This is how we make the world a safer place!
Bernd Hund, Project Manager at DEKRA Crash Test Center
How do you make the world a safer place?
As a Project Manager at the DEKRA Automobil GmbH Crash Test Center, I actively contribute to the development and improvement of safety inside and outside the vehicle (in matters of pedestrian protection, for example). We also test quality and safety during vehicle production in a process known as conformity of production (COP).
What does your typical day look like?
The great thing is that there is no "typical" daily routine that's always the same. Our work is enormously varied. My regular activities include
- project management of crash tests (co-ordination, scheduling with customers, calculation, bid proposals etc.)
- verifying that relevant laws and regulations are up to date before their implementation and testing new developments
- partitioning and distributing work packages in the team (creation of requirements specifications)
- preparing and inspecting vehicles, measurement technology, video equipment and mechanics
- positioning and calibration of dummies, documentation and photo-documentation
- acceptance of crash vehicles (with the customer)
- test execution
- recording data from measurement equipment, video equipment and photo documentation
- evaluating results, comparing them with limit values of laws and regulations
- customer meetings, presentation of results, identifying improvement potential
- preparing the test report, follow-up calculation, creating invoices and, finally, archiving data
What does safety mean to you?
As early as during my training to become an automotive mechanic and later in my studies, I dealt with accidents and vehicle repair. This led to me becoming more interested in improving vehicle safety. For me, safety now means constantly improving the protection of passengers and others that may possibly be involved in an accident, such as pedestrians or other drivers, by means of collaborative research and development together with the automotive industry and suppliers.
Why do you work at DEKRA?
I became aware of DEKRA during my studies, initially in the area of general inspection. I was impressed by the close collaboration with skilled test engineers and, of course, DEKRA's excellent reputation. After an internship and my dissertation on the subject of passive safety, I then looked for a suitable employer. My work as a student assistant at DEKRA really convinced me that I definitely wanted to be involved in this international company.
What kind of people actually make up the DEKRA team?
Fortunately, they are extraordinarily competent and qualified colleagues who co-operatively discuss problems and jointly implement solutions. The staff at Accident Research are especially important for me; they supply unique and valuable information from their databases and statistics for further optimisation of technical mobility.
