Announced savings measures thwart the transformation of management culture – Automotive industry

Regardless of whether OEM, system supplier or supplier to industry – costs are being cut everywhere in the automobile industry right now. In addition to numerous jobs, at many companies, programs to enhance management culture are also being curtailed, as Staufen AG’s market analyses show. This is a risky game: for it’s precisely now that entirely different manager types and management qualities are needed than in previous years.

“Many companies are currently running the risk of throwing the baby out with the bath water,” warns Dr. Thilo Greshake, who is a partner responsible for the automotive sector at the corporate consulting company Staufen. “In these rawer times, it is difficult to score points with a corporate and management culture whose weaknesses could perhaps still be covered up in past boom years.”

Given the added cost pressure, the clear prioritization of tasks, the smoothing of processes, and an optimization of the supply chain are at the top of the agenda. “At first glance, it might seem that this job requires the manager type ‘tough character,'” says the automotive expert Greshake. “However, precisely the opposite is true. For in contrast to 10 or 15 years ago, today employees expect a partner-like, participative management style. The ‘command and obey’ method has fallen out of favor in times of crisis.”

The automobile industry is in the process of downshifting, not just with respect to management development, but also with respect to agility. While in production and in indirect areas (purchasing, HR, etc.) some efficiency can still be achieved with classic lean management methods, agile methods also have something to offer in the research and development sectors,” advises Staufen consultant Greshake. “Despite leaner R+D budgets and smaller developer teams, this way we will be able to keep pace when it comes to e-mobility and driverless vehicles in the future.”

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About Staufen AG – www.staufen.ag

Inside every company there is an even better one. With this conviction, Staufen AG has been advising and qualifying companies and employees for 25 years. Markets are on the move – the competitive pressure is enormous. Staufen helps to quickly bring about the right changes, increase productivity, improve quality and increase innovative strength. With the appropriate strategies and methods, the international lean management consultancy ensures rapid and measurable success. In order to leverage the potential available in every company, Staufen consultants establish a lively and sustainable culture of change together with executives and employees. Staufen subsidiary Staufen Digital Neonex supports medium-sized industrial companies on their path to digital transformation. The Academy of Staufen AG also offers certified, practice-oriented training courses. Of the 13 international locations, more than 320 employees serve customers all over the world. In 2018, Staufen AG was recognized by “brand eins Wissen” as “Best Consultants” for the fifth year in a row. According to the renowned industry study “Hidden Champions 2018,” the consulting firm is Germany’s best lean management consultancy and was honored several times with the “Best of Consulting” award by the “Wirtschaftswoche” journal.