The Switzerland-wide known Fertilizer manufacturer was founded in 1663 at the site of today's headquarters in Grossaffoltern BE, Switzerland. Since the acquisition of the Erlangen-based fertilizer producer Günther Cornufera in 2007, Hauert has also been present in Germany with quality fertilizers. Internationally, they set the quality standards for organic and organic-mineral fertilizers. Hauert employs 180 people at four different sites.

Hauert: Innovation for fertilizing

Thanks to targeted research in plant nutrition and development in fertilizer production, Hauert has repeatedly been able to come up with groundbreaking innovations. The company achieved its latest breakthrough with the development of the Sphero process: the process engineers succeeded in developing a granulation process that allows organic substances to be incorporated into granules of the highest quality. The gardener benefits from dust-free processing, and the plant from a targeted supply of a balanced mix of nutrients. Hauert has been focusing on organic fertilizers since the 1930s - a whole range of its products now bear the Swiss organic label, and with Biorga, organic farming has its own product line. For the company, organic fertilizing is a goal that will be kept in mind in all future development steps. Organic fertilizing is the goal, and Hauert will keep this goal in mind in future steps.

Hundreds of Word and Excel lists

Hauert has had an existing ISO 9001 quality management system for years, which was previously managed using the Viflow/Windream tool and countless Word and Excel documents. The central responsibility lay with the quality manager and was associated with a large expenditure of time, since information had to be updated in a wide variety of systems and documents. In addition, Hauert is required to maintain an internal control system ICS. As the next ICS audit was due, a new, integrated solution for quality management and ICS was sought. In the process, Hauert came across the QM software ELIZA. This cloud-based solution combines processes, organization, knowledge and controlling (ICS) in one clear interface. This sounded convincing and contact was made with Eliza AG. A test installation was then created, with which the project manager and the CEO mapped the existing ICS and the most important processes independently.

The optimal solution

Right from the start, the solution impressed with its ease of use and the linking of all information on risks, processes, measures, organizational units and employees. After a short test phase, Hauert decided to gradually introduce the new QM software and thus replace the existing, unwieldy tool landscape. Important criteria for the decision were:

• Modern solution from the cloud
• Simple to operate
• Combination of ICS, quality and process management in one solution
• Decentralized maintenance by different employees with different authorizations possible
• Local provider (short distances, fast response times)
• Integration into existing IT environment (connection to Microsoft Dynamics Navision, logon with Active Directory, linking of filing system with Sharepoint)

Gradual introduction at Hauert

In a first step, the process map was now created and the ISO filing was transferred to ELIZA. With the construction of the process map, all important processes were newly recorded as BPMN flow diagrams. At the same time, responsibilities for the processes were assigned. The ICS and risk management were implemented in a second step. In addition, the connection to Microsoft Dynamics Navision was activated in order to automatically synchronize all employee data from the ERP system in the new software from now on. Finally, in the third phase, all important contracts were recorded in the ELIZA contract management system. Continuous improvement and customer complaint management were also migrated from various Excel lists to the ELIZA "Q messages" module. With the gradual introduction, numerous Word and Excel documents were eliminated. The Hauert company now has a modern, easy-to-maintain quality management system that is a great pleasure to use in daily work and meets with great acceptance among employees. "ELIZA impressed us right from the start. The ease of use and the intelligent links between the information save us valuable time in maintaining the data," says Nicole Kramer, project manager at Hauert.

Import existing data

For Hauert, it was important to import as much existing data as possible into the new software. Thus, all employee data from Dynamics Navision could be migrated automatically. The existing Q messages could also be transferred directly from an Excel to ELIZA. Due to the various interfaces of this software, further data stocks can be imported or synchronized in the future. The following ELIZA modules are currently in use at Hauert:

• Organization & HR
• Processes and key figures
• ICS with risk, opportunity and target management
• Contract Management
• Q-messages (customer complaints and suggestions for improvement)

Next, ELIZA will be embedded in the new IT environment. In the process, single sign-on will be implemented with Office365. In addition, a solution is now ready for the ISO certification of the subsidiaries, which can be integrated with minimal effort. CEO Philipp Hauert expresses his satisfaction with the new solution. "With ELIZA, we have finally found a tool that can keep pace with the agile changes within our company. It continuously shows me an up-to-date picture of the process landscape as well as the people responsible."

Successful surveillance audit ISO 9001 and ICS

The first test of ELIZA was the ISO monitoring audit. This took place in December 2020 and was successfully completed. The ICS audit followed shortly thereafter. Previously, the ICS report had to be created in tedious manual work. Thanks to the diverse export options of ELIZA, this can now be automatically created as a Word document and made available to the auditors. The Excel exports serve not only the company but also the auditor as working tools. The time thus gained can be used for value-adding tasks.

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/fallbeispiel-hauert-hbg-duenger-ag-innert-kuerze-das-iso-9001-managementsystem-modernisiert/

Digitization is in full swing - and no one can escape it. One of the biggest stumbling blocks in the industrial environment is the integration of legacy systems (digital retrofit). This is because these systems lack two important prerequisites in particular: the sensor technology to capture data and the data interfaces to forward it. Without these capabilities, however, it is not possible to optimize planning and changeover times, increase performance and availability, improve quality tracking and tracing, or implement predictive maintenance.

Digital retrofit as a solution

A digital retrofit, often referred to as Retrofit 4.0 in reference to the hype term Industry 4.0, therefore consists of equipping legacy systems with the necessary sensor and control technology - and this during ongoing operation, without break or downtime. Another complicating factor is that these are usually special individual cases. "One size fits all" is practically impossible with retrofits. Sensor-communication retrofitting therefore requires a careful, application-related inventory and feasibility analysis in each case. The possible application scenarios for digital retrofits are wide-ranging.

Six application scenarios

LeanBI, a specialist for data science applications headquartered in Bern, describes six typical scenarios for practical use and the potential positive effects:

1. Intralogistics: Booming online retail is leading to a rapid increase in shipping volumes and thus to high utilization of logistics facilities, which are also unable to keep pace with this growth due to their (partially) analog structure. However, additional buildings or plant complexes cannot be realized as quickly as retrofitting existing facilities. It is therefore the faster as well as more cost-effective and resource-saving way. In addition, it can also increase the service life of the plant.
2. Assembly linesFor many product suppliers, such as automotive suppliers or bicycle manufacturers, meeting delivery times is becoming increasingly challenging due to the high demand and the growing number of variants. In the event of the smallest failure in the production chain, the entire plant comes to a standstill, delivery dates become wastepaper, and high penalties loom. Early detection of possible failures through predictive maintenance, which is only made possible by retrofitting, is the key factor in ensuring delivery reliability, increasing production output and customer satisfaction.
3. Packaging industryThe same applies to the packaging industry, where many machines are connected in series. If one machine stops, the whole line stops. With predictive maintenance, both unplanned malfunctions and planned interventions, such as maintenance measures, can be reduced. In addition, the retrofit of existing lines enables the use of sensor technology for ongoing automated checking of the packaging quality of a wide variety of products, and thus for reducing reject rates.
4. Metal production: In the manufacture of metal products, such as tubes, components or car body parts, it is important to detect quality variations in the process at an early stage. The more online sensor technology is used, the more reactive the process control can be designed. In addition, this ensures continuous traceability throughout the entire process. Here, too, the combination of decentralized data recording and central data analysis helps to reduce rejects.
5. Surface processingBy using additional sensor technology and combined analytics, wear times for machining tools can be better predicted. This optimizes processes in several ways: highly stressed components in surface treatment can be used for longer and material consumption is reduced, as are downtimes, which has a positive effect on increased productivity.
6. Electronics production: Retrofit can use highly complex, AI-assisted inspection methods for early detection of component failures in the production process, thereby increasing productivity rates. They also help to better understand and learn to fix rare special problems.

"Digital retrofit is one of the most important prerequisites and enablers for Industry 4.0," explains Marc Tesch, CEO of LeanBI. "Without this sustainable modernization technology, many valuable and in some cases indispensable legacy systems, production facilities and real estate would be lost to the digital future, along with the associated immense loss of value and resource robbery for expensive, time-consuming new installations." Source and further information: LeanBI

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/digitaler-retrofit-integriert-altysteme-in-moderne-workflows/

The original, handmade Trauffer cows and many other wooden toys should finally get the stage they deserve: The Trauffer family from Hofstetten near Brienz, which produced the wooden cow with the red spots, would like to give interested visitors young and old an unforgettable look behind the scenes and has commissioned Aroma Creative with the conception and implementation of its own world of experience.

"Team Connect," as the new agency model is called, is to build a tailored agency ecosystem for Migros' specialty stores, focusing on two crucial areas: The Creative & Strategy division will pursue the goal of strengthening the brand management of all specialty store brands and setting new standards in Swiss retail with fresh, surprising ideas. This will be accompanied by Content & Production, which will enable the brands to respond not only more quickly but also more efficiently to the market and customers in the future. "A new agency approach like Team Connect is the future," says Patrik Pörtig, CEO of Migros Fachmarkt AG, "because brands in retail today have to be much more data-driven and customer-oriented." As of Jan. 1, 2021, the Migros specialty stores with its brands Do it + Garden, Melectronics, Micasa, SportXX and Bike World were transferred from the Federation of Migros Cooperatives to Migros Fachmarkt AG. This company defines the strategic orientation of the formats and provides all the central services so that the ten regional cooperatives can organize the operations of the stores in a customer-centric and focused manner. In this strong team, the consistent further development of the specialty stores is being driven forward at high speed. "In future, each brand will operate entirely independently and compete directly against the competition in its own category. But there are more and more opportunities to leverage synergies across the specialty stores - particularly in the area of data, of course, but also in customer experience and production. Our declared goal is to develop each of the five brands into a frontrunner in its category," says Pörtig. 20 experts from various WPP agency Team Connect is made up of around 20 experts from the various WPP agencies in Switzerland: Ogilvy, Scholz & Friends and Wunderman Thompson. They are joined by retail experts from Scholz & Friends Commerce in Germany and an international production team from Hogarth. "With Team Connect, we have the chance to build something completely new: a truly integrated and at the same time highly agile team with the best experts WPP has to offer. Putting together a team like this from multiple agencies in a holding company is a completely new way to go. I think this example will set a precedent," says Elke Guhl, Chief Customer Officer at Migros Fachmarkt AG. Elke Guhl has been a member of the management team since last September and has since been building a new, overarching customer excellence organization for the formats. She led the agency pitch process, which now coincides perfectly with the launch of her new internal organization. "We are thrilled to have won such a weighty mandate in the Swiss market. The future of strong retail brands consists of the perfect combination of creation, customer experience and data strategy. It is our ambition to make Migros' specialty stores the benchmark here," explains Peter Petermann, who will lead WPP's Connect team together with his colleagues Tobias Händler and Swen Morath. Team Connect had prevailed in a 4-month pitch against two other international agency holding companies as well as several local players. "We are convinced that with Team Connect we have found the right partner for our transformation. I would like to express my gratitude to our previous agencies for their great commitment and the unbelievably professional handover process over the last few weeks," Guhl concludes.

According to the analysts at Turner & Townsend, 95 % of data center operators expect demand for data center services to increase. 2022 is expected to be a better year for them than 2021. 70 % believe that the data center market is virtually recession-proof. However, according to the latest ""Data Center Cost Index"" from analyst firm Turner & Townsend, opinions are divided on how data centers will manage the green transition. Growth drivers in the industry are likely to be, among other things, the further increasing digitization of business processes and the growing popularity of the Internet of Things (IoT).

Adaptation to climate regulations 

According to the analysts, one of the biggest challenges for the industry is to adapt the current IT infrastructure and existing data center facilities to the new climate regulations. Despite high environmental awareness, only 40% of the industry believe their data centers will be CO2 free (net zero) in the next 5 years. Moreover, according to the index, opinions are divided on whether operators even know how to effectively reduce CO2 emissions. Due to the climate crisis, there is increasing pressure to reduce data center energy consumption. In response, some operators are trying to prepare for a bottom-up green transformation of the sector. Analysts cite the Climate Neutral Pact for Data Centers initiative as an example. Participants include Microsoft, Google and SAP, among others. About another example of how data centers can contribute to the reduction of CO2. recently reported here.

Popular markets struggle with first problems

The construction of new facilities itself will also be a challenge. In the most desirable locations such as Tokyo, Zurich or the FLAP-D market (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Dublin), demand for real estate exceeds supply. In addition, energy supply is becoming scarce. Back in 2019, a report from the Irish Academy of Engineering indicated that increasing demand for central services in Dublin would require an expansion of the energy infrastructure there. The cost at the time was estimated at $9 billion over eight years. In terms of capital costs, the capital of Japan is currently the most expensive, according to the Turner & Townsend Index. Statistically, data centers there have to spend $12.5 for every watt of electricity consumed. The second most expensive data center location is last year's top performer - Zurich. The average cost in this Swiss city is $12.0/watt. It is followed by Silicon Valley with an average cost of $10.3/watt. The authors of the index point out that rising costs influence the interest in investing in cheaper, developing markets. Poland, for example, emerges as an attractive location for data centers - especially in terms of price. "The Polish data center market is attractive to many foreign investors. In the discussions we are having, it is clear that we have a good location in the center of Europe, high-quality IT infrastructure, and relatively low real estate and energy costs compared to FLAP-D and Zurich," says Wojciech Stramski, CEO of Beyond.pl, an operator of data centers powered by 100 % green electricity.

Supply chain bottlenecks and increased prices delay construction of new data centers

The situation in the construction market is an additional challenge for data center operators. 87% of the companies surveyed by Turner & Townsend said that material shortages are causing delays in data center construction. This is compounded by increases in the price of construction materials. In Europe, steel prices are said to have more than doubled in the past 12 months. For this reason, analysts point out that it is becoming increasingly popular to upgrade existing facilities and buildings instead of investing in completely new data centers. However, according to experts, this approach also has its disadvantages. After all, quite a few server rooms are located in older buildings that are not ideally designed in terms of maintenance of critical IT infrastructures and energy efficiency, because such issues were not a priority at the time of construction. A new building on a greenfield site then seems to be the more optimal solution. Source reference:

• https://www.turnerandtownsend.com/en/perspectives/data-centre-cost-index-2021/
• https://www.computerweekly.com/feature/Dublin-in-distress-Power-supply-issues-threaten-growth-of-Europes-second-biggest-datacentre-hub
• https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252469328/Irelands-power-network-needs-9bn-investment-by-2027-to-sustain-datacentre-sector-claims-report
• www.beyond.pl/de

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/rechenzentren-globaler-markt-wird-wachsen/

IT service management alone is complex in large companies. Added to this is the management of the different roles and access authorizations of the various users. As a rule, identity access management (IAM) systems are implemented for this purpose, also in the form of IDaaS (identity as a service) solutions. One such solution, described as "particularly innovative" by the KuppingerCole Report in September 2021, comes from the manufacturer Clear Skye. It is based on ServiceNow, another cloud-based platform that digitizes and standardizes workflows. ServiceNow is now established as a solution in more and more companies. As a result, Clear Skye's solution should be of particular interest to such users. John Milbourn, CEO of Clear Skye, and Marco Rohrer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IPG Group, will explain more. The Kuppinger-Cole report highlights Clear Skye's IDaaS solution as an innovative solution for ServiceNow users. What makes the solution so unique for enterprises? JOHN MILBOURN: The more established an IT service management system is, the more difficult it is to implement a standalone IGA in an organization. The challenge is that the systems need to work together while being user-friendly. After all, with two separate systems for ITSM and IAM, end users must in practice "jump around" on a separate platform by linking between the different services (authorizations, HR, IT, EDP, etc.), or a complex integration of the two solutions must be undertaken. Clear Skye's IGA solution is a standalone ServiceNow module. As such, there is the distinct advantage of being able to access all types of IT services from one place through seamless integration. The user experience is greatly improved due to familiarity with the user interface. The entire service catalog thus has "One Face". However, this is not only beneficial for the end user, but also relevant for administration and operations. What does this mean for the implementation of the solution? JOHN MILBOURN: With our IDaaS solution, deployment is easier because only the IGA features need to be installed and configured, while the basic ServiceNow features already cover functions such as data stores and workflows. So if ServiceNow is already in use, adding Clear Skye takes very little time and effort. There is no need to set up a standalone system, but can buy directly from the ServiceNow store. How can you imagine this in concrete terms? JOHN MILBOURN: Deployment to the ServiceNow platform is straightforward and does not require the introduction of underlying technology such as databases or other components, as with traditional IGA projects. Clear Skye's IGA software transforms digital environments by aligning identity management with functions such as ITSM, CMBD, GRC and security operations in one centralized location. This makes integration into GRC/IRM as easy as can be. MARCO ROHRER: Of course, individual user requirements can still be taken into account. During implementation, we work closely with Clear Skye and thus have full manufacturer support at our fingertips. This close and uncomplicated cooperation enables a smooth process and a professional result that is satisfactory for the customer. This looks like a simple workflow. Nevertheless, companies want to have a professional on hand to advise them. What opportunities does the partnership between Clear Skye and IPG Group offer? MARCO ROHRER: The IPG Group usually establishes the initial contact. Together with our manufacturer partner, we then develop an individual offer according to the customer's requirements. With our advisory service, we support the customer in an advisory capacity right from the start and also take on the entire project management as well as the technical consulting as a full service. Once the solution has been implemented, the question of operational support arises. What options are there for customers here? MARCO ROHRER: We generally recommend adapting the operation for Clear Skye to ServiceNow - if this is already in use. Individual vendor support for the IGA solution is covered by Clear Skye itself, which is like other solutions in the IAM environment. All other services such as 2nd level support and also consulting for further development are offered by IPG. Here, too, we work hand in hand and offer our customer the operating solution that suits them best, whether with a service contract with SLAs or on-call support.

Says John Milbourn, "With our IDaaS solution, deployment becomes easier because only the IGA functions need to be installed and configured."

IPG Group

For more than 20 years, IPG Group has been a pioneer and expert in the field of identity and governance management. The company counts well-known customers from all industries as well as public administration organizations in Switzerland, Germany and Austria among the users of a comprehensive protection of user data as well as access and access rights. Since 2001, over 1000 projects have been completed. > www.ipg-group.com

Clear Skye

Clear Skye is an Identity Governance & Administration (IGA) software company. It developed new enterprise identity, access and risk management software to simplify the complexities of identity management. Clear Skye IGA is based on ServiceNow's Now platform and solves problems of traditional IGA solutions by leveraging the existing platform. > www.clearskye.com

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/it-service-management-und-iam-unter-einen-hut-gebracht/

Roman Balzan's primary task, he says, is to build trust and legitimacy for the startup in the outside world and in the digital world - on the one hand, through Alpian's education and financial literacy platform i-vest.ch and, on the other, through various marketing and communications campaigns. Roman Balzan joined Alpian in 2020. Previously, he held senior marketing positions at Google and US scooter sharing giant Lime. He started his career at the IFJ Institut für Jungunternehmen / Venturelab and graduated in economics from the University of St. Gallen HSG. Schuyler Weiss, CEO of Alpian, says: "As 2022 will be a pivotal year for us, we strongly believe in Roman's ability to support our development and make Alpian a strong brand among innovative Swiss financial service providers. His experience and the work he has done since joining Alpian in 2020 are a testament to his deep understanding of what Alpian is and wants to become: the world's first digital private bank that makes investing and premium banking accessible to all." Roman Balzan adds, "We have been developing Alpian and its brand for almost two years now and we are looking forward to 2022 as we expect to reach important milestones. My main task has been to position Alpian as a disruptive and inspiring newcomer with a meaningful philosophy: Wealth is about more than money; it's also about investing in yourself. Alpian wants to redefine the word investing, and I'm very excited to be part of that journey."

For ten years, aforms2web has been contributing to the digitization of Swiss administration with its e-government solutions. The Austrian parent company aforms2web solutions & services GmbH, based in Vienna, is part of the DPI holding company, which is also Austrian. This is family-owned and has an annual turnover of around 70 million euros from communications services with more than 300 employees. In the last fiscal year, the company generated more than 50% of its sales in the Swiss and Liechtenstein markets.

No more tedious downloading of forms

Among the products of aforms2web is the form solution "AFORMSOLUTION (AFS)". Today, online forms can be seamlessly embedded into the IT structure of the federal government and numerous administrations. This eliminates the tedious download and return of completed forms as well as the manual entry of data. Thanks to electronic business case processing, all processes are fully traceable. Since January 1, 2022, aforms2web has been present in Switzerland in the immediate vicinity of the Federal Palace in the city of Bern. This means that the company is now also available locally for its customers.

E-government solutions: Federal government and seven cantons as customers

At the federal level in Switzerland, the Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP and the Federal Electricity Commission ElCom already rely on aforms2web's trilingual forms. Since 2011, aforms2web has also been a partner for the entire lifecycle of online services in seven Swiss cantons (GL, LU, OW, SH, SO, SZ, ZG). In addition, there are municipalities and cities, such as Winterthur, St. Gallen and Zug, as well as customers from the social security sector. In the canton of Lucerne, thanks to aforms2web's solution, it is now possible, among many others, to order Covid certificates, submit applications for hardship support for officially closed businesses, register inheritances or report the loss of a vehicle registration card with just one click. The canton of Zug and its municipalities have also implemented aforms2web's form solution, e.g. for calculating withholding tax, ordering vehicle inspection plates, obtaining permits for events, creating a sales contract, application form for energy subsidy program, and much more.

Compatible with the federal GEVER system

The interoperability solution with the standard software Acta Nova from GEVER, the business management system of the Swiss Federal Administration, opened up new business areas for aforms2web last year. More and more departments are interested in digitizing their services. "We locate great potential for our services. In the past, we have proven in Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein that we are a reliable and long-term partner for administrations and can implement functioning e-government solutions in a short time. We would like to continue this success story in Switzerland in the coming years," says Marvin Behrendt, the managing director of aforms2web AG. More information: www.aforms2web.ch

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/e-government-loesungen-fuehrender-anbieter-kommt-in-die-schweiz/

The Swiss Cyber Security Days are now considered the leading Swiss platform dedicated to relevant cyber security topics. "Cyber: the fifth dimension" is the guiding theme on April 6 and 7. Transparency, knowledge transfer and open communication between representatives of politics, business, education and research form the core values of the event. In addition to an adapted concept with a combination of exhibition space and conference halls on one level, visitor guidance will also be optimized with an online platform and knowledge transfer better integrated for the Swiss Cyber Security Days 2022.

Swiss Cyber Security Days 2022 and the consequences of the pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has made it recognizable that it is not only the biggest digitalization accelerator, but also a crime accelerator. The number of known serious security breaches in Switzerland has more than doubled since the outbreak of the pandemic, from over 42,000 in 2019 to almost 114,000 at present. The Confederation's cyber security delegate, Florian Schütz, will highlight the priorities and scenarios on the first day as part of the National Strategy to Protect Switzerland from Cyber Risks. In addition, Nathalie Gratzer, project manager at the Federal Office for National Economic Supply BWL, will provide information on the protection of critical infrastructures in Switzerland. Divisional Commander Alain Vuitel, Cyber Command of the Swiss Armed Forces, sheds light on the topic of cyber from a military perspective. Federal Prosecutor Stefan Blättler shows how cyber criminals are prosecuted in Switzerland and abroad, and National Councillor Judith Bellaiche knows that cyber security is now also increasingly becoming the focus of political demands.

Special focus: The healthcare sector

Representatives from the Geneva-based Cyber Peace Institute highlight the health sector's exposure to cyberattacks and how malicious actors took advantage of the critical situation during the pandemic and launched a series of campaigns and Ramsonware attacks. In the process, international protection organizations such as the ICRC were not spared. Such cyber operations can have significant humanitarian consequences, not least when services essential to civilians are also disrupted. At the already traditional panel of the World Economic Forum (WEF), chaired by board member Alois Zwinggi, the international cyber situation will be discussed with representatives of international organizations (including Europol) and Swiss Re's cyber officer Maya Bundt.

SME, Cyber Safe and Cyber Space

The second day of the Swiss Cyber Security Days 2022 will focus in the morning on SMEs, whose rapidly increasing dependence on IT systems and data also requires increased protection against cyber threats. Presentations will include the Cyber Safe cybersecurity label, developed by a nonprofit organization, which aims to provide a way to address these challenges. A high-level panel will highlight the label's benefits, including an affordable path to robust cybersecurity, a reliable cybersecurity assessment for insurers, and increased credibility for IT vendors. In the afternoon, Innosuisse Vice President Luciana Vaccaro will join startups to demonstrate the great potential of innovative developments in Switzerland and present the "Cyber Security Award" together with Tech4Trust. In addition to new developments on the Internet, the highlight of the day will be an international panel, also chaired by the WEF. The exciting thematic focus will be "Cyber in Space". High-ranking international representatives will bring visitors up to date on the latest knowledge regarding cyber in this sensitive area. The names of the panel participants will be announced at a later date.

Technical inputs and insights

The Expert Tracks on a separate stage will feature numerous technical inputs and insights with experts from Germany and abroad. Fil Rouge of this stage will be "A Virtuous Cyber Security Chain" with three heavyweights: Anticipation, Defense and Governance. This will highlight once again that nothing is safe and all data is at risk. The goal is to highlight the importance of security and risk management and a clear picture of the challenges. Further, malicious parties will be identified and the consequences of attacks will be highlighted. Over the two days, Expert Tracks will highlight the prerequisites for cybersecurity as well as management preparation and responsibilities. These Expert Tracks are designed to provide security managers with practical solutions to concretely improve the protection of the organizations for which they are responsible. More information: www.swisscybersecuritydays.ch

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/swiss-cyber-security-days-2022-mit-breit-abgestuetztem-programm/

Skan AG from Allschwil in Switzerland, one of the leading suppliers in the field of pharmaceutical isolators, is one of the pioneering companies in the specialist areas of cleanroom equipment and construction of cleanroom isolators for the pharmaceutical industry. Skan AG products are designed for aseptic or aseptic-toxic applications and meet the highest cleanliness requirements. The systems protect the product, the user and the environment. For example, they hermetically shield production areas for the manufacture of sensitive goods. Customers from all over the world rely on the first-class quality of the plants from Switzerland. It goes without saying that quality management is a high priority in the company. Until some time ago, Skan still used a paper-based quality management system. However, with the strong growth of the company, the effort for the maintenance of the QM system became more and more. Regular, associated tasks, e.g. updating documents, tracking measures, continuous employee training and much more, took on dimensions that could hardly be managed in this way, explains Christian Flüeler, Director Group Quality & Compliance at Skan AG. Therefore, those responsible decided that in the future a software-based QM system should replace the paper version of quality management - preferably an integrated management system that manages various standards and specifications under a uniform interface.

Implementation of the guidelines for "good working practice" simplified

The choice finally fell on the ConSense GxP Enterprise software solution. This is tailored to companies from strictly regulated industries, including medicine, medical technology, pharmaceuticals and healthcare. As an integrated management system, the software facilitates the implementation and fulfillment of the guidelines for "Good Working Practice" and supports compliance with various national and international guidelines, laws and standards with many helpful functionalities. These include the use of electronic approval workflows, complete documentation, reliable access protection through a detailed role and rights concept, the option of integrating online tests and training, and the creation of capability profiles that provide information on the status of employee capabilities. The enterprise version of the software is also tailored to organizations with multiple locations and more complex structures.

In June 2018, the introduction of ConSense GxP Enterprise began at Skan. First, the processes and documents relevant for the quality management standard ISO 9001 were integrated into the QM system, which had previously been checked for up-to-dateness. To create the processes, Skan used the process modeling tool integrated in the QM software, which allows any process to be easily and quickly mapped in the form of flowcharts. Functions and work areas were assigned to the respective responsible employees, thus clearly defining responsibilities. Department-specific processes, e.g. in human resources, in production or in the insulator manufacturer's warehouse, were later worked out by the respective departments themselves. In the end, Christian Flüeler and his employees only checked compliance with the specified form before the processes were approved by the supervisors of the respective departments. The go-ahead for the new integrated management system was given in mid-2019.

With software-based system to paperless documentation

The integrated management system now makes everyday work at Skan easier. It automatically compiles the relevant information for each of the more than 530 employees at the Allschwil site. The role and rights system stored in the system also regulates the distribution of content on an individual basis. Employees only receive the information they actually need in the current and valid version. Changes are communicated via the system, which prompts users to confirm that they have taken note of them. Searching for information is now also easier and faster for Skan employees, as Christian Flüeler recounts: "The ConSense software offers different ways here: Either you use the search function or you simply click on the corresponding sub-process in the process map. Links then take you to the stored information and documents. This is quick and easy and has contributed to a significant increase in employee acceptance of our QM system," says Christian Flüeler.

Modular system, adapted to needs

The ConSense software is modular in design. Users like Skan can add many different modules to their system - e.g. audit management, measures management, training management and many more - so that it covers their individual requirements. Among other things, Skan uses ConSense measures management, which is used to centrally record and manage all measures arising in the company, for example, from audits, complaints, improvements or numerous other sources. "The software now makes it very easy for us to monitor fixes. While Skan has always been good at fixing bugs quickly, everyone knows this: sometimes details are still missing, which then get left behind due to workload. This is unacceptable in the pharmaceutical industry because everything must be documented correctly and completely. In the past, this was extremely tedious and took place with the help of Excel spreadsheets and paper forms. Now it all happens electronically. The system does not tolerate the unfinished measures, reminds the responsible persons and issues reminders. This helps us a lot to complete measures cleanly - especially from error reports - to document them completely and to check their effectiveness," says the quality manager. Another module, ConSense training management, was one of the reasons why the manufacturer of insulators decided to use the software from Aachen, as Christian Flüeler explains: "Our products are used, among other things, for the production of vaccines. Maximum safety is a must here. For this, we have to prove that our employees in production know the processes and documents exactly. In our Skan Academy, regular classroom training courses are held, which must then be documented so that this proof can be provided at any time. We now also regulate this via our integrated management system." The module provides an optimum overview and promotes efficient processes and a structured organization. In the case of recurring training measures, the software automatically reminds users of the necessary refresher courses. Christian Flüeler is glad that he now has an electronic management system that offers the flexibility to adapt such changes quickly and with little effort: "Overall, our structures have become much more complex. Today, we wouldn't even have the possibility to master all processes without a software-based system."

Author

Dr. Iris Bruns is Managing Director of ConSense GmbH, Aachen (Germany). Another case study from her can be found here. More information: www.consense-gmbh.de

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/integriertes-managementsystem-im-einsatz-saubere-arbeit-auch-im-qualitaetsmanagement/

Only by measuring suitable characteristics can a statement be made about the quality of a manufactured product. For this purpose, the measuring equipment used must be tested regularly. For this purpose, there is now a new test instruction published by the Association of German Engineers VDI, which in the German-speaking area in many areas Sets and manages norms and standards.

New test instruction for the assessment of measuring equipment

The guideline series VDI/VDE/DGQ/DKD 2618 describes procedures and courses of action for monitoring and testing measuring equipment for geometric quantities. The test instructions create a basis for the evaluation of new and used measuring equipment. Sheet 17.2 of the guideline series applies to the testing of length setting devices with numerical display. In the form of directly applicable action and work instructions, the VDI/VDE/DGQ/DKD 2618 Sheet 17.2 the necessary work steps for the respective tests. In addition to calibration, the preparatory tests and activities are also explained. Furthermore, the guideline provides information on the evaluation of the calibration as well as on the documentation. In addition, an exemplary measurement uncertainty balance is drawn up in the appendix.

Replacement of the December 2019 draft

Publisher of the guideline VDI/VDE/DGQ/DKD 2618 Sheet 17.2 "Inspection equipment monitoring - Inspection instruction for length setting devices" is the VDI/VDE Society for Measurement and Automation Technology (GMA). The guideline was published in January 2022 as a white paper and replaces the draft of December 2019. It can be ordered at a price of EUR 85.50 from the Beuth Publishing House (Tel.: +49 30 2601-2260) can be ordered. Online orders are available at www.beuth.de or www.vdi.de/2618-17-2 possible. VDI guidelines can be used in many public display points can be viewed free of charge.

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/pruefanweisung-fuer-laengeneinstellgeraete-mit-ziffernanzeige/

Just in time for the elections, an abbreviation is causing havoc in marketing departments and agencies, or more specifically in the HR departments of these companies: EVP. While the big sister CVP has long since trimmed its name to mainstream and simply calls itself The center the EPP (Evangelical People's Party), founded in 1917, remains true to its Reformed Christian orientation and name. Both paths, however, have so far led to continued moderate electoral success. But that is not the point here. With EVP is the Employee Value Proposition, which is currently on everyone's lips.

Money and fame alone do not make happy

In the past, a hefty salary and the prospect of winning a few marble cubes were enough to attract good people. Today, the whole package - the EVP - has to be right if a company wants to attract highly specialized professionals. Of course, there are still people who want to earn a lot of money quickly and win awards, but the species is slowly dying out. Today's workforce demands different incentives from companies. "What's in for me?" they ask themselves, meaning money as one aspect among many (and one that is less important in affluent Switzerland than elsewhere). Rather, what counts today is flexibility in the choice of time, place and workload, as well as the size of the space for developing one's own skills and personality. In order to ensure all of this, a large part of the package is taken up by the corporate culture. This means that values and appreciation by the team and managers are more important than the amount of salary. No easy task, especially for those managers who define their self-image by the latter. And in an industry in which hierarchy and titles are almost as deeply anchored as in the conservative financial industry, living EVP is more difficult to establish than reciting it in a few slides. It's not enough to throw a few rooftop parties and think that's all there is to it. No, an attractive employee value proposition demands everything from a company and its organization. Transparency, flexibility and curiosity. If you don't offer that, you may still have orders, but you won't have employees to fill them. Today, good professionals choose their employers. Which brings us back to politics: The "people" elect the politicians - and not the other way around.

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* Benno Maggi is co-founder and CEO of Partner & Partner. He has been eavesdropping on the industry for over 30 years, discovering words and terms for us that can either be used for small talk, pomposity, excitement, playing Scrabble, or just because.