Cross-Sectional Areas
Asia and emerging market countries
In the area of Asia and emerging markets we are concerned with logistical questions regarding China, India, and Southeast Asia.
As part of our research work, we develop concepts in order to support Swiss companies so that they can apply manufacturing and procurement advantages, while exploring the sales markets of these regions in a sustainable manner.
Current research projects are looking at the demands that result from the internationalization of companies, performance measurement as well as information management in this environment.
Risk management
Risk management deals with the identification, evaluation, and control of risks from the areas of operations and supply chain management.
Due to globalization and cost pressure, an increasing number of Swiss companies are being forced to or are interested in relocating their procurement, production, sales, and service activities to emerging market countries.
Risk management is becoming increasingly important with the progressive globalization of operations and supply chain management processes. This increases the complexity, amount, types, and severity of risks to which companies and supply chains are exposed.
The aim of our research is to develop innovative risk management processes for a broad range of industries and markets.
We support our industry partners in the development and implementation of bespoke and optimized risk management processes, from risk identification to early warning systems.
We offer risk management workshops and training courses for experts and managers from the area of operations and supply chain management.
Lean & Green Product Life Cycle Management
Lean is a synonym for the elimination of waste (jap. “muda”) in value-added processes. This is one of the main issues in our research domain, in order to become and remain effective and efficient in product development, manufacturing, and servicing and disposal/recycling, that is along the comprehensive product life cycle. In recent years, the growing awareness of sustainability has strengthened the readiness to act in society, the economy, and politics. Therefore, lean processes also have to be green processes, respecting the actual issues of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) and global warming.
The aim of our research is to simultaneously achieve an ecological and an economic improvement of logistic activities. Companies can ensure their long-term competitiveness if they prepare themselves today for customer wishes and regulations of the future.
Systems Engineering (SE)
Systems Engineering (SE) is a methodology, developed at the BWI Center for Industrial Management at the ETH Zurich, for the targeted design of complex systems. Central to the SE methodology is the problem-solving process, which links a process model for system analysis and conception with guidance for project management. In this way, tried and trusted techniques are integrated with procedures for dealing with problems. SE is seen as the methodological foundation of our applied research and practice projects. In this sense, the methodology is continuously being updated and developed. Interested business partners are given access to SE in the framework of our projects as well as training opportunities.