Steinbeis Transfer Center Management-Innovation-Technology (MIT)

We engage in customer-centric engineering with a particular focus on helping growth-oriented companies identify their most important innovation and technology challenges, also supporting the successful launch of products in order to create and expand competitive advantage. Our fields of business range from strategy and management consulting to staff education and training, as well as involvement in national and international research projects.

Our specialty lies in product and process optimization with the aim of efficiently creating and delivering customer-specific solutions. To this end, we work alongside our customers on analysis, concept development, and implementation – regardless of the complexity of the challenge.

In the area of product optimization, our consulting services focus on the systematic development of innovations (systems engineering) and the planning of product portfolios based on variant management (modularization, standardization, tool kits, platform solutions).

In the area of process optimization, we focus on the core processes of product development and order processing, drawing on methods such as business process management and value stream design based on supporting IT enterprise solutions (value engineering).

Our work in corporate skilling and development includes customized staff training on project and change management, the coaching of project managers and development teams, and business mediation and facilitation.

In the area of transfer-based research, we are involved in fields such as digital transformation, the setting up and management of corporate networks, and the personalization of hybrid product and service offerings – always in connection with the specific assignments of participating companies.

Our approach to customer-centric, networked engineering involves linking the two main processes of the company – product development and order processing – revolving around the following topics:

• Project Engineering: the development and implementation of company-specific product engineering processes (PEP)
  The aim here is to conduct engineering projects on the basis of a routine, standardized process, and to enable reliable resource, time, and cost planning with the help of defined work packages (lean and agile processes).
• Variant Engineering: the development and implementation of company-specific product and service portfolios
  The aim here is to efficiently offer optimum variety based on standardized modules and customer-specific components, and to adapt these in a targeted manner during the product life cycle (smart and intelligent products).
• Business Innovation Engineering: the optimization and realignment of the entire value delivery process of a company based on its business model
  The aim here is to plan the realization of company goals based on possible value propositions (products and services), available resources, and partners in the value chain (user orientation and individualization) such that goals are in tune with future requirements.

PROJECT ENGINEERING: the efficient product engineering process (PEP)

• Best practice, example 1: “Doing one thing without abandoning the other – implementing successful engineering projects” (manufacturer of test equipment)
• Best practice, example 2: “Life cycle engineering – designing product families systematically and sustainably” (manufacturer of sensor components)

VARIANT ENGINEERING: the customer-specific product/service portfolio

• Best practice, example 3: “Customized variants based on standards – development of a modular product and production concept” (component manufacturer, medical technology)
• Best practice, example 4: “Customer orientation despite standardization – variant optimization based on the kebab principle” (component manufacturer, commercial vehicle systems)

BUSINESS INNOVATION-ENGINEERING: customer-oriented, networked value creation

• Best practice, example 5: “User-centric variant development – expanding the technology philosophy to include user requirements” (component manufacturer, sensor technology)
• Best practice, example 6: “The human-machine interface in an age of digitalization” (expert network, software developers)
• Best practice, example 7: “Enhanced efficiency through cloud computing – process management in collaborative networks” (plant manufacturer, solar parks)

Steinbeis Transfer Magazine

• Focusing on Users (Transfer 1/2017)
  Steinbeis experts help mechatronics specialist take a user-focused approach to developing product variants
• Customer-Specific Product Variants as Standard – Just a Pipe Dream? (Transfer 1/2016)
  Steinbeis supports medical equipment companies with the development of a modular product and production concept
• More efficiency through cloud computing (Transfer 3/2012)
  Process management in collaborative networks
• Life cycle engineering – thinking about tomorrow, today (Transfer 4/2011)
  Designing product families systematically and sustainably
• The art of getting everything done (Transfer 2/2011)
  Seeing engineering projects through to completion
• Combining customer-orientation with standardization (Transfer 1/2011)
  The kebab principle – Steinbeis helps company streamline its variants
• Risky – but under control (Transfer 3/2007)
  Gaining an overview of risk on product development

Steinbeis-Edition

• Voegele, Arno (Hrsg.); Würtz, Günther (Hrsg.) (2013): "Organisierter, strukturierter und methodenunterstützter Produktentstehungsprozess" Steinbeis Engineering Studie 2012 - Teil 2: Best Practice
• Steinbeis-Stiftung (Hrsg.); Würtz, Michaela (2012): "Techniken. Strukturen. Objekte." Kunstkatalog zur SteinbeisART-Ausstellung 2012