Case Study
From the Workshop
to Cost Estimation
Between the workbench
and the world of numbers
Jan Oettinger bridges two worlds. After completing his apprenticeship as a joiner, he now calculates projects. Together with his colleagues, he turns requirements into clear figures and figures into reliable decisions. Within #TEAMRK, he values the close collaboration with every department – from production and purchasing to engineering and project management. Because only when everyone pulls together can a project become successful.
The person behind the numbers
Jan is 28, prefers to spend his time outdoors, and is always on the move. Running, hiking, soccer, tennis – ideally with his girlfriend or friends. “I need that balance. Work requires full concentration, but being outdoors clears my head,” he says. This clarity carries over into his workday, where focus and precision are essential. “I’m focused, I listen, and I’m reliable,” he explains. This fits his role, because cost estimation means taking responsibility for figures that form the basis for many decisions.
Jan also takes on responsibility outside of work: as a player-coach on the soccer field, he knows how important team spirit and cohesion are. He also still enjoys hands-on craftsmanship and works on projects for his private life.
And because #TEAMRK also means helping wherever you’re needed, he occasionally steps in front of the camera for or with the marketing team when support is needed for a video shoot. “A small change of pace that I enjoy,” he says about these appearances, which can be seen on Instagram and TikTok.
His path at #TEAMRK
In 2014, Jan began his joiner apprenticeship at REINHOLD KELLER. Many stages gave him in-depth knowledge of materials, machines, and processes. “I still benefit from that today, because I don’t just know components from drawings,” he says. After his apprenticeship, he worked in the bankroom before attending technical school in Michelstadt. During this time, he completed an internship in the commercial department at RK, where he first encountered cost estimation. The combination of technical expertise, organization, and numbers clicked immediately. Since 2020, he has been a permanent member of the cost estimation team, bringing his workshop experience to every project.
HOW A COST ESTIMATION TAKES SHAPE
Before Jan starts working with numbers, one question is key: “What does the client really want?” Only when this goal is clear does he break the assignment down into its individual components and create a sound calculation. What materials are required, what quality standards apply, what quantities are realistic? How much production time does each step take? What other factors play a role – from packaging and transport to additional costs?
He checks prices, maintains data, and coordinates with colleagues from project management, purchasing, engineering, and production. “Especially when it comes to special requirements, all information has to come together, otherwise a piece of the puzzle is missing in the end.” Calculating is the foundation, foresight is the guiding principle, coordination is the key.
His advice to newcomers: spend a few weeks in the workshop first. “Anyone who has actually seen and touched components will be able to make better decisions later in the project environment.” His own joinery training provided a solid foundation, as he already knew many production processes and could apply this knowledge directly to cost estimation.
MOMENTS THAT LAST
One key experience for Jan was the installation of the large cutting system in Hall F – a project that showed just how many hands and minds need to work together before everything runs smoothly. “For the company, it was a milestone. For me, it was the moment I really understood how crucial good teamwork is.”
He also remembers situations from his apprenticeship when responsibility was shared early. “For example, we were allowed to panel walls for a project for our management. As an apprentice, being trusted with such tasks was impressive. That trust has stayed with me to this day.” This feeling continues to shape his work. He values the closeness to other departments, the open exchange, and the willingness to share knowledge. Challenges are part of the job. Sometimes information is missing, sometimes conditions change. “Then it’s about staying calm, asking questions, keeping track, and pulling everything together into one reliable number.”
This is how Jan sees his role in #TEAMRK: safeguarding figures, enabling decisions, and ensuring that plans turn into reality. For Jan, it’s the balance between professional challenge, responsibility, and team spirit that defines his job – and that’s exactly why he feels at home in #TEAMRK.
