"Our local presence and understanding of quality are our advantage."
New things are being created: ControlTech Engineering is currently working on many major projects in the Northwestern Switzerland region. We talk to Dominic Brunner and Andreas Langer about the challenges and success factors as an SME, the competition and the importance of working across disciplines.
How do you assess the economic situation in our industry?
Dominic Brunner: In general, we are pleased that there continues to be strong investment in the region. At the same time, we are aware that all project participants, both suppliers and manufacturing companies, must create solutions that enable products to be offered competitively on a global scale. This means that in every project, whether large or small, we have to offer reliable solutions of the best quality and at the lowest possible cost.
How can we put this into practice for the benefit of companies?
Andreas Langer: Our contribution lies above all in the expertise of our well-trained employees, who have the necessary know-how. Another important element is our clear and structured approach to each individual project, which helps us to set the right priorities. We focus in particular on topics that offer the customer and its users real added value in day-to-day operations. In addition, we specifically combine our expertise in the fields of automation, industrial IT and data management to create efficient and well-coordinated overall solutions.
Why is interdisciplinary work a decisive success factor?
Dominic Brunner: Through initiatives such as Industry 4.0, we see that work and systems are becoming increasingly networked. Combining the disciplines of automation, industrial IT and data management enables us to offer solutions that are more cost-effective, better coordinated and more reliable. Standardized concepts from these areas ensure that tasks and challenges are optimally solved with the right systems. Because when systems are used too far beyond their original purpose and burdened with too many workarounds, complex and unreliable solutions often result.
Which major projects are currently occupying us the most, and where are we right now?
Andreas Langer: We are involved in various major projects, including projects at DOTTIKON EXCLUSIVE SYNTHESIS AG and Roche. We are currently in the final phase at Dottikon. The aim here is to finalize every detail cleanly and consistently so that the system runs perfectly. At Roche, we are still in an early phase in which concepts are being developed at various levels and in different degrees of detail. This phase is crucial to create the basis for efficient implementation, but also challenging, as important decisions have to be made under uncertainty.
Dominic Brunner: " Despite these challenges, we are confident that our experience and our structured approach will also enable us to be successful in these projects and achieve the desired results for our customers.
How do we manage large projects as a comparatively small SME?
Dominic Brunner: One key aspect is that we don't manage these projects alone. Although automation, industrial IT and data management are important components of larger projects, they are always embedded in the overall project with many other equally important disciplines. In large-scale projects in particular, we therefore always work together in an overarching team consisting of people on the customer side and other partners (especially general planners). Cooperation within the project team, including across company and departmental boundaries, is therefore always a key success factor. Good communication and trust are essential. We also have a clear vision and approach to project management based on our focus on the V-model (what - how - do - check). It is also crucial that we always concentrate on the most important topics in the respective project phase and focus on the customer and their user needs.
The expertise of our employees and the strong knowledge culture within the company also contribute significantly to our success. The breadth of our workforce, which we have in the areas of automation, industrial IT and data management, helps us to manage and successfully implement several major projects in parallel.
Swiss engineers have also been criticized recently. What do you think of this?
Dominic Brunner: You have to be careful not to make sweeping generalizations. There are definitely very good Swiss companies that are successful worldwide and have been for years. But there are also companies or combinations that don't work ideally - regardless of whether they are Swiss or international companies. Our advantage certainly lies in our cultural and linguistic proximity to the region, which promotes communication and cooperation. We attach great importance to quality and adhere to high standards, but not at any price - in the long term, however, this understanding of quality always pays off.
How do you perceive the competition from abroad?
Andreas Langer: The competition from abroad is noticeable. It's true that we have higher hourly rates than many foreign providers or companies whose staff only work in Switzerland temporarily. But the hourly rate is not the decisive factor. What is important are the total costs incurred until a functioning solution is implemented that meets the customer's requirements. Measured in terms of total costs, we are absolutely competitive.
So regional presence and personal trust continue to be an important factor for cooperation?
Andreas Langer: Responsiveness and our commitment to quality at fair prices are highly valued by our customers. Our work should meet the requirements of our customers and their users in the long term. Local presence plays a role in this, but not the only one. It is much more important that we ourselves always keep our "Total Quality" promise and offer our customers solutions that "run" reliably.
