Constant challenges, the opportunity to prove herself in a number of production areas, and working in an international environment - this is a typical working day for Justyna Frydrych, project manager at Compin Polska. The graduate of the only French-language course at Lodz University of Technology - Gestion et Technologie - talks about her studies at TUL and her professional path.
What made you want to study in French?
The Gestion et Technologie course is the ideal choice for people who love the French language and culture, who have an engineering mindset and a passion for the realities of manufacturing. In Lodz, it is a unique opportunity to combine these two passions during your studies and then in your future career. It is worth choosing this course not only because of the prestige of the double degree – of Lodz University of Technology and the selected foreign partner university. For me, the variety of didactic subjects, a wide range of interesting practical classes, the opportunity to take part in Erasmus exchanges and, of course, the development of language skills, especially in terms of technical vocabulary, were also very important.
You supplemented your knowledge from your studies abroad, choosing a destination that was quite unusual for your studies....
Yes, I spent all of my third year in England studying European Business Management at Coventry University, as part of the Erasmus student exchange programme. My choice was quite controversial. 90% of the people from the year chose different universities in France, but I, along with two of my friends, decided to get an additional degree (this time English) during a one-year BA course. As well as valuable knowledge, these studies gave me complete freedom to express myself in English and allowed me to establish relationships with people from all over Europe and even the world.
An important moment for you was the project management course you took at TUL in your fourth year of study. How did this event influence your professional life?
The course organised by Lodz University of Technology in cooperation with the International Project Management Association was a huge breakthrough in the course of my studies. I had already felt, during my management and project-related classes, that this area was of particular interest to me and I wanted to explore it further. During the course, I gained valuable knowledge that instilled in me a project-based approach - initially to ordinary day-to-day matters and then to professional areas of operation. Thanks to the skills I acquired and the techniques I learned, I was able to successfully carry out my first production transfers as a transfer coordinator and then successfully manage subsequent projects.
How did your adventure with Compin Polska begin?
I started work at Compin Polska less than a month after defending my Master's thesis, responding to a recruitment invitation sent to graduates of my course. The newly established Composites Department was looking for support in overseeing its current production and in developing its activities through planned transfers from the company's French branches. Initially as an assistant to the department, then as its manager, through transfer specialist to project manager, until now, I have been developing my competences and skills on a daily basis, actively participating in the fascinating flow of our production, helping to solve problems and constantly collaborating with Recipients and target customers of our products.
What do you do as a project manager?
As project manager, together with the other members of the individual project teams, and in cooperation with the project managers on the client's side, I strive to implement the entrusted projects according to the defined schedule, budget and set quality level. I continuously pilot and report necessary modifications, in consultation with the customer we approve possible costs deviations from the initially agreed project framework, I collect and make available to all interested parties the necessary documentation, I analyse and manage the identified risks and opportunities - all this in compliance with the policy and standards of the quality management system adopted at Compin Polska.
Can an engineering degree in management open up new opportunities on the job market?
An engineering degree is valued not only nationally but also internationally, so it's worth fighting for that extra three letters in front of your name. I had the pleasure of meeting highly qualified lecturers on my student path, who were able to inspire me to seek my own career path, while the university itself provided tools and helped with personal development. Comparing the level of education at Lodz University of Technology with that experienced by myself and my fellow students at foreign universities, we should definitely be proud of being graduates of our university.
Interviewee: Dr Aleksandra Pawlik
Graphics: Filip Podgórski
Compin Polska is part of the Compin-Fainsa Group, whose factories are located in 3 European countries. The company started its operations on 1 June 2007 in Łódź, but Compin's origins in France date back to 1902. The Polish branch is located in Łódź at 79 Jędrzejowska St. The factory comprehensively produces seats for trains.