Sign in
Plant Director - Primary Education
My name is Silvia Ferraris and I am a Plat Director. A "plant" is just another word for a factory. After finishing high school, I went to the university where I studied Engineering . During my studies I realized that manufacturing is very important for making positive changes in the future, and I decided to work in this field. For the last 17 years, I have been working for a company that is called Cummins, in Italy. Here we produce engines and other parts of bigger machines such as axles and brakes. We then use these parts for trucks and buses. The role of Plant Director allows me to combine my knowledge with my leadership skills.
Meet the professional
My journey to becoming a Plant Manager started with a deep passion for technology, efficiency, and leadership. From an early age, I was very interested in how things work, which naturally led me towards a career where I could manage complex systems and improve processes. Additionally, I have always enjoyed leading teams, solving problems and changing things for the better. What motivates me is the belief that a successful plant is not just about machines and processes, but about people and innovation working together to achieve success.
My responsibilities as a Plant Director vary a lot. Some of them include actions to make sure the work environment is safe, helping in different operations (production, manufacturing, and maintenance), and organising how parts come to the factory and making sure they are made on time. Each day presents many challenges. I have to make sure that we are creating things as fast as possible without spending too much money to make them, or wasting raw materials. I also work hard to find and keep the best workers by convincing them to stay in our factory, especially since it’s hard to compete with other factories for good workers.
Watch the interview
Skills
Problem-solving
"As Plant Director, I use problem-solving skills to quickly fix issues related to the production line. Even if problems happen, my team and I work together to make sure we produce the parts our clients need on time.”
Curiosity
“I am very curious, and this makes me explore and consider new technologies all the time. With these technologies we can improve our plant, produce more parts with less resources, and stay ahead in the automotive industry.”
Task orientation
“ I am task-oriented, which means that I tend to focus on the tasks we need to do. That allows me to ensure that all team members are working together to create good products, and to reach our goals. ”
People management
“As a Plant Director it is very important to be able to lead and motivate my team. This helps me create a respectful environment where everyone can work with others in a collaborative and nice way.”
Time management
“: I apply time management to decide which tasks have to be done first and which ones helps my team work better in a safe environment and produce high-quality products.”
Empathy
“Understanding the difficulties that my team members have helps me create a supportive environment, where the needs of everyone are respected.”
Advice to take away
I advise students to stay curious, accept the challenges and not be afraid to think differently. STEM are not just subjects; they are powerful tools that help us understand and improve the world around us.
Check out the materials
Disclaimer
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. Also supported by Scientix®, an initiative of European Schoolnet.