ZF expands technical training programs in Brazil.

ZF, a global mobility technology company, reinforces its regional commitment to talent development in a landscape marked by rapid technological transformations and new operational challenges. Through structured training and development programs, the company intensifies the development of its people by combining technical training, leadership development, and strengthening the organizational culture. The Operations Development Program (PDO) and the Coordinator Academy have complementary proposals focused on operational excellence and leadership development.

“We believe that operational excellence begins with the development of people. By prioritizing structured technical and leadership training programs, we are preparing our professionals to work in an increasingly dynamic, technological and collaborative industrial environment, while also strengthening the ZF culture in all our units and contributing to a lifelong learning environment,” says Ana Carolina Gonçalves (pictured), Vice President of Human Resources at ZF in South America.

Operations Development Program (PDO) strengthens operational excellence.

The Operations Development Program (ODP) is one example of this journey. It was created to enhance technical and operational skills, promote greater efficiency in industrial processes, and strengthen the company's organizational culture. The initiative brings together modules that address technical skills, fundamentals of corporate culture, and the development of soft skills. These are conducted by internal multipliers from ZF itself, as well as by specialists from Senai. 

The program has already completed 15 training sessions at ZF's industrial units in Brazil, totaling 227 trained employees, with 60 hours of training per session. The initiative began in 2024 and has been systematically contributing to the advancement of operational excellence and the strengthening of sustainable practices in the company's operations. 

The Academy of Coordinators prepares leaders for new challenges in the industrial environment.

Complex industrial environments are increasingly common in ZF's facilities. Therefore, the company created the Coordinators Academy, a structured development program aimed at the company's operations coordinators, with a direct focus on training leaders capable of operating in these environments. Unlike the PDO (Performance Development Organization), which prioritizes standardization and operational efficiency, this program concentrates on strengthening decision-making, people management, and leadership autonomy.

Launched in 2023, the training cycle is organized around the technical, managerial, and leadership pillars, combining themes such as performance indicators, industrial processes, labor relations, communication, organizational culture, and team management. Throughout the program, participants also take part in panels with experts and peer groups, encouraging the exchange of experiences and the development of solutions applied to day-to-day operations. 

Lasting approximately six months and requiring around 76 hours of instruction, the initiative strengthens the integration between areas such as Production, Logistics, Maintenance, and Quality, broadening the systemic vision and confidence of operational leaders.