Mechanical engineering & Plant engineering

Innovation in mechanical and plant engineering

Digitalization and sustainability play an important role. Local sourcing, supply chains and a shortage of skilled workers create pressure to innovate. But they also bring innovation potential and opportunities to differentiate yourself as a company and open up new business areas.

Drivers of innovation in mechanical engineering and plant engineering

Digitalization and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)

• Industrial Internet of Things and Industry 4.0: Which systems should be networked? Who operates the platform?
• Predictive Maintenance: Which maintenance can be predicted? Can it be done without maintenance? Which business model fits this?
• Artificial intelligence: What is possible in development, user communication and production planning?

The human factor in mechanical engineering

Artificial Intelligence or not. Customers are people and employees are people. For the foreseeable future. But the market wants AI-supported products.

• Individualization & Mass Customization: Synergy and efficiency despite batch size one? What else is worth it? What does the customer really need?
• Skilled labor shortage: How can machines be made easier to operate? Is the smartphone the new CNC and MES control?
• Remote work, remote maintenance, monitoring and management: Which working models need to be supported in the future? How can data security be guaranteed?
• Customer Journey: The demands of target groups are increasing. How can customer satisfaction be increased apart from price discounts? Which enthusiasm factors are relevant for the future?

Sustainability, new energy sources and new materials

Energy costs are not everything. Materials, circular economy and hydrogen create opportunities for greater differentiation and customer satisfaction in the market.

• CO2 reporting: How to do it as simply as possible? Or can you even make money with it and differentiate yourself from the competition?
• PFAS: What replacement solutions need to be developed? Who will find the new miracle material of the next century?
• Hydrogen: Energy source with potential. Which applications are the future? What new types of systems does the ‘Champagne of the Energy Transition’ enable?

Production technologies and supply chains

Supply chain changes, due diligence laws, local sourcing and additive manufacturing bring potential and risks. Every change is an opportunity to gain an edge. But only if new markets can be successfully identified, tested and supplied with beneficial new products or services. And if such new solutions can be made profitable and economically viable for the mechanical engineering company.

How can innovation consulting help in mechanical and plant engineering?

The old economy has a future. However, new ideas are not always easy to find and then not easy to implement. The curse of past success blocks people’s minds and puts blinders on. Innovation consulting can help to open people’s minds for solutions which experts don’t yet believe in. For example in condensed workshop formats.