's Day, we visited her at the manufactory to talk about the challenges of everyday life, work rituals and podcast recommendations. And about three generations of women who all have one thing in common: their enthusiasm for KPM
Nadia, how did you come to KPM?
I'm actually a trained beautician. My mother gave me the idea to apply, she has been working in the KPM foundry for years and had seen the job advertisement for working in production. And then I simply applied.
That's right, cosmetics is also a kind of fine motor skill.
Exactly, there are some parallels, except that here an artistic product is created from stock. You can learn techniques like handle garnishing, you just have to know how.
Do you prefer to work on a talking customer or a silent cup?
Oh, both have their advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes I miss the direct customer feedback, but sometimes it's nice to be really immersed in my work, to be in the flow and to be myself. And in between, I can also talk to my colleagues.
Many people also listen to podcasts or music ...
Exactly, I like to do that too. I love true crime podcasts, my favorite right now is "Mordlust".
What does a normal working day look like for you?
I usually get up between half past five and six. Then I prepare my daughter's sandwiches for school and my son gets canteen money. We then have a quick breakfast - for me it's just coffee - I take her to school and then I'm at the factory between 8 and 9 am.
That's a little later than the rest of the production operation gets going, isn't it?
Yes, as I'm a single parent, I have the option of working reduced hours. When I get to work, I sort myself out first and count what I have to do today. I'm at the handle station, which means I mostly garnish molded handles on the cup bodies and clean the resulting seam.
What tools do you work with every day?
Use a sponge and brush, a small knife and a blade to round the edge nicely.
Nadia in the manufactory
As you have already mentioned, you are also a mother. What are the challenges for you in everyday life?
Sometimes it would be nice if you could work from home as a maker and make the cup at home. But unfortunately that's just not possible.
Is there anything you are particularly proud of?
To be honest, it's just getting everything under control, with a child and work and soccer training and so on and so forth. You're proud, but it's also exhausting. That's why I'm actually proud at the end of every week that another week is over that we've managed together.
What advice would you give to young women, like your daughter later on, who want to take up this profession?
At the end of the day, the women have to know for themselves what they want to do, so I would leave it up to her. My daughter was here recently when the Coca-Cola trucks were in our yard and she made a little candlelight in the hands-on workshop, which she really enjoyed. But her favorite part was when we visited my workplace. She then said that she would like to work here one day.
Did you feel the same way when you used to visit your mother here?
To be honest, yes (laughs). I was here as a child too. Back then, it was an open day where I designed a turtle. I probably said exactly the same thing.
And that's how it turned out. Thank you very much for the interview and have a great International Women's Day!
