Consulting - Werkzeugbau Akademie

Consulting Approach

The consulting of industrial companies is based on the unique competencies of WBA Tooling Academy Aachen in the tool and die industry. This is the result of the scientific approach of our highly motivated employees paired with a practice-oriented point of view. Executing around 50 consulting projects worldwide every year, this ensures a targeted and well-founded support for both internal and external tool shops as well as the adjacent product engineering and series production departments.

The consulting approach is workshop-based and involves company employees in the project right from the start. And this is the key – initiation of change process in the company by the employees themselves to guarantee high probability of long-term success beyond the WBA consulting.

The WBA supports with its methods, its industry knowledge based on key figures, numerous best practices from successful tool shops and a result-oriented way of working. In addition to the specifically developed solutions, detailed project management is part of the standard in conjunction with documentation for all work meetings.

Topics

The consulting services of the WBA are focused on the framework conditions and characteristics of the individual and small batch production. The aim is the further development of companies that manufacture tools, moulds, operating resources, equipment and devices for series-producing companies. By constantly taking the specific characteristics of the company into account, an adaption to the individual tool and service spectrum as well as the status quo is ensured.

The range of consulting services is divided into three areas: market and customer, competition and strategy and supporting processes. Due to the modular offer, individual topics from all three areas can certainly be addressed within the scope of consulting projects.

The specific modules of a consulting project are individually defined together with the customer. The use of standard methods, tools and procedures needs to be adapted to the corresponding company conditions. You are welcome to arrange a non-binding appointment with Mr. Christoph Kelzenberg on your premises to discuss your individual situation and to develop an approach that meets your requirements. True to the motto: Uniques in series!

Market & Customer

The knowledge of national and international customers and markets and their needs facilitates the sale of tools and services. In addition to a critical examination of the current range of services, including digital networking with customers, the potential of the international sales and procurement markets can be determined. In particular, the structured identification, evaluation and auditing of foreign tool and die making companies is a unique selling point of the WBA.

Supporting Processes

The optimization of the internal order processing, consisting of the core processes of tool manufacturing as well as the supporting processes, is essential for the reduction of lead times. The effectiveness and efficiency of tool manufacturing can be increased by the individual analysis and optimization of individual or several process steps. Best practices and implemented practical examples of the industry provide further impulses.

References Market & Customer

References Supporting Processes

Competition & Strategy

A stringent and clearly formulated strategy is indispensable for the future viability of both an external toolmaking company or for an internal toolmaking department. On the basis of qualitative and quantitative competition analyses, including a database with more than 1,000 data records of German toolmaking companies, as well as the evaluation of internal competence and performance, a targeted future concept can be derived and developed.

Individual Combination

Depending on the individual objectives of the company, different topics of the described areas can be addressed within one project. In particular, the combination of strategic and operational aspects supports toolmaking companies in the long-term design of their business activities.

References Competition & Strategy

References Individual Combination

Database

A special feature of WBA’s toolmaking consulting is the strong reference to key figures during project execution. This is of particular importance for the WBA, as it not only enables performance measurement, but can also be used to define realistic goals. In order to be able to carry out this key figure-based consulting, the WBA cooperates with the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL) of RWTH Aachen University and the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT. In this way, the world’s largest toolmaking database has been built up in recent years. It contains more than 1,000 data records of German toolmaking companies that are not older than 5 years, as well as more than 2,000 data records of international, evaluated toolmaking companies.

The data sets contain a large number of organizational and technological key figures, for example to compare lead times, value creation per employee, costs per department, CAM strategies and machine running times. Benchmarking allows key figure-based comparisons to be made with competitors that reveal strengths and weaknesses. Recommendations for action can then be derived from this in order to quickly minimize the competitive disadvantage through suitable measures.

Partners

The consulting projects are carried out together with experts from the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL) of RWTH Aachen University and the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT, who have been dealing scientifically with tool making for decades. Due to the close networking of the WBA with the university institutes of the RWTH, it is also possible to call in further expertise from institutes such as the Institute for Plastics Processing at the RWTH Aachen University, the Institute for Surface Technology, the Institute for Visual Forming or the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology. This combination of different areas is a key enabler to solve almost any problem in an interdisciplinary manner.

Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL) of RWTH Aachen University

The Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL) of RWTH Aachen University is synonymous worldwide with successful and forward-looking research and innovation in the field of production technology. In eight research areas, basic research projects as well as research projects geared to the requirements of industry are carried out. In addition, practical solutions for the optimisation of production are developed. The WZL covers all areas of production engineering with its four chairs of Production Engineering, Machine Tools, Metrology and Quality as well as Manufacturing Technology.

Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT

The Fraunhofer IPT in Aachen combines knowledge and experience in all fields of production technology. In the areas of process technology, production machines, mechatronics, production measurement technology and quality as well as technology management, the IPT offers project partners and clients individual special solutions and directly applicable results for modern production. In cooperation with WZL and WBA, the IPT carries out benchmarking projects in toolmaking. The focus here is on the evaluation of the technological potentials of toolmaking.

Get in touch

Gerret_Lukas_Copyright_vincentsima_500x500px_300ppi

M.Sc.
Gerret Lukas

Head of Consulting

Tel. +49 241 990163-15
g.lukas@werkzeugbau-akademie.de