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In our Diversity@NORMA series, we highlight the diversity of personalities that work at NORMA Group. In 2024, the focus is on the diverse educational backgrounds of our employees. Representatives from different departments and countries share the experience they have had when working with colleagues who have taken different educational paths and how this is precisely why an effective exchange of ideas and information takes place at NORMA Group.
Rita Melo, Quality Control, and Sergio Goncalves, Quality Manager, work in the same team at our site in Àgueda, Portugal. While Rita has only recently completed her studies in Materials Engineering, Sergio already has years of experience in the working world after his studies of Industrial Engineering. How do their differing educational backgrounds and their experience shape the success of the team and NORMA Group?
Rita, Sergio, could you talk to us about your educational backgrounds?
Rita: I studied Bio Engineering – a decision that I took based on my fascination with the convergence of engineering and the exciting field of life sciences. During my studies, I became interested in certain topics that made me want to take a closer look at the field of materials engineering. I then decided to do my Master’s degree in Materials Engineering.
This course of study provided me with a deeper insight into the behavior, properties and practical applications of various materials, from innovative polymers to high-performance metals. Throughout the Master’s program, I had the opportunity to work on several projects that challenged me technically and allowed me to explore processes and the properties of a wide range of materials.
Sergio: I studied Industrial Engineering with a focus on management. It allowed me to gain significant insight into areas such as electronics, mechanical engineering, programming, energy and sustainability. After graduating, there were all kinds of career opportunities open to me: I have friends who studied the same thing that I did and work in consulting or programming. But most of them, like me, work in industry.
Can you describe how information and ideas are exchanged in your team?
Sergio: We are a pretty small team and share the office with another colleague who is responsible for environment, health and safety.
“We have a range of different backgrounds, but we work very well together and there is a strong team spirit.”
We each have our own knowledge that we contribute to our daily work.
This is not only due to the different degrees that we have, but also because we come from different generations. Every time has its own special features – artificial intelligence, for example, was not as big a topic when I was a student as it is today.
Rita: That’s exactly right! The diversity of our backgrounds helps us to be considerably more flexible in the way we work as a team. Collaboration and solving the challenges we face is driven by the complementary perspectives and knowledge each of us brings to the table. This diversity not only enriches our way of thinking, but also gives us a wide range of skills to tackle challenges in a dynamic and efficient way.
What are the advantages that result from the diversity of your educational backgrounds?
Rita: We work in an environment that promotes the exchange of knowledge and continuous learning.
“This collaborative approach has proven to be indispensable when it comes to solving complex tasks and improves the quality of all our projects.”
Sergio: Absolutely – the key word here is teamwork. The work is never performed by just one person, but always together. The different experiences are necessary to achieve an optimal outcome.
What role does your professional background play in the work you do every day?
Sergio: After completing my studies, I did an internship in the production department of an international company. I then worked there for almost seven years as a quality engineer in production. As a result of this experience, I now have a very good understanding of my colleagues in production. This makes working together much easier. I’ve been working at NORMA Group for almost three years now.
Rita: I just finished my studies a year and a half ago and am now getting my first professional experience at NORMA Group. My work is very exciting and important for my personal and professional development.
To what extent does the diversity of educational backgrounds enrich NORMA Group?
Sergio: Diversity makes us stronger. I’m talking about diversity not only in terms of education, but also in terms of culture and age. The added value we derive from this is multifaceted, and NORMA Group benefits from it as a global company.
Rita: I couldn’t agree more! NORMA Group benefits from a broad spectrum of expertise that is attributable to the different educational paths. This diversity of approaches leads to greater effectiveness in our daily work. At the same time, it creates an environment of continuous learning for each individual, making the company better able to adapt to changes in an increasingly complex and demanding marketplace.
