Dr. Ning talks about his day-to-day work as a company doctor at Schaeffler
“Health is a combination of body, mind and environment,” says Dr. Ning Shuangli, company doctor at our Taicang location. For 19 years he has worked at Schaeffler Greater China, where he is in charge of workplace health management at one of the Schaeffler Group’s largest production sites. In addition, he coordinates regional health matters, especially in relation to travel medicine and mental health. For many employees he is a permanent fixture in the daily work routine – because everyone knows “Dr. Ning”.
A typical workday with special responsibility
The typical workday of a company doctor at Schaeffler is characterized by responsibility and variety. Dr. Ning Shuangli describes it with three key terms: personal communication, on-site service, and digital support.
Despite an increasing number of online meetings, he still believes that direct communication is indispensable. Being physically present at the plant is a key component of his work. The Taicang location has several departments and a total of five production plants. “For me, on-site service means regularly being out and about on the shop floor, listening attentively, and identifying risks in good time. This results in a health management system that is not just reactive but undertakes active prevention,” says Dr. Ning.
Regular walk-throughs, conversations directly at the workplace, and open feedback loops result in an ongoing dialogue. “Employees can raise their concerns directly – from physical strains to psychosocial issues.” The works doctor noted that open and respectful dialogue is a key factor in the success of return-to-work programs in particular.
Digital tools for effective health programs
Even if direct exchanges with colleagues are the focus of his day-to-day routine, Dr. Ning is increasingly making use of digital tools, as they help him and his team to analyze complex health data, manage processes more efficiently, and present results transparently. The insights gained also help Schaeffler to initiate cross-location health programs, e.g., in the context of mental health or travel medicine. Here too, the aim is to not just address health issues but to actively promote health in a way that is personalized, relevant to everyday life, and sustainable.
In life as in music: It all comes down to the rhythm
For Dr. Ning, health is not just a professional matter but above all about personal attitude. This is why his own daily routine follows simple but rigorous principles – ensuring a pace of life with sufficient sleep and regular exercise. For mental balance, he relies on reading, conversations with family, friends and colleagues, and frank exchanges with those around him. Little routines also give him the tranquility, balance and energy to handle the daily workload. “At home, for example, I look after my cat and four aquarium fish, and I enjoy taking care of my plants and flowers on the balcony,” he says, adding: “I can say from experience that helping others is extremely fulfilling.”
July 2026
