Georg Fischer Strategy

Dear colleagues,

Becoming better every day – since 1802. At GF, that’s our purpose. We want to improve every day. But how can we achieve this, and what can each of us contribute toward this goal?

You’ll find the answers in this issue of Globe, includes stories and insights on the new GF Strategy 2025: CEO Andreas Müller discusses the close links between corporate purpose, culture, and strategy in an interview. You’ll learn about the central role a new way of learning is playing in the strategy’s implementation and how colleagues are already embedding it in their daily work.

Each and every one of us needs to get involved in bringing our new values to life now in order to make our Strategy 2025 a success. Let’s learn from each other and with each other so we can become even better together – every day.

Lena Koehnen
Globe Project Manager

“Living Up to Our Winning Culture”

CEO Andreas Müller discusses the new Strategy 2025, what needs to change at GF, and what is especially important to him.

_{In Brief}

Two Strategies, One Goal

GF has already achieved four milestones for the 2016–2020 strategy cycle. The new GF Strategy 2025 continues to build on this successful model. Going forward, GF will be investing even more heavily in innovation and sustainability. Here you can find selected milestones from the last few years and 2021.

Discover now

_{Our Markets}

Brazilian Jewel

The loss of drinking water in Brazil is a major problem. GF Piping Systems is seizing the opportunity to significantly improve the situation with the acquisition of pipe manufacturer FGS. Read the background story here.

Discover now

_HELLO!

HELLO!

Do you remember what you were doing at 2:15 p.m. on 3 March 2021? Our colleagues at GF have shared their personal HELLO moments with us. Enjoy reading!

Discover now

_Infographic

These are the trends that will shape our future

Population development, digitalization, and sustainability – our future is being determined by these three global trends. Our infographic shows GF’s solutions.

Discover now

A Passion for Learning

Learning is close to the heart of Nesibe Bruggmann, Head of Learning and Development at Corporate HR. In our article about learning culture at GF, she explains the reason for her passion. Three employees also talk about why failing is part of learning for them, and why it is important to learn from mistakes.

_{Two Points of View}

What makes a motivating corporate culture?

Simona Stoica from GF Casting Solutions in Pitești (Romania) and Sadato Kobayashi from GF Machining Solutions in Tokyo/Osaka (Japan) talk about what motivates them at work and what they appreciate about the GF corporate culture.

Discover now

_{Made It!}

Paving the Way

Johann Viljoen, Head of Corporate Sustainability, and his team have an objective: to make GF a leader in sustainability. Read the article to find out why sustainability is essential and how it is an important pillar of Strategy 2025.

Discover now

_{My Home}

Peace and Quiet in the Heart of Europe

Guillaume Miechowka lives in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois (France) and works 15 kilometers away at GF Machining Solutions in Meyrin near Geneva (Switzerland). He introduces us to his hometown, explains why borders don’t matter to him, and takes us on a tour of discovery around the Geneva region.

Discover now

3x3

What have you learned from a mistake?
The Globe editorial team received many responses to this and other questions from GF colleagues around the world. Here you can read a selection of the answers. Thank you for participating!

Lioba Elsäßer

Project Manager, GF Casting Solutions, Singen (Germany)

1. This is how I achieve my objectives swiftly:
I start by taking one small step. The next steps happen almost on their own.

2. For me, team spirit means …
… that everyone works together and can rely on each other.

3. This is what I learned from a failure:
Dust yourself off and keep going – and do better next time based on what you’ve learned.

Aditya Sarkar

Process Engineer, GF Piping Systems, Easton, PA (US)

1. This is how I achieve my objectives swiftly:
Set a goal that can be quantified and qualified, create an action plan, and minimize distractions.

2. For me, team spirit means …
… working toward a goal with different perspectives and ideas. It’s one of the most important qualities for a team to be successful.

3. This is what I learned from a failure:
Every failure is a learning experience and helps develop us as a person. My motto is, “Failure is a stepping stone toward success.”

Yummy Li

Senior Accountant, GF Machining Solutions, Guangdong (China)

1. This is how I achieve my objectives swiftly:
I review my work regularly to find out where I need to improve my skills to reach my goal step by step.

2. For me, team spirit means …
… that all team members pull together and encourage each other until the goal is achieved!

3. This is what I learned from a failure:
Doing something is always better than waiting: “Strike while the iron is hot.”

Tawanda Lighty

Manufacturing & HR Assistant, GF Piping Systems, Easton, PA (US)

1. This is how I achieve my objectives swiftly:
I like to first focus on the things that I can control and then put a plan together for the ones I have no control of.

2. For me, team spirit means …
… being willing to go above and beyond for your team or section.

3. This is what I learned from a failure:
It’s okay to ask for help.

Laurent Castella

Head of North East Asia, GF Machining Solutions, Tokyo (Japan)

1. This is how I achieve my objectives swiftly:
By remaining conscious of these objectives, planning time to reflect on my achievements, and correcting the deviations.

2. For me, team spirit means …
… that I actively contribute to the team and can expect their support, too. We are always stronger together rather than alone.

3. This is what I learned from a failure:
There is always a lesson to learn behind a failure. And once I can see it, then it’s no longer a failure.

Zaixian (Eric) Xie

Project Manager R&D, GF Machining Solutions, Beijing (China)

1. This is how I achieve my objectives swiftly:
Push myself beyond what is familiar and comfortable. It might be painful sometimes, but you will succeed if you work hard and are persistent.

2. For me, team spirit means …
Team members work together, help each other, and head in the same direction.

3. This is what I learned from a failure:
Have no regrets. You need to know how to face the failure, where to fall, and how to stand up again.

Sophie Simon

Global Procurement, Commodity Manager Marketing, Packaging and Consumables, GF Machining Solutions, Geneva (Switzerland)

1. This is how I achieve my objectives swiftly:
Be pragmatic, involve all stakeholders, and define a clear timeline so everybody is aware of what they need to do. Do not forget to divide up the project in small, manageable tasks.

2. For me, team spirit means …
… to be friendly to your colleagues to encourage a relaxed atmosphere, to back each other up when necessary, and to be transparent in order to ensure trust.

3. This is what I learned from a failure:
Most important is the attitude! We can always correct a mistake or do it again to reach the target. Remain positive toward yourself and others.

Jose Rendon

Kanban Specialist, GF Piping Systems, Irwindale, CA (US)

1. This is how I achieve my objectives swiftly:
I always begin with the end in mind and imagine what a great feeling it is to achieve the goal.

2. For me, team spirit means …
… helping out and motivating colleagues who feel a little down in the morning or throughout the day.

3. This is what I learned from a failure:
It means that there are always other ways or methods that I can learn to improve.

Katharina Fuellsack

HR Project Manager, GF Piping Systems, Schaffhausen (Switzerland)

1. This is how I achieve my objectives swiftly:
I focus on small steps that help me to reach my objective. A weekly planning helps me to structure my work.

2. For me, team spirit means …
… to share success and failures with my colleagues and to support each other to reach the desired result together as a team.

3. This is what I learned from a failure:
To not blame others for a mistake, but to take full responsibility for it. I try to define processes to proactively ensure that it will not happen again.

Cover Story

Dances With Steers

Our Locations

In the Middle Kingdom

Our Customers

Direct Line to the Universe

Dear colleagues,

“Living Up to Our Winning Culture”

In Brief

Two Strategies, One Goal

Our Markets

Brazilian Jewel

HELLO!

HELLO!

Infographic

These are the trends that will shape our future

A Passion for Learning

Two Points of View

What makes a motivating corporate culture?

Made It!

Paving the Way

My Home

Peace and Quiet in the Heart of Europe

3x3

Lioba Elsäßer

Project Manager, GF Casting Solutions, Singen (Germany)

Aditya Sarkar

Process Engineer, GF Piping Systems, Easton, PA (US)

Yummy Li

Senior Accountant, GF Machining Solutions, Guangdong (China)

Tawanda Lighty

Manufacturing & HR Assistant, GF Piping Systems, Easton, PA (US)

Laurent Castella

Head of North East Asia, GF Machining Solutions, Tokyo (Japan)

Zaixian (Eric) Xie

Project Manager R&D, GF Machining Solutions, Beijing (China)

Sophie Simon

Global Procurement, Commodity Manager Marketing, Packaging and Consumables, GF Machining Solutions, Geneva (Switzerland)

Jose Rendon

Kanban Specialist, GF Piping Systems, Irwindale, CA (US)

Katharina Fuellsack

HR Project Manager, GF Piping Systems, Schaffhausen (Switzerland)

_{In Brief}

_{Our Markets}

_HELLO!

_Infographic

_{Two Points of View}

_{Made It!}

_{My Home}