Rithik Yadav

Rithik Yadav studied an undergraduate degree in Mechanical and Automotive Engineering at university in India, before completing a masters in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering at Loughborough University. He joined Nestlé’s Manufacturing graduate scheme at its Dalston site in 2022 and is currently a Line Performance Manager.  

While I was looking for a graduate job, Nestlé really stood out to me as a fantastic opportunity to work for a global business with incredible reach and opportunities to progress within the manufacturing space. After my degree, I knew I’d enjoy a role within Production and this role at Nestlé has allowed me to experience that and so much more, so I can be really confident in choosing a path to specialise in later down the line.

Experiencing different roles

Through my graduate scheme I’ve been able to experience a few different roles already. When I first started, I worked within the Logistics team where I attended operational reviews and learnt about implementing safety and quality checks for the site. After a few months I then moved into an Operational and Start Up lead role where it was my job to help install new equipment, including metal detectors.  

In my second year, I moved to our York factory and worked with the Performance Acceleration team, where I worked with Nestlé teams across the globe, including America and Switzerland. To ensure I had as much experience as possible, I also requested to shadow a Line Performance Manager, as I thought this might be a role I’d enjoy. It’s something I really loved, and I’ve been lucky enough to secure this same role recently. It just goes to show that putting yourself out there can really help your career journey!

Focusing on impactful projects  

As part of my work in the Performance Acceleration team, I led a project which aimed to reduce waste on site by 50%. I identified areas where we could cut make improvements and, where necessary, installed tools to help curb waste, including new sensors which help optimise efficiency of the production lines.

I also created a guide to help inform those across site on how waste was being generated and the steps they can take to reduce the waste they were producing. Since then, I’ve collated learnings from the project to help me sustain good results in the factory. I’ve worked on several projects over the last two years and have particularly enjoyed being part of those that are having a positive impact on the business.

Joining a team

One of the things I really enjoy about manufacturing is working with a team, whether that’s completing day-to-day tasks or working on a larger project. I knew I’d thrive most in a team-based role as I really enjoy learning from and growing alongside my teammates.  

It’s also brilliant to feel like you’re part of a bigger network. At Nestlé we are given a team of people to help us progress in our careers, so you always feel supported. I even had a factory representative reach out to me before I joined so I could ask any questions before my first day, which really helped put my nerves at ease and ensure a smooth entry into my graduate job.