Job Rotation: Experiencing the CE PD Master Program
A journey through global engineering, cultural exchange, and a 360° product vision.
Adam Dluzak and Tomma Brunken share their Job Rotation experience across the USA, the Lecce plant, and their visit to the San Piero in Bagno facility.
What happens when young engineering talents from overseas immerse themselves in Italian manufacturing and corporate culture? An extraordinary synergy is born—built on technical exchange, breaking down communication barriers, and bringing fresh energy to global teamwork.
As part of the CE PD Master Program, we gathered testimonials from two outstanding participants: Adam Dluzak (Program Manager Platform in Burlington, USA, on rotation in Lecce focusing on TLBs and rough-terrain forklifts) and Tomma Brunken (Wheel Loader Design Engineer in Fargo, USA, on rotation in Lecce with a focus on electrical systems, HVAC, and sensors).
During their stay in Italy, Adam and Tomma made a special stop at the Sampierana plant in San Piero in Bagno. Here is the story of their experience and the values they will bring back to their respective teams in North America.
Breaking Down Silos: The True Value of Global Job Rotation
Working thousands of kilometers away on complex projects can sometimes lead to procedural misunderstandings or delays. The Job Rotation program between North America and the Italian headquarters in Lecce—enriched by visits to the group's manufacturing plants—was created specifically to bridge these gaps. For Tomma Brunken, the key to this experience lies in personal networking and direct contact with one's reference team:
«For me, the greatest value is seeing firsthand how different sites operate—their priorities, expectations, and local procedures, In Burlington, I was already working closely with the Lecce team, but being here in Italy helps eliminate communication barriers. Seeing things from a local perspective and experiencing the colleagues' culture creates a deep mutual understanding» .
Adam Dluzak
A large part of my team working on wheel loaders is based right here in Lecce, including my Engineering Manager and the Chief Engineer. Meeting people face-to-face, instead of just seeing names on a screen or hearing voices on a call, makes a world of difference. Having a coffee together and having a casual chat adds immense value to everyday work.
Tomma BrunkenThe Stop at Sampierana: End-to-End Engineering and Operational Agility
During their in-depth visit to the San Piero in Bagno plant, what impressed the two young engineers the most was the overall vision of the vehicle and the lean approach to problem-solving.
Key strengths highlighted during the facility tour:
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360° Expertise on the Vehicle: In large plants, engineers are often highly specialized in individual components (cabins, chassis, systems). At Sampierana, the technical team possesses a complete understanding of the machine from top to bottom.
Spatial Organization & Efficiency: A compact facility capable of delivering impressive production output, with ample room for growth.
Agility & Flexibility: Integration with CNH's procedural culture finds a complementary model in Sampierana—one geared toward direct action and reduced bureaucracy.
I come from a Product Validation background, IIt was fascinating to see how agile and responsive Sampierana can be. CNH is very process-oriented, but Sampierana proves that you don't need a complex procedure for every little detail for things to work flawlessly.
Tomma BrunkedThe Coffee Ritual and The Power of Human Connections
Beyond purely technical aspects, the Job Rotation program in Italy highlighted the importance of the human factor in making business processes smoother and more enjoyable.
While working strictly individually at one's desk tends to be common in many overseas offices, the experience in the Italian sites (Lecce, Turin, San Piero in Bagno) showed Adam and Tomma the positive impact of social connection on teamwork.
Having personal relationships makes everything easier. When you need to solve a problem, you know exactly who to contact without sending five emails into a void. Sharing a coffee break or lunch creates an atmosphere of trust that I fully intend to foster when I return to Fargo!
Tomma BrunkedIt's the perfect combination. From Sampierana, I'm bringing home the idea of streamlining processes and removing bureaucratic barriers while maintaining high quality control. From Lecce, the ability to structure projects on a solid foundation. But above all, I'm bringing back the team spirit created outside the office, too—between a game of volleyball and a day at the beach with colleagues.
Adam DluzakA warm THANK YOU to San Piero in Bagno!
The visit concluded with enthusiastic recognition for the team that organized the welcome and the work sessions at the Romagna plant.
A massive thank you to Matteo, Mattia, Francesca Giannini, Christian, Fred from Validation, and the entire staff! You were fantastic hosts, and the presentations and tours were top-notch. The place is so beautiful that I was only half-joking when I said I’d gladly move here!
Adam Dluzak
A heartfelt thank you to the entire Sampierana team for the warm welcome, The program was extremely well organized, with a perfect balance between presentations, open discussions, and hands-on tours where we could see and experience the machines firsthand. An outstanding job!
Tomma