Management from the Classroom to the Automotive Industry

What does managing a large manufacturing system look like in real-life conditions, and what challenges does management face on a daily basis? These were some of the key questions explored by first-year students of the Faculty of Economics in Niš during their visit to the LEONI Serbia factory in Niš.

The visit was organized as part of the Principles of Management course, taught by Prof. Dr. Maja Ivanović Đukić, with the aim of helping students connect theoretical knowledge gained at university with practical experience and gain insight into how management principles are applied in a complex industrial environment.

During their time at the factory, the students — future young economists — had the opportunity to meet and engage with managers from key sectors of LEONI Serbia.

Miloš Anđelković, Logistics Director at LEONI Serbia, presented the functioning of the logistics and transportation system, while Aleksandra Lazić, Head of Human Resources at the Niš factory, introduced students to human resources management within a large manufacturing workforce. Milan Đorđević, Production Director at the Niš factory, guided the students through the production facilities and explained not only the basics of manufacturing processes, but also how such a complex system is planned, coordinated, and managed.

Special emphasis was placed on customer-driven production and operations in a just-in-time environment, where precise planning, rapid response, and strong cross-functional cooperation are essential. Through concrete examples from everyday operations, students were able to see how dynamic manufacturing management is and how frequently decisions must be made within tight timeframes.

Winter conditions and snowfall served as an illustrative example of the challenges involved in managing a complex system in practice. Using this scenario, students learned about organizing employee transportation, planning production in cases of delays or increased absenteeism, ensuring the timely delivery of materials, and transporting finished products to customers located thousands of kilometers away — even when external conditions are far from ideal.

In addition to operational and organizational topics, students showed great interest in the professional career paths of LEONI Serbia’s managers. The managers shared their personal career development experiences, highlighting proactivity, early work engagement, and continuous learning as key factors for long-term professional success.

The visit was organized and hosted by Radmila Vesković from the Communications Team at LEONI Serbia. LEONI Serbia continuously fosters close cooperation with the academic community and educational institutions, aiming to provide young people with first-hand insight into modern business processes and the challenges of management in the industrial sector.