Meet Sina, our IL6S Manager at Loerrach Plant

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Please introduce yourself.

My name is Sina Hagemann. I have been working at Mondelēz since April 2025, when I made the move from the North of Germany to the hilly south to take up a role as Section Manager at our Milka plant in Lörrach. In this role, I was responsible for a section of the factory where liquid chocolate is made into Milka bars, packaged in the famous lilac wrappers, and then sent to our logistics teams for transportation. Since November 2025, I have been working in my current role as the plant’s Integrated Lean Six Sigma (IL6S) Manager.

How did you come to work in manufacturing and supply chain?

My undergraduate and postgraduate Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering studies in Göttingen and Bremen, including a semester abroad in Odense, Denmark, laid the foundations for my career in manufacturing. Around this time, I also gained valuable experience in automobile final assembly.

After completing my studies, I moved into the fast-moving consumer goods industry as a Junior Process Engineer. I soon moved into the role of a team leader, which allowed me to develop my leadership skills in a manufacturing environment, before taking the next step into continuous improvement to gain a new perspective on production operations. It was at this point that a new opportunity arose at Mondelēz, and I made the move to Lörrach to continue growing my career.

What attracted you to a career in manufacturing and supply chains?

Transforming raw materials into a beloved final product is incredibly rewarding. I'm proud to contribute to manufacturing high-quality goods, enjoyed worldwide – just like our iconic Milka chocolate!

You currently work as IL6S Manager for the plant in Lörrach. Can you tell us more about your role?

Integrated Lean Six Sigma (IL6S) drives waste reduction, process standardization, and defect prevention. We achieve these goals through collaborative "pillars" — workstreams spanning maintenance to health & safety — ultimately delivering consistent excellence and optimized operations across all departments.

My role as an IL6S Manager, frequently known as Operational Excellence Manager, is extremely varied. In short, I am responsible for leading programmes to continuously improve production capabilities and productivity via a range of techniques, from the optimisation of machinery to coaching teams in the implementation of new techniques and approaches. The topics and challenges I encounter vary every single day, and it is incredibly exciting to work in such a dynamic environment. I am lucky to be part of the plant leadership team, as well as to work closely with several Continuous Improvement (CI) Engineers. Teamwork is the foundation of all decisions we make in the plant, and our strong spirit of collaboration allows us to both unlock our full potential and learn from each other.

One central task within my scope is leading our productivity agenda to ensure that our plant is producing high-quality products in the safest, most efficient way possible. This is a collaborative effort, and I am in constant exchange with colleagues from across the plant to ensure that we are making decisions that will benefit all teams.

What do you enjoy the most about your role as IL6S Manager?

I appreciate the broad spectrum of tasks. I am privileged to observe and experience the production of goods from diverse perspectives, and this level of insight fascinates me daily. I also greatly enjoy shaping our ways of working in a collaborative manner, thereby having a direct impact on how our products are produced. Finally, it is rewarding to be part of a wider exchange with our other plants in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This not only expands my professional network but also enables me to think beyond my immediate working environment in Lörrach, ensuring that I am always learning on the job.

What advice would you have for the next generation of manufacturing and supply chain professionals?

Be open to ‘practical’ ways of working. The shopfloor is the place where products come to life, and I would advise anyone to supplement their theoretical knowledge with practice and pragmatism on the shopfloor. This combination of theory and hands-on experience will allow you to develop a well-rounded skillset.

In addition to this, soft skills are essential. In manufacturing you will work with many different groups, from technical teams to the quality department, and teamwork is consequently the deciding factor for success. Communication is the key to approaching and overcoming challenges together.

My final piece of advice would be to be open to learning. Businesses are always transforming, whether via new projects, new structures, or process changes, so be inquisitive and follow your curiosities. You don’t have to be an engineer to work in manufacturing and supply chains, and with the right attitude you can gain the knowledge and skills you need to be successful.