By retrofitting with sensors, industrial companies can make their existing machines and systems fit for modern data analytics solutions. In addition to conventional vibration, temperature and current measurement technology, this also includes new acoustic sensors. This type of sensor is particularly well suited for monitoring the condition of plants and predictive maintenance.

For example, companies can use acoustic sensors to record the noise of critical plant components such as motors, bearings or gearboxes and evaluate it using machine learning algorithms. This enables them to detect unusual noise developments that indicate the imminent failure of a component. Through timely maintenance, they can then prevent the machine or plant from coming to a standstill.

There are numerous factors to consider when implementing acoustic sensors. Companies should pay attention to these:

1. Selection. Companies should choose sensors whose frequency ranges are as close as possible to the signal they want to detect. This allows them to avoid costly oversizing, because the larger a sensor's frequency band, the more expensive it is. If the sensors are exposed to moisture or dirt, they should meet the appropriate IP protection classes.
2. Installation. The acoustic sensors should be placed in such a way that they are exposed to as little disturbing ambient noise as possible. If experts can detect anomalies with their human hearing, this is a good indication that the sensors are placed in such a way that the machine analysis will also be successful.
3. Data storage. Companies should check whether they need to continuously record the noise of the monitored component or always have the recording started by a trigger - for example, when the noise exceeds a certain critical decibel limit. Then they can save storage space and costs. They also have the option of storing the audio files on inexpensive media and only storing the metadata in comparatively expensive databases.
4. Data processing. Even if companies do not store the full signal from the sensors, but a processed form, they can save costs. One such form is spectrograms that visualize acoustic signals. They have the added advantage that they can be analyzed with the sophisticated machine learning algorithms that are available today for images.
5. Privacy. Depending on the specific application, acoustic data may contain sensitive information, such as conversations between employees. Companies can filter out such information or prevent its recording from the outset by placing the sensors correctly.

"Acoustic sensors have the potential to add value in many use cases," explains Sebastian Lienert, Data Scientist at LeanBI. "For a successful implementation, companies should follow a holistic concept that includes the selection and placement of the sensor technology as well as the storage, processing and protection of the data. This concept must be tailored to the individual use case. One-size-fits-all solutions do not exist."

Source and further information: www.leanbi.ch​

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/vorausschauende-wartung-mit-akustiksensoren/

The Family business Création Baumann faced various brand strategy challenges recently. Brandpulse conducted a comprehensive brand analysis and laid the foundations for repositioning the brand in a brand strategy workshop with Création Baumann.

The new value proposition "Innovative textile solutions for interior design", the high technological competence as well as the drive for permanent self-optimization are now expressed in a brand logo revised by Brandpulse with matching design elements and a future-oriented imagery. The brand's high aesthetic standards, coupled with timelessly modern design, led to a clear and reduced design language in the branding.

Based on the newly developed brand design, Brandpulse defined the layout and application principles, developed a design framework concept as well as guidelines for the use of the imagery.

The three-day folk festival with numerous fairgrounds in the heart of Zurich offers with a varied program a connecting platform for young and old. From various stages, the traditional costume exhibition to the traditional costume parade as a highlight, the festival invites you to celebrate and participate.

Conceived as an intergenerational and tradition-conscious event, Aroma Creative focuses on young talent in addition to experienced professionals. "Training the Next Gen is a matter close to Aroma's heart. It was therefore obvious for us to assign our apprentices to the nationally shining project with appropriate support," says Philipp Häcki, Art Director and Next Gen expert at Aroma. Thus, the visual appearance - from the logo to the print products - an independent and need-based visuality was created.

The poster is a tribute to Swiss poster art of the early 20th century, when painters were still hired to design posters. A traditional costume woman from Appenzell in the Innerrhoder working day costume is shown. Her black winged cap of a headdress is juxtaposed with the punk's mohawk haircut, symbolizing a cosmopolitan city. The poster was conceived by Aroma and realized by illustrator Olivia von Wattenwyl from Bern.

"Today's unveiling of the motif marks the start of our festival, which was last held in 2010. Around 7,500 active participants are looking forward to a big, well-organized festival," says Max Binder, former President of the National Council and President of ETF2024.

Responsible for Federal Festival of Traditional Costumes: Max Binder (President), Johannes Schmid Kunz (Managing Director ETF2024), Ursula Hänni (Communication Department). Responsible at Aroma: Lukas Meier (overall responsibility), Philipp Häcki (art direction), Ariya Fischer (apprentice P3D, specialization creation), Moorea Derradj (apprentice graphic designer EFZ). Illustration: Olivia von Wattenwyl.

While AI solutions like ChatGPT have dominated the headlines for months, many companies are still struggling to build up the necessary expertise to leverage the potential of (hyper)automation for themselves. A study by OTRS AG, the manufacturer and service provider for the Enterprise Service Management Suite of the same name, also came to this conclusion. In an online survey for the study "OTRS Spotlight: IT Service Management 2023", 600 business owners and senior executives in Germany, the USA, Brazil, Mexico, Singapore and Hungary took part. 

Germany: The tools are there, but the expertise is lacking

In principle, our northern neighbor is well positioned when it comes to process automation: More than half of German companies (55 percent) have invested in tools to automate their business processes. However, 42 percent of them lack the necessary expertise to use them, according to the study. Only 24 percent of those who have already invested in business process automation (BPA) are also already actively using artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning as part of their daily tasks and workflows. A further 29 percent of the BPA pioneers have already invested in tools for this purpose, but have not yet actively used them due to a lack of expertise, according to another result of the survey. One in five German companies that have not yet invested in BPA tools cites a lack of the necessary skills in the team to address the issue as the reason. 

IT teams are the driving force behind business process automation

The expertise needed to drive forward the automation of business processes lies primarily in the IT departments or is being expanded there: In a good third of companies in Germany, it is they who are currently actively involved in this (35 percent). They are followed at some distance by logistics (22 percent) and administration (21 percent). In the international ranking, facility and office management rank second and third behind IT. In one in five companies in Germany, no department is currently actively looking at automating business processes. However, one fifth of all German companies also intend to invest in BPA in the next twelve months. Slightly more than a third of those that have already done so also want to start integrating AI and machine learning into their business processes in the next two to five years (36 percent).

Automation works: reduced costs, increased adaptability

Executives in Germany who have already automated business processes primarily expected cost savings (22 percent) and the ability to adapt more quickly to changes (20 percent). Increased employee satisfaction was cited by 15 percent as their top expected benefit, and 13 percent each expected primarily time savings and increased customer satisfaction from their investments in BPA. Reducing data errors (9 percent), accelerating business growth (5 percent) and improved security handling (4 percent) were the biggest anticipated benefits for only a few.

To a large extent, the effects were realized to the expected extent. German executives most frequently observed increased adaptability (22 percent) and cost savings (20 percent) as the greatest benefits since their BPA measures. Fifteen percent each noted time savings, reduced data errors and increased employee satisfaction as the greatest realized benefits. Seven percent noted increased customer satisfaction as the greatest actual benefit, and the same number noted faster business growth.

Dearly-held manual processes block the path to automation

A lack of know-how in the company is by no means always the reason for not yet having invested in business process automation tools despite these advantages. More than a quarter (27 percent) of those who have not yet invested in them in Germany believe that manual processes are sufficient for them. 22 percent cite not having found a suitable tool as the main reason for their reluctance to invest in BPA tools. 16 percent cite not having had the time to deal with it yet, as it seems to be a big project.

Andreas Bender, VP Consulting at OTRS AG, warns: "Companies that completely stick to their manual processes will lose competitiveness in the medium term. Pioneers are already saving costs through automation, are more agile and work more efficiently. As AI solutions and machine learning advance, they will continue to extend this lead. Managers should therefore put their manual processes to the test and optimize and automate them wherever possible in order not to lose out. As with any project that changes work processes, they should make sure that their employees are actively involved in the change process and that they take part in it. Automation only succeeds when people and machines work together."

Source: www.otrs.com

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/automatisierung-von-geschaeftsprozessen-oft-fehlt-das-know-how/

The Swiss Federal Inspectorate for Heavy Current Installations ESTI carries out market surveillance throughout Switzerland. This is carried out in accordance with the Ordinance on Low-Voltage Electrical Products (NEV; SR 734.26). Electrical products for household, office, trade and industry are randomly tested for conformity and safety. According to the latest report, 1375 electrical appliances were recorded for inspection on the Internet and with on-site inspections at points of sale. Further checks were carried out directly at manufacturers' premises, through follow-up inspections and on the basis of reports from private individuals as well as from professionals in the electrical sector. In total, 210 products showed formal or technical defects, which corresponds to 15% of all inspected electrical products. Of these, 123 products were found to have safety-related defects that could lead to potential hazards such as electric shock, scalding, smoke development or fire.

94 Sales bans issued

If there is a potential risk to persons or if the proof of conformity is missing or incomplete, the ESTI can prohibit a product from being made available on the market. In the year under review, 94 sales bans were issued for these reasons. The products affected were various household and office appliances, LED lights, chargers, power banks and domestic batteries. Various products for industrial use in potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX zones) in industry and commerce were banned. In addition, numerous electrical appliances with an unauthorized foreign plug were again affected by a sales ban.

The supply of electrical appliances with a foreign plug (in particular a Schuko plug) is generally prohibited in Switzerland, as live parts can be touched when attempting to plug the appliance into the socket or through incorrect manipulation of the plug connection. In addition, such plug connections can be overloaded during operation and thus cause a fire. Consumers should reject such electrical appliances directly at the point of sale and can contact ESTI using the contact form at http://www.esti.admin.ch submit a notification. In 41 cases, economic operators in Switzerland have withdrawn defective products from the market in cooperation with ESTI. In 13 cases, these recalls or safety warnings were additionally published on the communication channels of the Consumer Affairs Bureau FOC at http://www.konsum.admin.ch respectively http://www.recallswiss.admin.ch published. These were travel adapters, insect killers, solar panels, dehydrators, various LED lights, various lithium batteries and travel chargers.

Non-compliant electrical appliances: beware of non-European online platforms

Due to the rapid technological development, ESTI also received numerous inquiries from manufacturers, dealers and private individuals about charging stations (wallboxes) and charging cables for electromobility, components for photovoltaic systems (inverters, solar modules, grid-connection units, etc.), plug-and-play photovoltaic systems up to 600W power, power banks and house batteries for private and residential use, and the new Swiss IP55 household plug-in system for wet areas.

ESTI points out to exercise caution especially when purchasing on non-European platforms and websites without a reachable Swiss contact address of the operator. Consumers are responsible for the dangers and risks posed by the device. Caution is also advised with bargains: Often such offered devices are inferior goods with incomplete product tests, which are or can become unsafe over a longer period of operation due to inferior electrical components and rudimentary construction. For consumers, this is hardly recognizable by eye.

Pay attention to safety signs

When purchasing electrical appliances, consumers can look for a correct Swiss plug, accessible and competent customer service, comprehensible operating instructions and test marks affixed to the appliance. One recognized Swiss test mark is the voluntary safety mark of ESTI (see below). Devices certified with the safety mark are available at http://www.esti.admin.ch published. Devices with recognized test marks demonstrate higher standards of product safety and thus offer consumers added value.

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/esti-zunahme-der-nicht-konformen-elektrogeraete-auf-dem-markt/

Beginning of February m&k already reported on the successful performance of Twint in 2022. Last year, the mobile payment provider was, among other things, the top performer in terms of supported brand awareness, brand consideration, and customer satisfaction. The results are based on continuous brand tracking by the market research institute Link, which has been monitoring 200 of the most important brands on a weekly basis since fall 2021 and measuring them from a consumer perspective representative of the population.

Since the end of 2022, the study has also been surveying which brands are talked about positively or negatively in each case, whether in advertising or on social media, but also in conversations with friends, (work) colleagues and relatives. In this case, the source (e.g., advertising, newspaper article, or personal conversation) from which one has heard something negative or positive about a brand also moves into the background. This type of combined attention is also called "buzz", whereby a distinction can be made between "positive buzz" and "negative buzz".

In the first four months of the year or so, the mobile payment provider Twint has had the strongest positive buzz. It leads the ranking of all 200 brands in terms of both absolute peak and average positive buzz. On average, one in ten people said they had heard something positive about Twint in the past 7 days. The highest values were achieved at the end of February / beginning of March in calendar weeks 8 and 9. The peak value here was just under 17 percent of the sample surveyed representative of the population. During this period, the Twint brand was present in the media due to its ongoing success story ("Payment app on the road to success"., "Once ridiculed, Twint now has over 5 million users"). Interestingly, during this period there was not only the peak of positive "buzz", but also that of negative (4 % of respondents). Thus, the reported news did not seem to excite everyone. However, as can be seen in the chart, the positive tenor predominates, as can be read from the green line running significantly higher in each case (see Chart 1). The buzz score (positive buzz minus negative buzz) is by far the highest for Twint, averaging 9 percent.

More negative reporting, more negative attention - and vice versa

SBB and Migros follow in the next two places, each averaging around 9 percent positive buzz per week. In terms of negative buzz, it is the two (former) big banks and the chocolate brand Toblerone that are also discussed in this medium. was reported in detail. Looking at the buzz score - the average difference per week between positive and negative attention - another brand makes it into the top 3: the snack manufacturer Zweifel. It is striking that the negative buzz shows stronger fluctuations than the positive buzz. One reason for this is probably the so-called "negativity bias". On the one hand, people pay more attention to negative news, which in turn leads many media to report more on negative news in order to increase that attention. Positive news about brands is therefore likely to make it less into the news and thus into the conversations of the population - quite the opposite for negative news, which was clearly demonstrated by the takeover of Credit Suisse by UBS.

Figure 2 shows the most controversial brand, SBB: On the one hand, SBB stands out positively to 9 percent of respondents on average; on the other hand, it also attracts negative attention from about 9 percent of respondents. Not visible in Figure 2, but also attracting increased negative attention among the population were Netflix (6.2 %) and Comparis (5.8 %), among others.

Netflix No. 1 on the Swiss streaming market - but for how much longer?

Netflix is another brand that is represented in the Flop 5 in terms of negative buzz. The streaming provider reached the maximum value of the key figure, which has been measured since the end of December, in mid-February, when it became public that Netflix, in its more than 25-year company history, had For the first time in Europe, additional fees are charged when customers share their account with other households.. This shows the all-time low (since the start of measurement in September 2021) of the willingness to pay more for Netflix: Only 3.8 percent of the population was then willing to pay a higher price compared to comparable providers. Even among current Netflix customers, this figure was only just under 10 percent. The perception of quality, the positive basic attitude and brand trust, however, did not suffer - at least in the short term. Compared to the last quarter in 2021, however, these key figures are all pointing downward among Netflix customers (-7.7 percentage points for special quality, -12.7 percentage points for positive basic attitude toward the brand and -5.2 percentage points for special brand trust).

The negative trend is not surprising insofar as the topic of account sharing has been present in various media for a long time and time and again. As early as spring 2022, it became apparent that Netflix would soon put a stop to account sharing. Other providers such as Disney+ or Prime Video are also being critically assessed by their customers and are losing their assessment level (Disney+) or can at most maintain it (Prime Video). Among other things, this is probably related to the increasing competition; for example, Paramount+ has been another competitor in the DACH region since the beginning of December. The more providers there are on the market, the more difficult it will be to stand out positively. At the moment, Netflix is still by far the clear No. 1 in the Swiss streaming market. How this gap will develop remains to be seen. One thing is certain: Link's brand tracking continues to monitor.

Method profile

- Population: Swiss resident population aged 15 to 79 years
- Around 250 interviews per brand per calendar week and brand segment
- Research method: online interviews
- Quotation/weighting: interlocked by age, gender and region
- Random samples from the Link Online Panel, 100 percent of which are actively recruited through representative telephone surveys, reaching more than 97 percent of the relevant population; survey participants are excluded from follow-up surveys for at least three months at a time
- Survey period: 19.12.2022 to 30.04.2023
- Project management: Link, Zurich; Stefan Reiser, Managing Director Marketing Research

The crisis of confidence in the financial sector continues. Following Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, another regional bank, First Republic Bank, had to be rescued from collapse in the USA at the beginning of May - in this case through the intervention of JP Morgan. The collapse of First Republic Bank did not come as a surprise. In the April issue of the Global Outlook of the credit agency Dun & Bradstreet, the authors already pointed out the problems and the massive outflow of deposits at the Californian institution. They believe it is possible that other regional U.S. institutions with similar balance sheet and business profiles could become distressed. While it is reassuring that the big U.S. banks with strong earnings are willing to act as a protective haven for struggling smaller institutions, they add. However, deteriorating credit conditions in the U.S. could prove to be a problem, partly because of the threat of increased loan defaults as a result of the slowing U.S. economy. The risk of further dominoes falling and the banking sector being rocked by renewed panic attacks therefore persists, according to Dun & Bradstreet's assessment.

Economic slowdown and interest rate freeze in the USA

Interesting indications of global economic development were provided by the gross domestic product (GDP) data for the first quarter of 2023, which point to an economic slowdown in almost all economies. The report continues to classify the outlook for North America as "deteriorating." For example, GDP growth in the U.S. fell short of expectations in the first three months of the current year at an annualized 1.1 percent. The housing market in particular is prone to weakness. In addition, the sword of Damocles of insolvency hangs over the world's largest economy if Congress does not agree to suspend the debt ceiling. This day, known in US parlance as the "X date," could come sooner than expected.

Accordingly, the risk of renewed bank failures and a harsher credit environment persists in the USA. This aspect has prompted the Fed to stop the cycle of interest rate hikes earlier than inflation dynamics would probably justify. All in all, downside risks to the U.S. economy have increased, although a full-blown recession is still not in line with our baseline scenario.

Rising core inflation in Europe

According to Eurostat, economic growth in the European Union amounted to 0.3 percent in the first quarter of 2023 and to 0.1 percent in the euro zone. Although some leading indicators give cause for moderate optimism, European economies continue to face challenges, concludes the Dun & Bradstreet report. It is true that the overall inflation rate in many Western European countries is on the retreat. However, this is no reason to sound the all-clear, as core inflation (i.e. inflation excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco) has continued to rise recently. As a result, the European Central Bank (ECB) is likely to raise key interest rates even further before probably taking a break in the course of the second half of the year. The rising number of insolvencies is evidence of the increased credit risk in the European economies. They increased by 27 percent in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared with the previous quarter.

Asia: China benefits from catch-up effects

Furthermore, the latest Country Risk Global Outlook considers the economic outlook for the Asia-Pacific region to be "stable", although economic growth in the current year is likely to lag behind that of the previous year. The exceptions are mainland China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Thailand, according to the report. China is benefiting from catch-up effects following the end of the country's zero-covid policy and will probably achieve its growth target of around 5 percent this year, according to the authors. The Asian economies, which are closely intertwined with the Chinese economy, would benefit from this in the short term, while those countries in the region that export heavily to the European and US markets would see a decline in foreign demand. "On balance, we expect China's 'growth dividend' to have only limited positive effects for the rest of the world after the reopening," the report concludes.

Commodities: Supply shortage looms for oil

The oil price for Brent crude recently settled at around 80 US dollars per barrel. As the year progresses, however, supply shortages could cause prices to rise to as much as 100 US dollars. Firstly, because the EU embargo on refined Russian oil products has come into force. Secondly, because the production cut decided by OPEC probably cannot be fully compensated by non-OPEC countries due to their limited capacity reserves.

Source and further information: Dun & Bradstreet

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/bankenkrise-geht-weiter-wirtschaft-schwaecht-sich-weiter-ab/

The word "blended" seems to be the answer to the uncertainties that are spreading in view of the ever increasing number of communication channels and tools. Everything seems possible. It almost feels like when the word was first launched, when Starbucks liberated Americans from their Regular Coffees and us in Switzerland from Kafi-Crème and launched the first blended coffee varieties. Everything was possible when the coffee revolution began in the early nineties with one of the most sophisticated marketing and branding strategies in recent economic history. It was then that the word first appeared in German usage. Although initially frowned upon by Italophiles, Howard D. Schultz revolutionized coffee drinking worldwide.

It all came down to the right blend. The right blend. Not just for the coffee, but for the entire marketing strategy. No advertising, only internal communication. No compromises, but consistent implementation of the "Third place" strategy (Home. Work. Starbucks.) made the brand the darling of investors. The rapid global growth then also led to a Starbucks being opened on almost every corner of a major city, and wicked tongues even claimed that the Seattle company would also open a Starbucks in an existing Starbucks just to keep the number of stores rising.

But what this global campaign has taught us, along with hundreds of different coffee-related products, is that the word "blended" or "blend" exudes a certain magic. And this is precisely what our industry is looking for right now.

Marketing mix was yesterday - today everything is blended

The translation into German, "Mischung", then became "Mix" thanks to Tom Dickson. Because his "Will it Blend" videos were clicked on over and over again in the agencies in the mid-noughties. In short, they went viral before the word was really known.

But anyone who talks about marketing mix in marketing today is looked at askance, as if he or she had just ordered a Kafi-Crème or put their iPhone in the blender. "Blended" is what it's called now, please! Blended learning, blended marketing, blended communications, blended identities, blended styles - the list can be extended at will and feels like one of those endless orders at Starbucks.

There are no limits to the imagination. Everything can be blended today. Art with fashion, for example. Louis Vuitton is currently engaged in a creative exchange with the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama and her Pumpkins. For fashion purists, this used to be as unimaginable as a Pumpkin Spice Latte is for coffee purists. Watch lovers probably thought the same thing before the launch of the Kermit Edition. Dazzle TV series with watch brands? No way? Who knows!

So if you don't want to appear like Waldorf and Statler from the Muppet Show at meetings or simply don't want to serve cold coffee, you can talk about blended. But customers should not be blinded by the zeitgeist (German), because in the end it's what brings success that counts, whatever the mix. Not only in our industry.

* 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.

Telecommunications service provider Swisscom has published its latest Cyber Security Threat Radar. This publication is intended to serve as a guide and compass for maneuvering safely through the cyber world. The report observes trends and challenges in the cyber world, links and evaluates them, and provides a compact overview of the threat situation and its development in Switzerland by pooling expert knowledge. And the situation presents itself as follows: The number of cyber threats remains unabatedly high. New cyberattacks are reported in the media every day. Regardless of whether it is a large company or an SME, it can affect anyone. Hackers are constantly on the lookout for new methods to improve their attacks.

AI-Based Attacks on the Rise

Accordingly, this year's Swisscom Cyber Security Threat Radar focuses on AI-based attacks (artificial intelligence). These are cyber attacks in which artificial intelligence technologies are used. This enables hackers to carry out their attacks more effectively and efficiently in order to circumvent defensive measures. 

Swisscom has observed a sharp increase in threats in this area in recent months. This has to do with the publicly available tools, which have made a real evolutionary leap. These include, for example, the Large Natural Language Model ChatGPT, which was published in November 2022. The AI model was developed to generate human-like text and act as a voice assistant. Cybercriminals have also discovered it for themselves. It can be used, for example, to formulate personalized phishing emails more convincingly. This makes phishing attacks harder to detect and can trick recipients into revealing sensitive information or clicking on malicious links.

Perennial Ransomware

Phishing is in most cases also the gateway for Ransomware attacks - another major challenge for IT security. Hackers penetrate a system via malware, encrypt files and then demand a ransom for their release. Here, Swisscom's security specialists expect a significant increase in multiple extortion, i.e. the combination of several attack tactics such as ransomware, data theft and denial of service. Managed service providers are also increasingly under attack, as they are often willing to pay ransom and their customers can be attacked directly.

Preventing the shortage of skilled workers with internal training

In order to strengthen the resilience against cyber threats in one's own company, it is essential to consider cyber and IT security in its entirety. After all, in addition to technical precautions, well-trained employees and internal cyber experts also play a key role. However, IT security experts are in high demand and hard to find. In a constant battle for talent, a company can get carried away and try to work the labor market that has been fished dry. Another option is to look inward and invest in the further education and training of your own employees. 

The report explains more about this and what other countermeasures companies can take in the current threat situation.

Source and further information: Swisscom

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/cyberkriminalitaet-die-bedrohungslage-im-ueberblick/

The cult Swiss chocolate Toblerone is relocating its production to Slovakia - and is therefore no longer allowed to depict the Matterhorn on its packaging, among other things. It also has to change the text from "Swiss Milk Chocolate ..." to "Established in Switzerland ...". Will it lose its Swissness as a result?

Neuromarketing agency Zutt & Partner investigated this question in its Emo Comparr study. For this purpose, the emotions towards the old as well as the new Toblerone packaging were examined - and then again compared with Swissness emotions. The result on the emotional map clearly shows: The new packaging pulls away from the Swissness pin and triggers significantly fewer Swissness emotions. Thus, it differs not only visually, but also in its effect on the customer brain. Without the Matterhorn, an important connection to Switzerland is missing.

In addition to the emotions of Swiss consumers, the minds of German consumers were also picked up. The outcome: The emotional impact of the Toblerone packaging changes both in Switzerland and in Germany, whereby the domestic consumer brain misses the Matterhorn only slightly more than that of the German clientele. A possible and also already discussed assumption that the emotional loss of the Matterhorn is of great emotional importance exclusively for Mr. and Mrs. Swiss is thus refuted.

The new Toblerone packaging has received a general facelift and is now designed differently on all sides. While the front shows a slightly changed Toblerone lettering with a generic mountain, the chocolate itself is visible on the back. The side features the old Toblerone lettering - a tribute to the original logo from 1899.

Are these packaging design efforts worth it?

Yes, as this study shows. Because both the chocolate corner shown and, in particular, the side view (with the time-honored logo) pull in the direction of Swissness emotions. The old lettering thus seems to trigger valuable associations with Switzerland in the customer's brain. However, these measures do not succeed in replacing the strong Swissness effect of the mighty and iconic Matterhorn.

Project manager Fabian Krüger from trade fair company P. E. Schall can be pleased with a successful Control 2023 trade fair: "The trade fair week was a great success. We experienced four full halls with impressive solutions for quality assurance (QA) and saw many groundbreaking new solutions. It was bustling with activity and a great atmosphere from the very first hour," said the project manager. "589 exhibitors from 32 countries showed on 42,000 square meters of exhibition space that quality assurance is on the direct path to the future."

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/fachmesse-control-2023-stiess-auf-begeisterung/

The traditional Swiss Quality Day is jointly organized by the SAQ and SQS. SHIFT Switzerland was also involved this year as the third event partner. In his opening speech, its president Christian Häuselmann, together with SAQ managing director Prisca Zammaretti and Felix Müller, CEO of SQS, noted that sustainability and quality thinking are firmly rooted in the Swiss DNA. But he also regretted that personal responsibility in sustainability still worked too little and warned against more and more regulation through "hard laws".

"New Leadership" on Swiss Quality Day 2023

But then it was back to the actual conference topic "The human being in focus". A hall survey revealed that "customer satisfaction" is the most important key term in connection with quality. And people are still largely solely responsible for this customer satisfaction. But the world has become more complex, as Prof. Dr. Lukas Scherer from the University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland noted in his presentation on "New Leadership": "Nothing is fixed anymore". Using facts proven in countless studies - for example, 77 percent of workers are dissatisfied with their leadership, "collegiality and fun" are top priorities for new employees, and salary is no longer the focus - he explained how difficult leadership has become today. "New leadership requires cooperation, inspiration, charisma, informal interaction with employees," and much more, Scherer said. Specifically, for leaders, it's about being a role model, taking employees seriously, valuing them and providing psychological security. Can AI help with this? Lukas Scherer showed an example of an employee assessment by ChatGPT. It read coherently, but the emotional, i.e. the human element was missing in it. Scherer's conclusion: "Even with New Leadership, the human being remains the old one." At best, AI can be a supplement to make processes more efficient.

What business can learn from sports

Prisca Zammaretti then talked by video with André Hoffmann, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Roche Holding AG, about linking quality with sustainability. Hoffmann regretted that in the past there had been too much focus on short-termism and quick prosperity. "We cannot go into the future with the systems we have had so far," Hoffmann said. "We need the courage to become more modest again," he concluded.

"Resilience in business and sports or: The dance around the corner flag" was the next program item. What elements can business learn from top-class sport? And where do both industries reach their limits? In a refreshing conversation, moderator Andrea Vetsch chatted with former top footballer and Kathrin Lehmann. Today, she works as an expert for Swiss television on the one hand, and is also CEO of her own company on the other, so she now also knows the "business side". She misses the "emotional exhaust", as she calls it, the dance around the corner flag when celebrating a goal - but also expressions of frustration in the dressing room. Rituals to celebrate success should therefore also be allowed a place in business life. She takes a critical view of the notion of flat hierarchies: "They're just flattened pyramids," and showed herself to be an advocate of the advantages that a hierarchical organization can still have. And what business can learn from (team) sports: Goals against - in other words, mistakes - can only be ironed out as a team.

Recipes for success of good employers

So what do the best employers do differently or better? This question was addressed by Heike Henfling (Schindler Aufzüge), Marianne Reisner-Schmid (Südostbahn) and Marc Holitscher (Microsoft Switzerland) in a panel discussion. These three personalities represented companies that had recently been recognized as Switzerland's best employers. In their speeches, the terms "fairness" and "appreciation" and authenticity on the part of managers were heard again and again, especially when it comes to introducing innovations. "If something doesn't come across as authentic, it doesn't work," said Marianne Reisner-Schmid, for example. And there also needs to be a "culture of debate," as Heike Henfling explained. Feedback, even negative, is welcome. Marc Holitscher added that all mistakes should be seen as learnings.

Learning from mistakes was also the topic of one of the three open sessions offered. There, Zehra Sirin (SizeConsens) used a self-experienced failure to show how this can be turned back into positive energy through a "fuck-up event". SHIFT Switzerland's Open Session showed how to use diversity to make project collaboration more sustainable. And promoting health in the workplace was the topic of Friendly Work Space's workshop.

Life Skills Taken to the Grain

The final highlight was provided by the duo Roman Tschäppeler and Mikael Krogerus. With a lot of humor and a twinkle in their eyes, they presented five life skills: Making decisions (here: those who take longer to make decisions make better decisions), collaboration skills, technological literacy (demonstrated by the so-called "hype cycle"), knowledge skills (those who appear with little knowledge but a lot of self-confidence end up on "Mount Stupid") and lifelong learning.

Quality, sustainability, new leadership, artificial intelligence: It was a colorful bouquet of topics that were highlighted on this day. They are a reflection of the complexity in which we move. In his closing remarks on the Swiss Quality Day 2023, SAQ President Ruedi Lustenberger said: "In all of this, it is important to ensure that people do not fall by the wayside.

The next Swiss Quality Day will take place on April 23, 2024. Further information: www.saq.ch

Seghezzi Prize and new SAQ Presidium

Every two years, the Swiss Foundation for Quality Research and Education (SFAQ) awards the Seghezzi Prize for outstanding scientific work in the field of integrated quality management and sustainability. The prize, endowed with CHF 10,000, is named after the founder Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Hans-Dieter Seghezzi, who passed away last year. This year's winner is Julian Senoner with his dissertation "Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing - Augmenting Humans at Work". The jury particularly praised the practical relevance of machine learning in production processes demonstrated in this work. The author shows examples of how machine learning can support quality management and the people responsible for it.

 

At the SAQ General Meeting, also held on May 11, 2023, President Ruedi Lustenberger announced his resignation. After ten years in office, he will pass on the baton to a co-presidency consisting of Ursula Grunder and Guido Graf. Prof. Dr. Lukas Scherer and Michael Vogt were also newly elected to the board.

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/das-war-der-tag-der-schweizer-qualitaet-2023/