This day started with a visit to MAN in Nuremberg, the company my group has been focusing on. MAN was really interestingbecause it had a lot of contradictions. The company name makes you think of people working, but in reality there were many more robots on the factory floor than humans. We were also told that only about 1% of the workers in the factory are women, which was explained partly through the language and culture of the workplace. The company was very open about this, which stood out to me because not every company is that direct about internal challenges.
Even with the heavy use of automation, it was clear that humans still play an important role. Most of what we saw focused on engine production rather than fully assembled trucks or buses, but the process was still highly automated. KUKA robots were used throughout the factory, which made it interesting to see how connected these companies are across the industry. There were also many safety checks in place to make sure everything was being done correctly, showing that humans are still involved in monitoring and quality control.
We also learned about MAN as part of the larger Volkswagen Group under TRATON. Hearing about how the company fits into a bigger global structure helped me understand how complex the automotive industry really is. MAN is not only focused on trucks and buses, but also provides engines and technology for other commercial vehicles.
After MAN, we visited the Kunstbunker in Nuremberg, or art bunker, which was used during World War II to protect valuable art from destruction. We learned how the bunker was designed with careful temperature and humidity control to protect paintings and stained glass windows. The layout was very structured, with storage rooms and escape routes connected in a grid system beneath the city.
Later, we had free time to explore Nuremberg. I got a cherry almond chocolate latte from a coffee cart in the middle of a market, which was really good, and I also bought a new tote bag. Some of us walked around the city and spent time exploring different streets and markets. It was nice to slow down and experience the city without a schedule. Walking through Nuremberg felt very historic but also very lived in, with a mix of old architecture and everyday local life.
Overall, the day showed two very different sides of “craft.” MAN represented modern industrial production and automation, while the art bunker represented preservation, history, and protection of culture. Both showed how much planning, skill, and care go into building and maintaining things that matter.
