Genders at Rheinmetall
Men. Women. All!
In order to ensure a balanced gender ratio in the Rheinmetall workforce, we continue to strive for gender equity in the workplace from top leadership to entry level employees by implementing activities and policies that promote diversity and inclusion.
21% of our workforce at Rheinmetall are highly qualified and talented women who are already passionate about our technologies. And we would like to welcome even more! As an employer, we create flexible working time models and provide increased support for women in particular in the medium and long term through internal programmes to promote young talent and further training.
At women@Rheinmetall we are committed to our female colleagues with over 700 Rheinmetall female employees from various departments and hierarchy levels in 33 countries for our colleagues and everyone who is interested.
We want to make a difference, learn from each other, exchange experiences and strengthen the perception of women at Rheinmetall.
To this end, we offer a forum for advice on all professional issues and support women at every level of the hierarchy in their professional development. In addition, we are brand ambassadors and support gender diversity in order to attract and retain female employees.
Finally, we live our corporate values: respect, trust, openness. Our actions are also characterised by tolerance, team spirit, innovation and empathy.
Knowledge transfer, exchange and advice - you can find all this in the women@Rheinmetall network.
"In early 2022, I decided to join the international women@Rheinmetall network. The most significant benefit for me was participation in the mentoring program. My mentor gave me completely new impetus, which led me to steer my Rheinmetall career in a completely new direction six months later."
BIRGIT GÖRTLER
Vice President Corporate Strategy & Development
"I joined the international women@Rheinmetall network to get to know colleagues outside my team. Through women@Rheinmetall I get invitations to talk&learn events and an insight into other divisions."
ANGELIKA BAUER
Development planner
"I have been a member of the international women@Rheinmetall network since 2020 because I value the initiatives and groups that want to make a difference and change things, and I support this with conviction. The main advantage, I draw from the network is the open exchange about challenges in the business environment and the mutual learning from each other."
DELIA VOSSEN
Specialist Supply Chain Processes
"I would like to remind Women that you are born to multiply things. A woman has a nurturing nature. Let us use our natures positively and multiply this organisation's vision and mission. Utilise all available opportunities."
NOLITHA MBELE
NQ Plant Manager
My journey at Rheinmetall Denel Munition in Wellington began in January 2013 as an Fixed Term Contract, and by June 2013, I had transitioned to a permanent role as a Production Supervisor at the OCBM (Ortho Chlorobenzylidene Malononitrile) Plant. Over the years, I have gained diverse experience, working at NC (Nitrocellulose), Neutralisation Plant, Process Engineering [FOI (Facility Operating Instruction)/PMI (Product Manufacturing Instruction) update], and the SHE (Safety Health and Environment) department [Implemented HIRA (Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment) for the site].
In January 2019, I started at the Somerset West site as a Plant Supervisor at Pyro and 40mm. In 2022, I acted as a plant manager for three months at a production workshop, 40mm. In 2023, I pursued opportunities elsewhere, but I returned to Rheinmetall in January 2024 to assume the role of Plant Manager at the NQ (Nitroguanidine) plant. My primary role as a Plant Manager is to ensure that safety procedures are followed, the team is competent to operate the plant, and product quality meets world-class standards and customer specifications. I also have to ensure that production targets are met as per the master production schedule.
My role as a Plant Manager is both thrilling and demanding. The manufacturing of NQ for Charges is an exciting project in itself, while the age of the NQ Plant, at 41 years, presents a significant challenge. The low equipment efficiency and reliability further add to the complexity. However, I thrive on these challenges, which keep me engaged and interested in my work. I am proactive in collaborating with the Maintenance and Process Engineering departments to develop a strategic plan for the successful execution of our Charge plan project, demonstrating my proactive problem-solving skills and commitment to excellence.
My role as a Plant Manager is not just about managing the plant, but also about fostering collaboration with other departments. I strongly believe in the power of teamwork and work closely with the SHE, Process Engineering, Maintenance, and Quality departments to ensure legal compliance and improve plant Overall Equipment Efficiency to support the sales plan. The constant communication with the Supply Chain department about inventory management is also crucial, as without raw materials, the plant cannot operate.
I believe everyone should be aligned with company goals and objectives and see the bigger picture. To ensure my team is aligned with the expectations, I communicate the demands and requirements and involve the team in the process of implementing the scheduled plan. At the beginning of the year I organised a Charge plant tour for the NQ team, the vision behind that tour was to show the team the bigger picture of the business and how the NQ team's work directly contributes to the success of the business.
When it comes to my leadership style, I regard myself as a leader who is hard on standards and soft on people. I am glad to see that the future of women in Rheinmetall is bright and promising due to the diversity I am currently witnessing. We have women who are presently at GM level in Operations (Priya Mahabir) and HR (Agatha Tshabalala), Executive-level HR (Lulu Mzili), and other young women in Acting Executive positions (e.g., Bernice Adams in Process Engineering) to show that the organisation is developing women. Look at me as the woman plant manager.
If I could advise the organisation on one thing, it would be to improve its culture; otherwise, its culture would eat strategy for breakfast.
This Women’s Month, I would like to remind Women that you are born to multiply things. A woman has a nurturing nature. Let us use our natures positively and multiply this organisation's vision and mission. Utilise all available opportunities. Lastly, I quote Steve Jobs. “Your work will fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.”