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Smart manufacturing generates large, automatically recorded volumes of data which no longer can be analyzed using traditional methods. Evaluating this information and drawing the right conclusions is one of
the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This requires powerful data analytics to identify weak points, optimization potential and trends.
Cyber-physical systems are computer-controlled sociotechnical systems which acquire data on their own and actively influence processes. They utilize the Internet and are deployed in logistics, production and management. Cyber-physical systems are at the core of smart manufacturing.
Smart factories are manufacturing environments in which products and production facilities communicate with each other, allowing for optimal control of the manufacturing process. Everything from logistics to power supply to infrastructure is networked using interactive technologies, resulting in a direct exchange of information.
The Internet of Things holds tremendous promise. Using the right software, objects are able to capture information, communicate with each other and respond to situations via the Internet. In smart industrial environments, this capability is actively leveraged to boost efficiency.
M2M describes the sharing of information between end devices such as machines, storage containers and vehicles, either with each other or with a central system. In production environments, this automatic exchange of information via the Internet increases productivity and saves resources.
Predictive maintenance aims to reduce production downtimes. Measuring and monitoring equipment is used to schedule facility maintenance ahead of time, taking into account service life, operating conditions and the current state of the facility.
This seeming contradiction is a distinct industrial trend. Its goal is to customize mass-produced items using variations of key features. This enables demand- driven production and makes it possible to precisely meet customer needs.
Agile manufacturing is driven by what customers want. This allows companies to respond quickly and flexibly to customer or market needs without any loss in quality or additional costs. Derived from lean manufacturing, the agile manufacturing concept results in a clear competitive edge.
Net Sales
in CHF million
![]() Sales rises by 0%
to a new record level of CHF 695 million. |
Geographic Sales Distribution
in %
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EBIT
in CHF million
![]() Targeted investments pay off – EBIT increases by 11.6 percent to new record high. |
Net Income
in CHF million
![]() Net income increases by 14.6 percent at record high – basis for future growth. |
Dr. Thomas Schmuckli-Grob currently works as a professional board member. Between 1993 and 2013, he held various management positions in the General Counsel division of Credit Suisse Group, initially in the Bank Leu Group and then from 1998 with a break at Credit Suisse. From 2005 to 2007, he headed the legal department of Corporate & Institutional Clients at Credit Suisse in Zurich, afterwards he was Managing Director of the Legal and Compliance Asset Management division in Zurich (2007 to 2013). From 2000 to 2005, he was head of process and product management at Zuger Kantonalbank.
Anton Lauber is an independent management consultant since 2012. From 2008 to 2011, he headed the Schurter AG, the Schurter Group´s Electronic Components division in Lucerne as a delegate of the board of directors of Schurter AG. From 1993 to 2008, he was CEO of Schurter AG and from 1996, he was the delegate of the board of directors of Schurter AG, where he worked as the head of production and technology between 1988 and 1992. Prior to that, he managed the Generator Plant of ABB Switzerland.
Dr. René Cotting has held various positions in Switzerland and abroad for the ABB Group since 1995. He is CFO and a member of the executive board of ABB Switzerland since 2013.
From 2013 to 2015, Daniel Lippuner headed the Saurer Group in Shanghai, China, and Wattwil, Switzerland, as Group Chief Executive Officer. He took over this position after posts in finance, sales and marketing as well as in general management with OC Oerlikon, Hilti AG and Autoneum (formerly Rieter Automotive).
Prof. Dr. Stefan Michel is a professor for marketing and service management and director of the executive MBA at the IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland since 2008. Between 2003 and 2008, he was as a professor at the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona, USA. Prior to this, he taught as a professor at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, managed a family-run hotel and worked at Bank Leu in Zurich.
Maria Teresa Vacalli is CEO of Moneyhouse since 2016. Between 2008 and 2016 she has directed the wholesale unit at Sunrise Communications AG, Zurich, and was appointed executive director in 2014. Between 2002 and 2008, she worked in various executive positions at upc cablecom GmbH, Zurich. Before that, she had been employed in managerial posts in different companies.
Helen Wetter-Bossard is responsible for the operational management of her own family business. Between 2005 and 2011, she was a member of the auditing committee of the Corporation of Zug, which she has chaired since 2009. From 1996 to 1999, she worked as a clerk to Canton Lucerne’s administrative court.
From 1998 to 2004, David Dean served as CFO of Bossard Group. He was corporate controller of Bossard Group in the period from 1992 to 1997. Between 1990 and 1992, he was corporate controller and a member of the executive committee of an international logistics group. From 1980 to 1990, he worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers AG in various auditing and business consulting functions.
From 1996 to 1997, Stephan Zehnder was a controller in Bossard’s corporate finance unit. In 1998, he took over the function of corporate controller of Bossard Group, remaining in this position until the end of 2004. Prior to this, he was employed by various international companies in functions concerned with finance and controlling.
Beat Grob joined Bossard in 1995 as a project manager in logistics; the following year, he became head of logistics for Bossard Group. From 2005 to 2016 he was managing director of Bossard Switzerland.
From 2006 to 2008, Dr. Daniel Bossard served as sales & marketing manager of Bossard Group and was responsible for the reorientation of Bossard´s sales strategy as well as the development of international customer relations. From 2003 until 2006, he was CEO of Bossard Denmark. He joined Bossard in 2000 as an e-business manager, after having worked as a consultant for Andersen Consulting (Accenture).
From 2006 to 2008, Steen Hansen served as the president of Bossard IIP, Cedar Falls, Iowa. He was responsible for the Group’s logistics between 2004 and 2006, having joined Bossard in 2001 as head of logistics for Bossard Denmark. Prior to joining Bossard, he filled various management positions, the last being supply chain manager at Nomeco Denmark, a leading wholesaler for pharmaceuticals.
From 2005 until 2009, Robert Ang was responsible for Bossard Greater China (China, Taiwan) and prior to that, the Southeast Asia region. From 1997 until 1999, he was CEO of Bossard Singapore. Robert Ang managed his own company from 1994 until it was acquired by Bossard in 1997. He spent the four years prior as a product manager for Conner Peripherals and Optics Storage Pte Ltd. in Singapore. Between 1986 and 1989 he worked as a buyer at Printronix AG.
Dr. Frank Hilgers heads the business units of KVT-Fastening since 2012. From 2009 to 2012, he was a member of the KVT-Koenig management team in charge of sales, product management and the fastening systems division. During his employment at Continental between 2007 and 2009, he was in charge of all national organizations of the spare parts business and key account management in the Commercial & Special Vehicle area. From 2004 to 2007, he headed Group Strategy and Business Development at Siemens VDO Automotive. As senior manager for strategy, Dr. Frank Hilgers was in charge of major international projects at Accenture from 1997 until 2004.
David Dean, CEO Bossard Group
Getting ahead together with our customers means developing solutions that are better, faster, more efficient and more cost-effective and hence help our customers outperform their competition. At Bossard, we call this holistic view "Proven Productivity".
Bossard Smart Factory Logistics not only provides smooth and reliable B- and C-part management, but enables the transformation of your production. The time tested and proven methodology builds on the Internet of Things, thus uncovering hidden potential for productivity improvements and facilitating your supply chain optimization. Position your company ahead of others with Smart Factory Logistics.
“The traction converter is at the heart of every train. We produce such converters in the ABB plant in Turgi. Our customers – train anufacturers – have high expectations of us. To cope with, we need lean workflows, flexible processes and, of course, maximum productivity. Since the implementation of SmartBin, I haven't come across any missing C-parts. This ensures reliability and lies at the heart of process stability and timely handling and delivery of our products. I firmly believe that the close partnership between Bossard and ABB was a crucial factor in the project’s success, a quantifiable success that is evident each and every month. That’s what I call Proven Productivity.”
“Bühler is a world-leading producer of food processing machinery. There are many successful cases of our cooperation with Bossard in joint project teams. We are working together on our global supply chain. This includes products as well as efficient processes. Bossard shows us product solutions and logistic concepts, like SmartBin, that help us to reduce costs and to improve productivity. I think this is the biggest value Bossard brings to us.”
“At SDLG’s headquarters in Linyi, we produce 20,000 excavators and 50,000 wheel loaders every year. For us, safety is our top priority. Initially, screws from other uppliers were breaking during the assembly. Now, the fastener solutions from Bossard guarantee the safety of our machines, which helped us to lower process costs and to increase productivity. In addition, by introducing SDLG to SmartBin, we were able to reduce our stock level by 75% without compromising availability. We will for sure strengthen our cooperation with Bossard for improved product solutions and logistics.”
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