daimler truck

Tabitha

Marketing Specialist at Daimler

5.45 AM

Pressing snooze is not an option if I want to get my work out in today. Motivating myself to get up can be very difficult especially in winter but I know by now that for my health, wellbeing and performance at work this is the best way to start my day. So, I pull myself out of bed, put on my gym clothes and smash out a good leg session at my local gym.

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7.00 AM

I drive back home, have a shower and then decide what to wear for the day – a decision that can take too long sometimes! The dress code at the office is business attire so I usually wear a shirt, pants and a blazer. After getting dressed I turn my attention to brekky!

8.00 AM

After finishing a protein shake and usually porridge or eggs I grab my bag and jump into the car. I am very fortunate to be able to use the amazing lease program Daimler has to offer so I really enjoy my drive to work in a Mercedes-Benz. The drive to work is about 25-30 mins in traffic so I also love listening to a good podcast on the way.

8.40 AM

I drive in the gates of Daimler HQ at Mulgrave and I don’t think I ever get sick of doing so, seeing the Mercedes-Benz star from the end of the street always reminds me of the amazing brand I get to work for. This is a good time to arrive - any later and the only parking spots left are right at the back of the car park!

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9.00 AM

I walk into the office and say good morning probably about 15 times before even reaching my desk, everyone loves a good chat which creates a really nice vibe in our office. I sit down at my desk and power up my laptop.

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9.15 AM

I don’t last long without a coffee! I go to the kitchen and make my morning latte – probably my favourite part of the day! We recently got a new fully manual coffee machine installed which is amazing so we can make proper coffee any time we want.

9.30 AM

Basically, I live on emails! It can feel very overwhelming sometimes opening outlook and seeing the emails pile in but using my ‘work in progress’ document really helps me prioritise and know exactly what I have going on. I work for the Mercedes-Benz Truck brand in a marketing team where there is only two of us – literally just me and my manager! There is always so much to do so I have had to become very organised and good at prioritising. I get to work across pretty much every aspect of marketing including events, campaigns, merchandise, press advertising, sponsorship and dealership support.

10.00 AM

After replying to the more urgent emails and ensuring I have noted down all the action items from the inbox I start on a few morning tasks. My main priority this morning is to gather the content for a dealer network update. This update we send out every 6 weeks to keep our dealers informed about what is going on in the Mercedes-Benz business.

10.30 AM

Before being able to really get into this I have one of our sales team staff come and ask for some merchandise for an urgent event happening in two days. So before long I am on the phone to our merchandise supplier organising merchandise to be delivered to Sydney in time for an event. Whilst I am organising this, I have another call from a dealer staff member that requires access to some creative assets they are wanting to use in an upcoming issue of a local magazine.

11.00 AM

After sorting this out, I get a reminder that I have a meeting in 30 minutes. So before attending this meeting I try and respond to a few emails so they don’t build up! A few of these are from my manager with tasks that need completing such as getting some banners and branded items ready for an event, replying to some inquiries that we have received from dealerships as well as organising some gifts for important customers who recently attended an international trip we organised.

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11.30 AM

We have a meeting with our creative agency where we discuss our work in progress and any deadlines we have coming up whether that be submissions for magazines, assets for campaigns or even event signage and brochures.

12.30 PM

After this I get back to even more emails so I look at my list of things and try to work on the tasks that take top priority – things like requests from senior managers, organising purchase orders to keep track of the budget and moving along creative projects that have emerging deadlines.

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1.30 PM

Usually around this time I will try and find a gap in my day to grab some lunch. Sometimes I bring lunch but today I walk over to the café to get a little bit of fresh air. The café has pretty good food and you can usually find everything from lasagne and pastas, to salads, curries and roasts. Today I decide to get a wrap which the café staff make to order.

2.00 PM

Back to the desk I try and finally get back to the first task I set out to do today. I finalise putting together the content for the communication and send it to my manager for approval. I get onto replying to more emails and working through tasks such as putting together event briefing documents, approving creative collateral and monitoring sponsorship contracts.

3.30 PM

I join my manager for a meeting with our events agency to discuss an upcoming event. We make decisions about location, accommodation, flights and everything else that goes into creating an event program.

4.30 PM

My manager has replied to me with changes that are required for the communications piece. But before actioning these, a staff member from the engineering team requires a technical label for one of our products as soon as possible. Therefore I brief in our creative agency to get this started.

5.00 PM

Back to the dealer communications piece, I read over it again and make all the necessary changes before forwarding on for final approval. I also reply to emails that have come in throughout the afternoon, one about organising a meeting tomorrow for our merchandise stock, one about a video required for a Mercedes-Bens Bus event and another one from my manager about requiring an update on our incentive program that I get to take the lead on.

5.40 PM

I try and get as much work done as possible as I know more will come through in the morning! I usually try and leave no later than 6 most of the time when we’re not in the middle of peak event times.

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6.30 PM

Finally arriving home, I get into some comfy clothes and cook dinner.

7.30 PM

After eating dinner I open up my own laptop and catch up on university work - I am trying to complete my double bachelor’s degree part time. I am very lucky that Daimler and my manager are incredibly supportive of me finishing my degree and therefore allow me to leave a little early some days to attend night class. Tonight I have to work on a group assignment as we have a deadline coming up early next week.

9.00 PM

After working on this I try and fit in a little bit of time to catch up on bachelorette with my roommates.

10.00 PM

I try and go to bed reasonably early because I know I have to be up soon ready to do the day all over again!

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Corey Williams

Pricing and Reporting Assistant, Parts Aftersales at Daimler

6.30 AM

I wake to the sound of ‘Uplift’ Apple iPhone’s alarm tone, disorientated I roll out of bed. My mind programmed to perform a swiping motion disabling the alarm. Following a few minutes gathering myself I draw back the curtains of my room excited by the opportunity a new day presents. Showered and enjoying my breakfast, this gives me a chance to catch up on the daily news. Having prepared my lunch bag the night before I pick it up and head out the door, just in time to listen to second edition of sport on 3AW.

7.45 AM

Walking into the Daimler Truck Australia office, I say my good mornings to members of the team already in and sit down at my desk. After unpacking my bag, logging in and having a laugh with my co-workers I revisit my to-do-list written the previous working day, allowing me to understand the expectations I have on myself today. I begin by checking my emails and updating my to-do list with report requests from my co-workers, actioning any emails in which I need clarity or further information before proceeding with my day.

8.00 AM

I begin my daily duties; which include updating our main inventory database, creating and sending out daily reports, reviewing new data created in our system from the previous day and actioning directions received from our Regional Logistics Centre in Singapore regarding part creation, part supersessions and pricing variances. Maintaining our data is critical as colleagues within the office and the broader dealer network rely on this information to assist with their decision-making.

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9.15 AM

I get up and stretch my legs greeting other colleagues around the office, catching up on the previous night’s reality TV before taking the short walk over to Mercedes Benz Australia dropping off reports received from Singapore. Arriving back at my desk I follow up with our local vendors on any overdue orders. By emailing or calling our local vendors, I am able to build a rapport with others in the industry. I collect updated estimated time of arrival dates for our open orders, and update these within our Spare Parts Inventory & Control System (SPICS) enabling others to view the changes.

10.00 AM

The manager of business systems has emailed me asking for core credits to be processed and the authorised credit notes to be sent to accounts. Cores are nonoperational parts sent back to the supplier to be remanufactured. I create a sundry template of credits for processing before sending the completed sundry credit request to the Philippines to be processed. The Philippines will reply within a few days with attached credit note copies, which I will then distribute to the respective dealers within the network.

10.30 AM

I have received an email from our customs and shipping department, informing me a sea shipment has left the United States scheduled to arrive in Australia within the next two months. This freight can contain up to 800 lines of stock. Avoiding this information being manually entered into SPICS, which is monotonous and prone to data entry errors I create a text file. With the assistance of Microsoft Access and Microsoft Excel, I ensure the data is clean allowing the file to be successfully processed into SPICS. After updating a tracking sheet of all shipments from the United States, I create a file showing all box numbers is the shipment, which is emailed to our warehouse team notifying them of the pending arrival.

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11.00 AM

I continue working my way through my checklist. Up next is my largest piece of work I produce each month. A digital presentation on all statistical data and key performance indicators for our parts operations department. This details to my team and management our ability as an operation to supply orders to our national dealer network, our inventory values, backordered lines for the month, along with many other figures and graphs all in which assist the department to achieve its own goals as well as working towards Daimler’s own purpose goal ‘for all who keep the world moving”

12.00 PM

My stomach starts rumbling and I know it is time for lunch. Before locking my computer, I tick off tasks completed from my to-do-list. Grab my lunch bag, and go for a quick game of table tennis before making my way to our own work cafeteria. I catch up with the other IBLs across the Daimler group, checking in to see how everyone is going. Often playing our lunchtime game of overrated/underrated on all different worldly topics. This is a good time of the day where we can bounce off each other. We all understand the journey one another is going through and the confusion that can sometimes arise within the world of a global company. This is an opportunity where we can discuss any strategies to help each other and improve our experience.

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1.00 PM

Arriving back at my desk, I am greeted with a price file update for our parts purchased from the United States. I am required to match our part numbers currently on file with those on the updated excel spreadsheet. Once a match is found, I create a text file, which is processed in SPICS to ensure our systems reflects the correct prices.

2.00 PM

A meeting is arranged with my manager, the business development manager for Freightliner, the Freightliner business analyst and myself. I head to one of our meeting rooms with a cup of black tea in hand. There is currently a process in place aligning all our parts purchased from the US, with marketing structures similar to that of our other brands; Mercedes Benz and Fuso. Having already extracted the data and created potential marketing codes for part numbers concerned, this is a chance for members of our team to come together and discuss the next stages of the project. With this project being in its early stages it is important developments are communicated with those concerned, ensuring there is complete transparency moving forward. I walk away from the meeting, with an empty mug but armed with resources and knowledge, which can allow continuation of the project.

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3.00 PM

Our Alliance Brand Manager has asked me to alter a selling price of a part number after discussions with a particular vendor, offering our dealers a better price in the highly competitive market of truck oils. After reviewing the price list, it is decided that a greater discount shall be offered. A conversation is held in which I am involved in understanding the reasoning behind the shift in structures, and how it is designed to assist in the pricing strategy for the Alliance product. I implement the pricing shift and it is now live for our dealer network.

3.30 PM

I am determined to finalise my monthly presentation for Germany regarding inventory key performance indicators of the part operations team. After receiving data from our controlling team, I am able to create a digital representation that will be reviewed by managers before being sent to Germany for analysis of our market. Co-creation allows for better results within the company.

4.00 PM

Its 4.00 pm already, the day has flown. I tick off my completed task and begin to create my to-do-list for tomorrow. Taking advantage of Daimler Truck flexible working arrangements I say goodnight to my co-workers, before being able to still make the most of the days sunlight either through university, social or sporting commitments.

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Adam Wood

Pricing and Reporting Assistant at Daimler Truck

7.00 AM

I am rudely awoken by my alarm. After hitting ‘snooze’ a few times, I roll out of bed, shower, get the waffle out of the toaster and make the commute to work. I’m lucky to live close to the office, so I can leave a little bit later.

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8.45 AM

I walk into the office, say my good mornings to the best team in the world, and sit down at my desk. I grab a cup of tea and have a joke with my co-workers to start my day. My first action of the day is to check my emails for requests for reports from colleagues and to set out a day plan.

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9.00 AM

I start my morning activities, which consist of updating the main parts database, reviewing and maintaining data created in the system the previous day, and receive some directions from our Regional Logistics Centre in Singapore regarding new part supersessions that must be created in our local system. A dealer’s main contact point for us is through our Integrated Customer Care website (ICC), throughout the day I will check ICC for Special Procurement Order Forms that I will process. These are either highly sensitive parts, or parts we have to directly liaise with Germany about.

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10.30 AM

Our Spare Parts Inventory & Control System (SPICS) suggests parts orders daily with different suppliers every day based on a wide array of parameters. I must review these suggestions and order based on various factors, such as a monthly forecast, previous demand, how much safety stock we should be carrying, lead times, and many more. I am currently responsible for Mercedes-Benz bus parts from Germany and Brazil, as well as parts that suit the Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner trucks from local vendors.

11.30 AM

I receive an email from the Brand Development Manager for Mercedes-Benz Bus and Truck, requesting a price change on a part. He wants to adjust the price to ensure we have the edge in this highly competitive market. I suggest I run a report for him that shows the history of demand for the part from our dealers over the past 12 months so we can make an informed business decision.

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12.30 PM

Lunch! All the IBLs sit together on a table in our on-site cafe and eat. It’s a good chance to catch up with people in different departments, or even different companies within the Daimler group and discuss what’s going on in our day. We are all going through the same process as an IBL and it’s good to have people who understand the confusion I can sometimes feel in the business world, after all, it’s new to all of us. After a quick lunch we go for a walk around the block to stretch our legs and get some fresh air.

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1.30 PM

After arriving back at my desk I get to work on the largest piece of work I produce each month, a presentation on all the statistics and key performance indicators for the parts operations department. This includes how well we are supplying our orders to our nationwide network of dealers, our inventory values, backorders in our system, and many other statistics and charts that help to steer the departments activities.

3.00 PM

We have a fortnightly department meeting to discuss what’s going on in our team and what’s coming up. It’s good to set time aside to communicate with the team, as we can all get caught up in our own worlds from time to time. As it’s the first meeting of the month, I’ll be presenting the report I was working on earlier to the team. This sparks discussion in the forum about what we can do better, set goals, and most importantly, how we can help each other achieve those goals. The meeting goes well and I come out with some feedback on what other team members would like to track throughout the year on the report. It’s good to know that the work I am producing is taken seriously and is taken on board by other members of the team.

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4.00 PM

I receive an email from our customs and shipping team, notifying me that an airfreight has left the United States and will arrive here in three days. This information was previously manually entered into SPICS which would take a number of hours and was prone to data entry errors. I now create a file using Excel and Access (takes about 10 minutes) which avoids all manual data entry. I will notify the warehouse of the incoming shipment tomorrow morning.

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5.00 PM

A meeting invite pops up on my computer screen, letting me know that I will have a Great Place to Work meeting on Friday. As a member of the committee, our mission is to make Daimler Truck the #1 place to work by organizing activities and social events, listening to feedback, and developing initiatives. This time it’s a meeting about our celebratory after-work drinks on the last Friday on every month. I’ll have to start thinking about ideas for what food we will supply.

5.30 PM

After a chat with my colleague about the day we’ve had, and see if we need each other’s help with any work, most of the traffic has died down and it’s time to go home.

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