Graduate Program Experience: Mark Molnar

Mark Molnar gives us the lowdown on Amcor’s Graduate Program, the fascinating world of continuous improvement, and his passion for sailing on the open seas.

Tell us a little about your current role at Amcor.
I’m spending my third rotation at an Amcor Flexibles site in Singen, Germany, as a continuous improvement specialist. I spend most of my time here making changes to systems and processes that help increase productivity and reduce costs. It’s all about making things better – we connect the people working on the shop floor in plants with everyone else within Amcor; it’s very much about the interconnectivity of different departments. An example of this in practice is the implementation of performance boards on each machine; these help both the department in question and the wider company discover areas for improvement and clever solutions that can be used across different sites.

And where are you from? What's your background?
I was born in Hungary to a family who worked in the service industry for generations, and my first qualification was in sailing instruction (I’m from Lake Balaton so I guess it makes sense!). I now have a Diploma in Chemical Engineering from Budapest, as well as experience as a research engineer at the Max Planck Institute of Magdeburg in Germany.

Tell us about the Amcor Graduate Program.
Where do I start? Frequent travel, the opportunity to meet lots of new people, and the chance to test and improve your knowledge every day. Plus, at Amcor, you’re supported from day one; the HR department and local co-workers are always ready to help.

Where were you placed on the Graduate Program and what did you enjoy about being there?
The Graduate Program has taken me to England, Belgium and Germany, and I’ve enjoyed each place for different reasons. I loved the British sense of humour and made some great friends there, I fell in love with Belgian food and beer, and Singen, where I’m based now, is absolutely beautiful – it lies between the Bodensee, the Alps, the Rheinfall and the Black Forest. Cumbria, in the UK, was also lovely – very isolated with some great lakes. It was also where I was awarded my licence for open sea sailing.

What have been your biggest achievements?
As someone with a technical background, I loved learning about the processes and specific materials we work with. Using this knowledge, I’ve been able to understand the strict legal regulations and even stricter customer requirements surrounding pharmaceuticals packaging, and been able to offer potential solutions that haven’t been discovered before. I’m also a far more confident presenter and have a much deeper understanding of processes like extrusion, lamination and aluminium rolling.

Where do you hope to find a permanent placement?
I’m currently looking for technical roles in R&D because that’s what I’m good at, but I’m also interested in opportunities that involve travel and lots of contact with customers. Country-wise, I’m keen to return to the UK.

What advice would you have for graduates looking to join Amcor?
Be open to new ideas, cultures and opportunities, and you’ll do well.