With the "Excellence in Production" competition, the Machine Tool Laboratory WZL at RWTH Aachen University and the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT annually select the best tool and mold making companies in German-speaking countries. Next year, too, a reduced questionnaire will make it easy for companies wishing to take part for the first time: detailed questions only have to be answered in a second phase of the competition. The organizers are also giving away two additional on-site visits by the Aachen toolmaking experts among all participants.
For the 18th time, the WZL of RWTH Aachen University and the Fraunhofer IPT are looking for the best toolmaking company in German-speaking countries. Participation is easy: After registering at www.excellence-in-production.de, companies can first fill out the first part of the questionnaire. A selection of key questions about the company must be answered by March 1, 2021. Immediately afterwards, participants will receive an initial evaluation before moving on to the second round of the competition with more in-depth questions. The deadline for the second round, in which the company can qualify for the final, is May 1, 2021.
In the next step, the team of experts from WZL and Fraunhofer IPT will use a scientifically sound system of key figures to form an initial ranking of the participants. The team will then examine the best companies in detail during on-site visits. In addition, two further company visits are drawn by lot among all participants in the competition.
Thanks to the multi-stage selection process and the focus of the questionnaire on the most important content, companies can signal their interest in taking part in the competition with little effort at the beginning. The contact persons at the WZL and Fraunhofer IPT are then available to answer any further questions during the course of the competition in order to ensure that all key figures are recorded correctly. The detailed evaluation ultimately comprises more than 90 key figures, which can also serve the participating companies as starting points for improvements in their own operations.
Free, anonymous evaluation reveals strengths and potential for improvement
Companies in the tool and mold making industry are once again given the opportunity to compare themselves with the competition anonymously and free of charge. Participants can find out how they compare to the competition in the individual sub-disciplines.
Both independent toolmaking companies and internal toolmaking departments within manufacturing companies can take part. For orientation purposes, the two Aachen research institutes offer interested first-time participants a sample evaluation for download. This gives companies an overview of which industry-related key figures will be evaluated even before they register.
Excellence in Production: Scientifically sound and proven in practice
Processes, resources, organization, strategy and management of the companies are included in the evaluation as well as financial, customer and product-related results. The competition has been known in the tool and mold making industry for many years as a yardstick for assessing the performance of companies.
After the unusual year 2020, the award ceremony of the current competition was broadcast digitally via livestream for the first time. This allowed the companies to attend the announcement of the category and overall winners with their entire workforce. Harting Applied Technologies GmbH received the coveted trophy as "Toolmaker of the Year 2020" on November 18, 2020. The internal toolmaking department impressed the jury with its clearly defined strategy for each business unit, including defined fields of action and goals for long-term development. The high machine utilization, which is achieved through comprehensive automation, and the high performance of the machines in all production technologies were also particularly highlighted. Harting Applied Technologies GmbH also relies on the high level of commitment of its employees in the development of innovative solutions.
Strong partners support the competition
The "Excellence in Production" competition is supported by the companies Hasco Hasenclever GmbH + Co KG, WBA Aachener Werkzeugbau Akademie GmbH, Kunststoffcluster Österreich, Swissmem and the Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau e.V. (German Engineering Federation). Another supporter of the competition is the "Formnext" trade fair for additive technologies. VDI nachrichten and the trade journals Form+Werkzeug and werkzeug&formenbau are reporting as media partners.
