Kornwestheim, Indiana, Tokyo: Mathias Stumpf was employed as a dual student at robos‑labels from March 2021 to June 2023 and has completed his master degree at the SCMT (Steinbeis Center of Management and Technology).
The “Master of Business Engineering” course enabled Mathias Stumpf to work on many real-life problems from daily business, where he could test his technical know‑how in practice.
During the international project days in the USA and Japan he could gain valuable experience.
We have conducted an interview with Mathias Stumpf.
What goals have you achieved in the last two years?
First of all, I have finished my Master of Business Engineering and this even with a very good result.
The main goal was to point out the effects of the deep changes at robos‑labels, like e.g. an increasing focus, onto a service portfolio and connected processes.
For that the project took into account the process of identifying strategies as well as the determination of the maturity level of the organization, which represents the starting base for further measures and changes on the way to the common and new identity. In detail, the change of identity and strategy means far reaching changes on the level of process and system as well as on the level of the complete service portfolio (consulting, products, services). All these acting fields have been highlighted closer and evaluated to create a base for further measures.
At robos-labels I could develop my knowledge from bachelor’s studies both personally and professionally. The collaboration of administration and production, the complexity of single products and projects as well as the optimization of processes were interesting.
What challenges have you mastered?
The projects brought along several challenges, the biggest was, however, to initiate the changes without losing the focus and the goal out of sight. Moreover, when comparing for e.g. a big company to a middle-sized company, the resources are more limited, that is why they have to be used rationally. It was only possible with support and cooperation of colleagues. I have received valuable suggestions and the cooperation worked out really well and was really fun. We have been motivating each other, that way the improvements have created positive impulses.
Another challenge was the business case during my abroad stay at the Kelley School of Business (University of Indiana).
In a team of four students a real or hypothetical product had to be chosen and presented, which uses an upcoming technology and at the same time bypasses the problems of delivery chains.
In our pitch we have founded a start‑up that pulverizes the recycled scrap metal to create 3D printed parts for historical vehicles. For these there are no spare parts available and they cannot be repaired. Our team has mastered this challenge successfully and took the third place with the solution.
What benefits have robos-labels had by your work at the company?
Due to my fresh glance from the outside and my abilities and competences I could nudge improvements and, moreover, optimize structure, processes, and products in certain areas.
In regard to the Master thesis I could work out answers regarding the question, what kind of effects do deep changes have on the service portfolio and connected processes.
The Transformation PPS project provided the benefit of being able to think even more leanly about inventory processes, for example to be able to optimize lead times, capital lockup and waste. These points will have for e.g. positive effects on the competiveness and additionally improve the environmental balance.
What was the reason for your stay in Japan?
The processing of a real business case with the goal to improve the international competence. Thereby the cooperation in an international team with mostly Japanese and German team members was especially paramount as well as taking the cultural differences into account and incorporating them during the processing.
Along with the lectures and the processing of the case at the Tokyo University of Agriculture in Koganai we also had time to visit the city and the country. We spent the first days in Hakone and surroundings with a visit to Lake Ashi and the Hakone shrine as well as Hakone volcano, which warmed the water in our onsen at the hotel. Moreover, we have visited Odwara with the Odwara Castle and took part in a tea ceremony in a traditional tea house. This provided us with a deeper insight into Japanese culture and we got to know our team members better.
What was your personal experience during the Tokyo project?
Even if we have been prepared for the international communication during the lectures, the reality usually differs from the expectation. I have understood fast that a clear “no” will not be announced in Japan or it will be expressed indirectly “between the lines”. Step by step you integrate this experience in the communication and find a way to deal with it. I wished to master a little more Japanese words and phrases to create a good relationship also outside of the project.
I have also noticed that we Germans proceed very systematic and after a similar scheme to find a solution. Particularly, the case in Japan has shown that different perspectives lead to different solution approaches and their combination produces the most innovative ideas for the best solution.
In addition, the abroad stays in connection with the cases have shown me that I can adapt to new situations better and better. Of course, my English has also improved within few days since I had to speak it on a daily basis.
In future, before starting an international project, I will deal with a culture foreign to me even more intensively to understand it better and thus to be able to communicate better with colleagues outside of work as well.
How do you look back at the time at robos-labels?
The time was very intense and diversified and of course marked by ups and downs. During this time e.g. I had to cancel a project, from which in retrospect I learned much more than I originally thought.
In total, for me it was the most educational time of my professional career so far, both personally and professionally. My colleagues have a big share in it, which is what I am very grateful for. Despite their short time they have always supported me and made the cooperation for me as easy as possible. The stays abroad in the USA and Japan during the studies and the daily work in the production were definitely my personal highlights.
I am especially grateful to the managing directors Simon Reuter and Daniel Sugg who were ready to take me in their company during the difficult phase of the Covid‑19 pandemic, which could not be taken for granted. They enabled me with the insights into a family-led company which is undergoing a transition on the way to future. I consider it something special, to be able to finish my Master studies in this situation and to be a part of such an intensive changing phase.
This insight allowed me to really get to know the company and the people involved, and eventually to compare and evaluate the actual state with the target. For a medium‑sized company the result is more than respectable. The changes that took place within these two years alone I would not have considered possible at the beginning.
About:
Mathias Stumpf is 30 years old and a production engineer (Master of Business Engineering). Prior to that, he trained as an industrial mechanic at the University of Stuttgart. He has gained professional experience among others at Mercedes Benz AG, Heilbronn University and Bosch Home Comfort Group (Bosch Thermotechnik GmbH).
The interview was conducted by Christine Hartmann (Marketing & Communication)
Information on the Project Competence Study
https://www.scmt.com/home.html
Mathias Stumpf on LinkedIn
https://de.linkedin.com/in/mathias-stumpf
