Staufen ranked first in the Lean Management category of the expert report ‘Hidden Champions of the Consulting Industry’. This award is unique because it is based on assessments from managers of larger companies. The high rating reflects Staufen’s practical approach to Operational Excellence, which leads to significant and measurable performance improvements for clients. The latest award follows the ‘World’s Best Management Consulting Firms 2023’ seal of approval, awarded by Forbes magazine. Staufen was founded in Germany over 30 years ago and has since become a top consulting firm with a global presence and a strong foothold in the United States.
“Economic investment in the U.S. has grown steadily in recent years. The investment volume is now at a record level. This close cooperation is reflected in an increasingly intensive exchange and lively business relations,” says Wilhelm Goschy, CEO of Staufen. But in times of increasing competition and cross-border activities, companies must pay more attention to efficiency and profitability. This requires experienced partners with an international perspective who can unlock hidden potential. Goschy: “With the recent award as ‘Hidden Champion’, Staufen has once again proven that it is one of the few top companies that can deliver top performance in all markets.”
The “Hidden Champion” is the oldest quality seal for consultants in Germany and was compiled for the ninth time by the privately funded research institute WGMB under the direction of Prof. Dr. Dietmar Fink. For the 2024/25 edition, more than 1,000 executives from major companies with annual sales of at least €500 million – including 150 participants from DAX 40 companies – gave their independent expert opinion on the consulting firms. Consultancies are named “Hidden Champion”, only if their expertise is rated higher than that of the three major consulting market leaders (McKinsey, BCG and Bain) in at least one consulting area or sector.
Strong presence in the United States
“Especially in times of globalization, size alone is not the decisive factor. Instead of simply opting for one of the big consulting firms, more and more companies are realizing that their needs are better met by a specialist with intimate knowledge of their market and industry. Because experience, implementation strength and the ability to achieve measurable results are what counts most,” says industry expert Goschy.
Nick Phillips, Partner at Staufen and Head of the US office, sees the global network of Staufen experts as a key success factor: “Thanks to our numerous offices worldwide, including in Mexico and the United States, we can provide up-to-date and first-class support from internationally recognized experts. We assist companies in entering the US market and provide specialized services to US organizations seeking domestic or international growth or efficiencies.”
Wilhelm Goschy
Chief Executive Officer
STAUFEN.AG
High scores in multiple categories
Staufen not only successfully defended its title in the Lean Management segment of the WGMB ranking, it also received high scores in the Engineering & Production category. The industry study ranks the company as one of the top five consultancies in production, technology management, operational efficiency, shop floor management, and Industry 4.0.
Staufen CEO Wilhelm Goschy says: “Staufen combines a hands-on approach and technical expertise, utilizing the latest digital tools and methodologies, such as process mining, for end-to-end business process analysis and data analytics, to enhance performance. We take responsibility for developing solutions and enabling their transformation from concept to operational implementation. With this approach, we are more than consultants; we are true partners to our customers.”
You might also be interested in
Magazine
Four is the magic number
So that it can continue to successfully develop the business, Škoda Group has opted for company-wide integration, in which processes, management methods, and the system landscape are all simultaneously optimized.
Read more
Operational Excellence
There is hardly any other corporate function in which employees can be taught the role of added value and waste as practically and quickly as in production. Optimization is used as the basis for helping Lean philosophy permeate the entire production process, and from there it affects the whole company.
Read more