Alexander Ouroumes refering about digital transformation at MAN

The first company visit took the students to MAN Trucks & Buses, an automotive company with headquarters in Munich. Students were very excited to learn how this company emerged from an iron and steel industry in the 19th century to a market leader in trucks and bus manufacturing in the 21st century in Germany. The event started with an initial tour of the truck assembly line where all the operational techniques were demonstrated. Later, Alexander Ouroumes, a Digital Business Manager, briefed students about the latest company plans towards digital transformation. There were more in depth discussions about design thinking and similar topics. Claudia Barca, alumna of Pforzheim University and Head of HR, also discussed with the students about the career opportunities in the company.

In the evening the students had a real Bavarian experience in the Augustiner-Keller, one of the renowned breweries in Munich, where they spent a wonderful evening with Bavarian beer, food and live music.

Company visit to Accenture Industrial Internet of Things Innovation Center in Garching

The next day started off with a visit to Accenture´s Industrial IoT Innovation Center in Garching, a gateway to access the Industry X.0 with the goal to develop solutions that create new revenue and multiply efficiency through digitalization. The company has corporations with many different industries for developing innovative solutions for a better future. Andreas H. Schuler, Managing Director and alumnus of Pforzheim University, welcomed our MBA group at the IIoT Center. He gave students a thorough and differentiated overview of the challenges of digitalization. Later, Ms. Marion Lange, a Technology Consultant in Analytics & AI at the Center demonstrated the latest technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, defect tracking cameras, multi-functional cameras which can detect a person’s identity, age, mood and much more. Students were able to also practically experience the use of these technologies.

Kali thanking Matthias Leukert and Thanik Cheowtirakul

In the afternoon the MBA students visited attempto GmbH & Co. KG, a consulting company for business and IT and one of the top players in the area of innovation management in Germany. attempto was established by Franz Berno Breitruck, a Pforzheim University alumnus. Matthias Leukert, Head of attempto Munich, presented the company and the new offices in the Werksviertel in Munich to the students and gave them a good insight into the different business segments of the company. Franz Baur, member of the advisory board to the attempto Group, gave students fascinating personal insights regarding agile project management. He said that “Truth is the invention of a liar”, and started to tell the students about his own experiences. He also explained about one of their on-going projects, “Kukuna Dream”, which aims to establish an ECO coin with blockchain technology in Africa in order to stabilize the financial situation of people in remote areas. This was followed by a hands-on workshop in which Thanik Cheowtirakul, a Software Engineer at attempto, gave the MBA students a better understanding of how blockchain technology works. After this very inspiring visit attempt hosted a get together with MBA alumnis that are currently working in the Munich area.
 

Company visit to Microsoft

The 3rd day of the Munich excursion took the MBA students to an exciting visit to Microsoft! Here, students were able to interact with Microsoft Studio devices and during a tour explore the very modern tech offices that were reminiscent of tech offices in Silicon Valley. Microsoft Dynamics Solution Specialist Lukas Bäuerle gave a presentation and told the students more about his personal career path and his work area. Kathrin Federau, HR University Recruiter informed the students about the Microsoft Aspire Experience, which is a program for MBA graduates and introduced them to Sebastian May, who is a Customer Success Manager and still part of this very program. The visit closed with a round of Q&A so that the students could get more information on the application and selection process and inquire about the lucrative job opportunities Microsoft has to offer for MBA graduates.

True Tall Tales 
After the Microsoft visit the students were treated to a fun, unorthodox Munich City Tour with ‘True Tall Tales’. Here the students got to play trivia and decide whether the stories the tour guide said were true or false to win a prize at the end. After the fun tour, the students watched the famous Glockenspiel, Carillon Munich, in the Rathaus square. Following the tour, the students had a delicious Italian dinner at Berni’s Nudelbrett where they were able to share insights and opinions with each other about the many companies they had visited thus far.

Company visit to MTU Aero Engines

On the final day of the excursion the MBA students visited MTU Aero Engines. They were treated to an enthusiastic Digital Transformation presentation by Dr. Pamela Herget-Wehlitz Senior Vice President Information Technology. Herr Blüml then took the students on a tour of their advanced aerospace facilities that use the latest state of the art manufacturing technology. Before leaving, students were treated to coffee and a Bavarian snack while they chatted away with the MTU Head of HR Services Alexandra Schömmer and MTU HR Manager Dirk Gebell about what exactly MTU Aero Engines has to offer for graduates.

The MBA students walked away from the excursion with a lot of new knowledge about the German labor market and were very excited about the many opportunities that are ahead for them!