Betriebswirt/Betriebswirtin (Hochschule) für Industrie

Relevant media sources for this profession include Betriebswirt info, Ideen- und Innovationsmanagement, Industrie 4.0 Management, Industriepolitik, Industry of Things, innovations-report, Journal of Business Economics, Management Review Quarterly, Monitoring-Report Wirtschaft DIGITAL 2018, PAiCE - Digitale Technologien für die Wirtschaft, Plattform Industrie 4.0, RKW Magazin, wiwi-online, and ZWF Zeitschrift für wirtschaftlichen Fabrikbetrieb.

Current trends in this field include hyperautomation and the leasing of collaborative robots (cobots). Hyperautomation extends Robotic Process Automation (RPA) with intelligent automation solutions and AI, helping companies analyze, design, and automate their workflows. Cobots improve production speed and quality, while leasing models reduce high acquisition costs, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Important interests for success in this profession are: an interest in commercial-organizational activities (e.g., creating feasibility analyses and business plans, recognizing economic advantages and disadvantages of different production methods) and an interest in administrative-organizational activities (e.g., managing inventory in the material warehouse).

Industrial business administrators primarily work in offices and meeting rooms. Additionally, they may also work in factory and production halls, storage rooms and halls, in home offices, or remotely.

Core competencies acquired or deepened during Studium (university studies) include business administration, controlling, financial management, commercial law, investment planning, annual financial statements, costing, cost and performance accounting, logistics, marketing, human resources, production planning, and tax law. Other competencies that may be significant for this profession include foreign trade, bookkeeping, e-commerce, purchasing, employee experience, financing, customer consulting and support, warehouse organization and management, warehouse logistics, market research, materials management, operations research, pricing, project management, statistics, contract law, sales, sales management, economics, and economic policy. The competence group 'Business Administration, Finance, and Controlling Software' is also relevant.

Digitalization can change task areas and requirement profiles for industrial business administrators. They may have the opportunity to engage with technologies, processes, or systems such as augmented analytics (e.g., using augmented analytics tools for automated risk analysis for financing plans), business intelligence (e.g., making operational and strategic decisions based on automatically analyzed data), business process management systems (e.g., contributing to the further development of software for analyzing and controlling business processes), consent management platforms (e.g., organizing the legally compliant processing of customer data via consent management platforms), and customer data platforms (e.g., developing marketing and sales concepts based on data from CDPs).

Industrial business administrators independently plan, organize, and control business processes in industrial companies. If they lead a team, they motivate their employees and coordinate their collaboration. This requires communication skills and assertiveness, as well as negotiation skills in customer discussions. They use their analytical and organizational skills, for example, when conducting profitability calculations, creating plans to improve automatic merchandise management systems, or optimizing sales organizations. When developing financing concepts, they think in terms of business economics. Foreign language skills are necessary in internationally active companies, for example, when dealing with customers from other countries. They primarily work in an office at a desk, but also travel for external appointments, such as visiting customers and business partners or representing their company at trade fairs.

Industrial business administrators can become self-employed, for example, as freelance management consultants or by establishing their own industrial company.

Example collective bargaining gross basic remuneration (monthly): €5,261 to €6,378. Source: Collective bargaining collection of the Bavarian State Ministry for Family, Labor and Social Affairs. Note: This information is for orientation purposes only. No claims can be derived from it.

Construction, Architecture; Chemistry, Pharmacy, Plastics; Electrical Engineering, Electronics; Energy, Supply and Disposal; Vehicle Manufacturing, Maintenance; Glass, Ceramics, Raw Material Processing; Wood, Furniture; IT, Software, Telecommunications; Media; Metal, Mechanical Engineering, Precision Mechanics, Optics; Food, Luxury Food Production; Paper, Printing; Raw Material Extraction, Processing; Textiles, Clothing, Leather; Transport, Traffic.

Those who wish to work in this profession typically need a completed undergraduate degree (grundständig Studium) in industrial business administration. Leadership positions or specialized tasks usually require a master's degree (Masterstudium). Activities in science and research often require a doctorate (Promotion) or habilitation (Habilitation).

Industrial Business Administration (undergraduate); Industrial Business Administration (postgraduate)

Industrial business administrators can find employment in companies across almost all economic sectors.

Business Administrator (University of Applied Sciences) - Industry. Job title in French: Responsable commercial/Responsable commercial.

Some characteristics of work and social behavior are equally relevant for all professions and are therefore not mentioned separately. These include: reliability, punctuality, honesty, ability to criticize, and appropriate manners. In addition, the following profession-specific characteristics are required to practice this academic profession: Performance and commitment (e.g., willingness to take on commercial analysis, planning, and leadership tasks in industrial companies with dedication and initiative), perseverance and determination (e.g., planning long-term investment projects and sticking to their implementation despite temporary setbacks or short-term changes in priorities), diligence (e.g., careful recording and analysis of operational data), sense of responsibility and willingness to take responsibility (e.g., taking responsibility for achieving specified production targets), independent working style (e.g., independent planning, organization).

Industrial business administrators plan, organize, and monitor the business activities of industrial companies.

Career opportunities within the IHK (Chamber of Industry and Commerce) organization.

Federation of German Industries (BDI), Federation of German Economists and Business Administrators (bdvb), German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK).

This profession involves responsibility for people (e.g., guiding, motivating, and leading employees) and responsibility for assets (e.g., checking production results, monitoring compliance with production targets). Customer contact is common (e.g., designing concepts for industrial clients within the scope of management consulting, advising clients), as is screen work (e.g., performing analysis, conceptual, and planning tasks). Working in office spaces (e.g., conducting employee discussions) is also part of the job.

Professional deployment opportunities in this field are structured according to various areas of activity: In business organization and planning, one can work as a Business Planner or Business Analyst. In controlling, positions such as Controller or Head of Controlling are available. In purchasing and procurement, roles like Buyer, Global Sourcing Manager, or Head of Purchasing can be pursued. Finance and accounting offer positions such as Calculator, Cost Accountant, or Head of Finance and Accounting. In IT application consulting and training, one can work as a CRM Consultant. Warehouse, materials management, and logistics provide roles like Head of Warehouse Management, Head of Logistics, Head of Materials Management, Demand Planner, or Supply Chain Manager. Teaching activities at Hochschulen (universities) include Lecturer at Universities and Academies or Study Program Coordinator. In management and corporate leadership, positions such as Project Manager, Department Head, or Commercial Operations Manager are available.

Working tools and materials used include documents such as economic analyses, business plans, operational key figures, production cost calculations, annual financial reports, process and organizational plans, statistics, and legal regulations (e.g., data protection regulations). Data management systems and software, such as planning and control systems, accounting, and financial software, are also utilized. Office equipment includes a PC, internet access, and telephone.

Industrial business economists support economic decision-making processes in various functional areas. In business organization, they analyze and develop corporate concepts, for example, through business plans and profitability analyses, to determine market viability. In finance and accounting, they maintain ledgers, handle payment transactions, control payments, analyze costs and prices, prepare offers, and determine the financial needs of entrepreneurial projects. Additionally, in purchasing, they analyze the supplier market, select suppliers, negotiate prices, and place orders. In sales, they optimize sales opportunities and channels, calculate selling prices, and negotiate terms with dealers.

Continuing education for professional adaptation helps to keep professional knowledge current and adapt it to new developments (e.g., in business administration, finance and accounting, purchasing, sales).

Bachelor graduates can enhance their professional and career opportunities through further Studium (higher education), for example, in industrial business administration, international economics, or business administration. A doctorate (Promotion) is generally required for a scientific career at a Hochschule (university); appointment as a university professor usually requires a habilitation. A doctorate may also facilitate access to senior professional positions in the private sector, in research, and in public administration.

Industrial business economists identify the initial situation, analyze and evaluate company activities. They explore innovative and practicable industrial business concepts, for example, through competitor observation. They plan the strategic positioning of the company and design the integration of new concepts into internal and inter-company processes, such as fully automated, cross-location production systems. They conduct business plans and profitability analyses for projects, estimate timelines, necessary budgets, and goals. They prepare production calculations and offers. They discuss concepts and adapt them if necessary. They accompany the implementation process in the individual functional areas, coordinate or co-supervise sub-tasks, and monitor intermediate goals. They check production results, monitor compliance with production targets, and continuously review industrial activities.

The following additional employment alternatives are available for the profession of industrial business economist: Business economist (Hochschule) in the field of management, corporate management; business economist (Hochschule) for automotive industry; business economist (Hochschule) for craft management; industrial engineer; business economist (Hochschule) for construction industry. Commonalities: Planning, monitoring, and organizing business processes; supporting economic decision-making processes; negotiating with business partners and customers. Note: The mentioned job alternatives may require a longer training period or additional qualification.

Industrial business economists plan, organize, and monitor the business activities of industrial companies. They prepare decisions, for example, whether the low-cost market is interesting for their industrial company, if there are attractive expansion opportunities in e-business, or if the industrial company should take measures to develop foreign production sites. Industrial business economists know their company and the competitive situation well. They stay informed about innovative production concepts, procurement channels for raw materials and materials, and advantageous distribution systems. This allows them to assess the pros and cons of different production methods and locations: Where can production be done most cost-effectively, which production parts can be outsourced without loss of quality, and which should be kept at the original location? They gather information through customer surveys or the evaluation of customer complaints.

The following abilities, knowledge, and skills are required for performing possible tasks in this Studium (university degree) profession. Abilities: Numerical (calculating) thinking (e.g., developing financing concepts), memory (e.g., memory for numbers and product characteristics), adaptability (e.g., quick and frequent switching between administrative tasks and customer discussions under time pressure), technical understanding (e.g., understanding production processes; checking production results), commercial aptitude (e.g., conducting profitability analyses), planning and organizing ability (e.g., planning, organizing, and controlling business processes in industrial companies). Knowledge and skills: Calculation skills (e.g., calculating raw material and material costs).

The exercise of the profession may involve the following physical requirements. This information does not necessarily apply to every activity profile or every professional application. Unimpaired speech ability (e.g., motivating employees and coordinating their cooperation), near vision - even corrected (e.g., performing analysis, conception, and planning work on the computer), hearing and speech comprehension (e.g., discussing new concepts with department heads). Note: This information does not form a basis for legal action and should not be understood in the sense of a medical fitness assessment. Actual physical fitness or unfitness must always be determined on a case-by-case basis and taking into account possible reasonable precautions.

The following are professions or activities that show similarities to the original profession. These professions represent a possible alternative for applicants who cannot find a vacant position in their learned profession. In addition, employers can consider specialists in these professions as alternatives for filling a job in the original profession. Some alternative professions only include partial activities of the original profession, while others require an induction period, which can vary in length in individual cases. The following immediate employment and staffing alternatives are available for the profession of industrial business economist: For the overall activity (usually short induction): Business economist (Hochschule), business economist (Hochschule) for international economics. For professional specializations (usually short induction): Business economist (Hochschule) for marketing, business economist (Hochschule) for finance.

Working as an industrial business administrator is not regulated, so professional recognition is not necessary if you have a foreign degree. However, you can apply for an individual certificate evaluation for foreign university degrees through the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). This can be helpful for job applications in the German labor market. For more information on living and working in Germany, you can consult the 'Hotline Working and Living in Germany' from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) and the Federal Employment Agency (BA), the Federal Employment Agency's 'Information Offer for People from Abroad,' the Federal Employment Agency's 'Central International and Specialist Placement' unit, and the 'Make it in Germany' portal for international skilled workers.

The following health limitations could lead to problems when performing this profession, but they do not necessarily apply to every job profile or employment opportunity. Increasingly, there are also ways to compensate for limitations, for example, through technical aids. For instance, speech impediments or speech defects could be an issue when motivating employees and coordinating their collaboration; uncorrectable near-sightedness when performing analysis, conceptual, and planning work on the computer; and hearing impairment, hard of hearing, deafness, hearing disorder, or chronic ear conditions when discussing new concepts with department heads. Please note: This information does not form a basis for legal action and should not be understood as a medical suitability assessment. Actual physical suitability or unsuitability must always be determined on a case-by-case basis and considering possible reasonable accommodations.

The following alternative staffing option is available for the profession of industrial business administrator from an employer's perspective: Business Administrator (university degree) for Management, Corporate Management. Commonalities include: planning, monitoring, and organizing business processes; supporting economic decision-making processes; negotiating with business partners and customers. Please note that the mentioned alternative may require an onboarding period, which can vary in length depending on the individual case.