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Also in this year, in the renowned branch study of brand eins and Statista, Staufen management consultancy has been voted as one of the best consulting companies nationwide. As in the previous year, the company from Köngen near Stuttgart once again attained an absolute top position in six industries and sectors. Staufen can thus count itself among the top consultants, among others in the automotive and supplier industry as well as in machinery and plant engineering.

Cost considerations often only play a minor role in the procurement of German industrial companies. This applies even to larger companies. Only 41 percent of companies with more than 1,000 employees conduct a detailed calculation of total cost of ownership in the selection of their suppliers, i.e. total costs including those of material supply. At 24 percent, this figure is even significantly lower for smaller companies. These are the results from the “Lean Purchasing 2016″ study by the Staufen consultancy. More than 100 industrial companies in Germany were questioned for this study.

A quarter of a century ago, Lean Management achieved its international breakthrough. Lean methods currently employed in approximately 95 percent of industrial companies. And successfully so: In more than 90 percent of companies, this management approach had a positive effect, resulting in significantly improved competitiveness. This are the results of the study “25 years of Lean Management”. For this investigation, the Staufen business consultancy, in cooperation with TU Darmstadt, has interviewed around 1,350 senior managers from German industrial companies.

In the homeland of the world’s largest IT trade fair Cebit, of all places, many companies still hesitate to prepare for the economy of the future: Almost eight in ten German industrial companies admit that the qualification of their managers was trailing behind developments with regard to Industry 4.0. In addition, at least one in two companies has not yet begun to adapt its company mission statement and management guidelines in view of future requirements. This is confirmed by the second “German Industry 4.0 Index”. For this study, 179 industrial companies in Germany were surveyed by the Staufen Management Consultancy.  

However, eight out of ten industrial companies admit to having a procurement strategy. But in practice, they do not implement these actively enough. In many companies, day-to-day business dominates everyday procurement. Strategic tasks are inadequate and given little priority by companies. Only one in five or one in six procurement employees adopt a strategic position. This shows the study by consultancy firm Staufen AG. 112 German industrial firms from various industries were surveyed.

With the financial year of 2015, Staufen AG continued its ongoing progress along the path to growth. For the first time in the company’s history, revenue climbed to around 50 million euros. Meanwhile, behind this success, there are 220 employees across three continents – an impressive 10 percent increase in the past year alone.

For 57 percent of German industrial companies, there is no question that Smart Factory and networked products will considerably change their business models over the next five years. Most of them take a positive view of this development. 72 percent of interviewed companies expect to increase their economic success with the transformation to an intelligent factory. Companies that already have operational experience with Industry 4.0 take an even more optimistic view. This is confirmed by the second “German Industry 4.0 Index”. For this study, 179 industrial companies in Germany were surveyed by Staufen Management Consultancy. 

2016 continues to be dominated by adaptation measures Winterthur – One year after removing the cap on the minimum exchange rate for the Swiss franc, industry in Switzerland continues its massive battle with the consequences of this uncapping. 26 percent of companies assess their current situation as bad in consequence of the currency crisis. The situation is seen as particularly dismal by companies involved in machinery and plant engineering. This is evident in the results of a study by the Staufen AG Consultancy for which more than 100 Swiss industrial companies were interviewed in January. 

Despite all the excitement about smartphones and the euphoria over digitalisation, China still needs to catch up in matters relating to Industry 4.0. The local industrial managers are convinced that Industry 4.0 will noticeably change business models, product portfolios and R&D activities in China, too, and that it will, in doing so, promote economic success. However, the Chinese companies are still in the observation period. These are the key results of the current “China– Industry 4.0 Index” for which Staufen business consultancy has recently surveyed 100 industrial companies in China.