Expertise
Within industries like mechanical engineering or automation, manufacturing as part of a company’s overall value creation plays an important role in differentiating and maintaining a USP against relevant competitors. Manufacturing concepts must therefore take into account the individual needs and requirements of international customers and relevant markets.
Several crucial questions have to be answered:
- What methods should be established for performance optimization (e.g. lean manufacturing, Six Sigma)?
- How does the company address challenges and opportunities arising from the fourth industrial revolution?
- Which specific region/city/location should be preferred for localization in a new market (e.g. China)?
- What is the optimum value added process?
- What is the optimum manufacturing footprint for the company (e.g. with a view to capabilities and capacities, efficient cost structures, time-to-market)? How can it be implemented medium to long term?
References
- Developing a new manufacturing footprint for a machine tool company
- Introducing Six Sigma for a component manufacturer
- Implementing lean manufacturing for a manufacturer of motors and drives
- Assessing alternative locations for the localization of products in China
- Supporting a company in implementing a new value added concept – Realigning three mechanical engineering manufacturing plants
- Benchmarking component plants in Eastern Europe and China