Markus Arndt studied chemistry in Regensburg (Germany), where he obtained his Ph.D. degree in 1998. After postdoctoral studies at the University of Arizona in Tucson (USA) in 1999, he joined HeidelbergCement in 2000 and completed the yearlong Engineer-In-Training program. Since 2001, Senior Chemist at the HeidelbergCement Technology Center (HTC) in Leimen (Germany) and Deputy Head of its Analytic Center – interrupted by a three-month assignment to Lehigh’s Mason City Plant in Iowa (USA) in 2002.In November 2005, he joined the newly-created group Quality Control & Optimization within the department Operational Support of HTC Central Europe/Central Asia. His main tasks are managing HC’s worldwide interlaboratory proficiency testing schemes (clinker, cement, raw meal and coal analysis), conducting plant quality audits within the scope of the Operational Excellence Program – currently in Poland, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Ghana and Sierra Leone, advising plants on quality assurance concepts, developing and monitoring product optimization initiatives, supporting plants in quality management systems, certification and trouble shooting as well as providing advanced training for plant staff. Since 2010, also acting as REACH Coordinator, representing HC in different committees and working groups on national and European level.Affiliations:German Chemical Society (GDCh) - Section Building Chemistry and Section Analytical ChemistryAmerican Chemical Society (ACS) - Technical Division Analytical ChemistrySpecialties: Cement production, clinker and cement chemistry, quality control, operational support, proficiency testing, operational excellence, quality management, analytical chemistry, building chemistry, REACH, CLP (GHS)