Hi, I’m Lauretta! After the completion of my Bsc in Civil & Environmental Engineering in 2012, I joined RB Nigeria as a Management Trainee (MT). I was asked to share my experience as an MT and I thought I could also share it here to encourage anyone seeking to build a career with RB.
What I’ve been doing on my training program
As part of my training program in RB Nigeria, I have been exposed to various departments: production, procurement, planning, and operations excellence (OPEX). I also had trade visits to understand the Sales function. Right from my first month, I handled a time-study project that increased productivity on the gel line of the factory. This helped me develop technical and people skills that were valuable for other projects during the course of my Management Trainee programme.
My roles in procurement and planning helped me improve my communication with internal stakeholders like Scientific Services Group, warehouse, quality and production, along with external stakeholders such as local and foreign suppliers, clearing agents, co-packers and bank contacts. I also improved my technical skills while working as OPEX personnel. I am currently on a transfer to RB South Africa as a project Engineer Trainee as part of my learning experience.
I have learnt to be assertive, data-savvy and ready and push myself beyond my comfort limits.
In addition to soft skills, I have learnt to be assertive, data-savvy and ready and push myself beyond my comfort limits. I have also improved on skills such as time management, prioritizing and multitasking. For me, working in RB has helped me imbibe the core values of ownership, teamwork, entrepreneurship and achievement.
Overall, most of my training has been on the job, and I have been fortunate to work on cross functional projects that have not only helped me improve my communication, technical and people skills but also given me an insight to most departments within the supply function.
My placements so far
I had a two-month stint in production, where I handled a project to improve productivity of the Harpic line and I was also the plant manager for three weeks. I then moved on to the procurement department where I led a project on business continuity plan on raw materials for a month. I also worked as operations excellence personnel for the factory where I was the custodian of production volumes and responsible for calculating and reporting OEE, capacity utilisation (CU) and capacity projections across all lines in the factory.
Before my transfer to South Africa, I worked in the planning department for 5 month where I expedited, followed up and ensured delivery of materials (both local and imported and also managed communication with suppliers, clearing agents, co-packers and banks. I’m currently involved in Capex and improvement projects here in South Africa.
Support from team members
As an MT, I have been listened to, given direction, tutored and corrected. I have been given the opportunity to make changes where I see a need. Even where there is a gap, I’ve been encouraged to take up the learnings and improve.
The culture at RB
To survive in RB, you need to be optimistic, daring, innovative, challenge the status quo and willing to accept positive changes. Out performance and achievement is also key.
Advice for incoming graduate trainees
If you are looking for responsibility, an opportunity to challenge yourself beyond limits, drive your success and make a change, then RB is the place for you.
In two words, I can say my experience in RB has been challenging and worthwhile – I look forward to a great future here…
