Lisa Gunnemann is a professor of manufacturing processes and quality management at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts. As an expert in sustainable production systems, she contributes her experience from industry in her own laboratory - and has recently also taken on the role of Dean.
Prof. Dr. Gunnemann, why was the switch from Business Studies to academia appealing to you?
Before I started as a professor at Fachhochschule Dortmund in March 2020, I worked in the automotive supply industry, and in my last position I was globally responsible for lean management with more than ten locations. That was an exciting task. However, driven by deadlines, I rarely had the time at the time to deal with specialist topics in depth and gain the kind of continuous insight into current research that I would have liked.
Have your expectations as a professor in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering been fulfilled?
Absolutely! I never had the job satisfaction I have now in industry. Of course, there is still a lot for me to coordinate, but at the same time I am very close to the topics. And I'm very self-determined and passionate about it, without constantly looking at the clock. I really enjoy the variety of activities related to teaching and research - which of course includes the lively collaboration with my students and colleagues as well as with cooperation partners from Business Studies. As Dean, I've been able to play an even greater role in shaping my faculty since this semester and rethink things with a fresh perspective, which is also very motivating.
And how do you find the atmosphere at the University of Applied Sciences overall?
I simply enjoy working here with my students and colleagues in this diverse and varied environment. There is also a general openness to trying out new things. My experience at Fachhochschule Dortmund is that if you get involved and want to help shape things, you will be supported. In conversations, former colleagues sometimes ask me about my path into academia here, and I can really only recommend it to them. I would do it again at any time.
What is the idea behind the Lean Lab that you set up at the UAS?
Basically, we focus on the optimization of manual assembly systems as part of process improvements. Our strategy is to streamline manufacturing processes by integrating assistance and collaboration systems, with the main goal being to minimize waste. By waste we mean, for example, any loss of time due to the unnecessary transportation of parts, waiting times for materials or the accumulation of stock between the individual steps of the manufacturing process. For the lean lab in particular, we work closely with companies and can even work with prototypes from industry from time to time. In addition, there are sponsored components and systems that companies are happy to make available to us because they say: "There is nothing better than students coming into practical contact with our products at an early stage, developing innovative solutions and also being able to give feedback.
Is it worthwhile for prospective students to choose the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in terms of job prospects?
Definitely yes! In addition to digitalization, engineers who design and develop hardware are still in demand; this will continue to go hand in hand in the future and will not disappear completely. It is also important that we train our engineers to think about aspects such as climate change and sustainability directly in the development process. We are therefore constantly adapting the content of our study programs so that they remain attractive to both prospective students and Business Studies. Incidentally, the world of work proves us right: our graduates are usually taken on directly.
Do you have a particular focus on promoting women in STEM subjects?
In my own degree course, the proportion of women was not particularly high. And in my job, I was the only woman in management. I never had the impression that this was a disadvantage in my case, but I do see the need to encourage many more women to choose STEM professions and then promote them. This is an issue close to my heart. One of the things we need to do in the faculty is to think about a more targeted, more direct approach to women, not only in relation to female students, but also to female professors. I think that I can contribute my personal perspective quite well here, as well as assessments from my network.