Katja Jooß is in charge of controlling and SAP development at MMcom’s branch office in Hof, Bavaria. She celebrated her 25th anniversary in 2021. In this interview, she reports on how work has changed in the past quarter of a century and what she likes about Militzer & Münch and the logistics industry.
Ms. Jooß, please briefly describe your professional career. Which functions did you go through at Militzer & Münch?
First of all, I did an apprenticeship as a freight forwarder. After that, I stayed in administration and then worked in controlling for some time. I then gradually took over responsibility for the development and maintenance of our SAP system. This includes user and authorization maintenance, user support in Germany and Dubai, and support tasks in Controlling. For more than 20 years, this has been a constant learning and development process, as new projects, legal requirements, and challenges keep arising in the field of SAP.
How has Militzer & Münch changed over the past 25 years?
When I started in 1996, computers were rare. In my first year of training, I had little contact with a PC. Back then, people rather worked with files. I was responsible, for example, for updating the deviating times of the employees who “punched in” with punch cards in the time recording device. That was a big box with a numeric keypad for input and a small screen – almost unimaginable today. Everything is digitalized, and Militzer & Münch’s country units and offices are closely interconnected worldwide. Customers can track their shipments in real time. Militzer & Münch has grown into a modern company, but has remained down-to-earth.
What do you most appreciate about Militzer & Münch?
The work environment, the working conditions, the colleagues, and the bosses – everything is just right. In addition to the constant tasks, there are always new challenges and projects, too. I can work independently, but I always get the support I need. Militzer & Münch is a down-to-earth, tradition-rich company. That suits me fine.
Here in Hof, we’ve had flextime for 25 years already. In addition, I have the opportunity to work from home, for which I am very grateful. As a result, work and family were easy to reconcile even during the lockdown.
What fascinates you about the logistics industry?
Nothing in the world moves without logistics. I’m impressed when I follow our special transports on the intranet. I find it fascinating, for example, how large machine parts or even entire plants are moved from one end of the world to the other, and how the individual Militzer & Münch companies go about it, working hand in hand.
How do you spend your free time?
I am married and have two children. My husband and I like being outdoors, we like hiking, and we do lots of things with the kids. Traveling and skiing are also at the top of our list. It is really great here in Hof: we can go hiking in the hills in summer and skiing in winter. Everything is within easy reach, there is a beautiful lake nearby, and the region also has a lot to offer culturally. In addition, I have been involved in athletics on a voluntary basis for many years – in the past actively and today as a the head of a department, as a coach and a member of the board.
