Cyberattacks are an increasing business risk and cost billions of Swiss francs every year. A Swiss SME quickly suffers a loss of over CHF 100,000 in the event of a successful cyberattack; serious attacks involving data theft and encryption can run into the millions. SMEs must proactively protect themselves against these risks.

Only one in ten SMEs in Switzerland has cyber insurance

Solid IT protection measures form the basis of any cyber protection. However, the optimal solution consists of a balanced combination of IT security measures and insurance protection against cyber threats. After all, if criminal elements manage to penetrate a company's IT environment despite all the security precautions, a suitable insurance solution can help cover the residual risk. It is therefore all the more surprising that only one in ten SMEs in Switzerland has taken out cyber insurance.  

Insurance industry increases requirements

An SME that wants to take out cyber insurance with an insurance provider must have a certain level of basic protection. Tobias Seitz, Head of Underwriting Technical Insurance Region East at Helvetia, states: "SMEs often think they are too insignificant to be a target of cybercriminals. However, this is a fallacy. Cyberattacks are often untargeted - you cast the net and see what you catch. Proactive protection measures are therefore critical for SMEs." Due to the aforementioned basic requirements for taking out an insurance solution, there are always times when applications have to be rejected. This is in order not to disadvantage other insurance customers who meet the necessary requirements. 

Knowing risks in order to combat them

GObugfree supports SMEs with a security assessment to classify the current status of IT security measures, a so-called community bug test. Security researchers from the GObugfree community examine the existing security situation of a company. Christina Kistler, Chief Commercial Officer at GObugfree, says: "The bug test is very popular with SMEs. With this fast and cost-effective approach, an initial pragmatic assessment of the attack surface and any vulnerabilities can be created. Companies receive recommendations for action, where and with which measures they can start to improve their cybersecurity." Often, the bug test is the launching pad for a bug bounty program, whereby ethical hackers are rewarded for discovering vulnerabilities in organizations' systems. A bug bounty program provides ongoing protection as the company continuously addresses vulnerabilities and improves in the process.

Prevent instead of pay later

If a cyber incident results in financial damage, the corresponding insurance cover takes effect. In addition, in the event of a claim, insured companies at Helvetia can access a network of experts to help deal with an incident. But cyber insurance cannot "conjure up" deleted data, for example, and despite professional communication with the support of PR experts, there is still a risk in the future that a company's reputation will be damaged after a cyber incident, at least in the short term. The idea of prevention is therefore also central for Helvetia in the cyber area. The company wants to continuously sensitize its customers to the issue of cyber security and give them access to the latest, agile security methods so that they can recognize the means by which they can improve their security. Tobias Seitz says: "This not only benefits our customers, but also the market as a whole. The better Switzerland is positioned, the less attractive our country is for cyberattacks. The partnership with GObugfree is an important step to further strengthen Swiss companies and the market."

Source and further information: Helvetia Insurances / GObugfree

Anapaya, a Swiss provider of network technology, enters into a partnership with Finastra a global provider of financial software applications and marketplaces. The partnership is designed to provide Swiss banks with access to the Secure Swiss Finance Network (SSFN). By deploying Anapaya's SCION (Scalability, Control, and Isolation on Next-generation Networks) solution, Finastra's SWIFT Service Bureau customers will benefit from a more resilient and secure data communications network, as will the SSFN, according to a media release.

SSFN replaces IPNet

The SSFN will replace the 20-year-old Finance IPNet as SIX Group's standard network solution in 2024. The SSFN is a controlled and secure network that enables connected banks to communicate with SIC and other financial market infrastructures. The network is based on SCION, the first "clean-slate" Internet architecture that provides route control, fault isolation and explicit trust information for end-to-end communications. "As cyber threats become more prevalent, strengthening security is of great importance for all institutions," said Andreas Helbling, Country Head, Switzerland at Finastra. "With SSFN, our customers in Switzerland can be confident that data exchange will be done with the highest level of security, performance and functionality. Anapaya's robust technology enables us to deliver our mission-critical services with added protection."

Higher security standards in response to cybercrime

Finastra is one of the largest global services companies and has a significant presence in Switzerland. It provides hosted SWIFT and direct connectivity to banks, clearing houses, local payment networks and beyond. SCION will support Total Messaging, Finastra's financial messaging platform that provides a gateway and workflow engine for market infrastructure, instant payments and payment service provider (PSP) connectivity. "Institutions no longer have guaranteed security on the traditional Internet - it simply doesn't have all the features needed to protect their data," said Martin Bosshardt, CEO of Anapaya. "We believe that SCION is the critical answer to today's cybercrime challenges. Finastra's decision to move to SSFN proves that well-known companies think so too."

How integration-capable are the MES solutions currently offered on the market? The "Aachener Marktspiegel Business Software - MES/Production Control 2023/2024" will be published just in time for the Hannover Messe (April 17-21, 2023). It is published by the Trovarit Competence Center MES in cooperation with the long-standing partner Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA and the VDI and examines the range of MES currently available on the German market. It therefore provides an ideal market overview for MES prospects and users. In addition, the MESs examined are evaluated with regard to their support in production management and concrete assistance is given for the implementation of an MES selection project. From mid-April it will be available at https://www.trovarit.com/studien/marktspiegel/mes-fertigungssteuerung/ available.

What do MES systems do?

Fast production with good quality is the goal of every company. To achieve this, however, it is necessary for the company to make optimum use of the resources it requires for the production process. For example, the availability of personnel and operating resources at a given time to handle an incoming order can be of decisive, pro-competitive importance. After all, fixed deadlines can only be met to the customer's satisfaction if production progress, quality and resource availability are known at all times. An MES system is able to map the current factory situation. This means that with the help of such a system it is also possible, for example, to react more quickly to changing conditions such as personnel or machine failures. In this way, a malfunction can possibly be bridged in time and the resulting deadline pressure can be minimized. In this way, an MES system provides information that enables the optimization of production processes - from the creation of the order to the finished product.

But not every MES system is equipped with the same functions. Some providers also like to deliver holistic and comprehensive products, while others focus on individual areas, such as data acquisition or specific industries. Furthermore, the interaction with existing ERP systems also plays a decisive role here. If the two systems do not work hand in hand, conflicts can result that ultimately reduce competitiveness instead of increasing it.

Market overview takes a close look at over 140 MES solutions from more than 120 vendors

In order to enable the comparison of different MES solutions and to increase market transparency, the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, Stuttgart, together with the VDI and Trovarit AG, offers an up-to-date overview of MES solutions available on the market with the "Aachener Marktspiegel Business Software MES 2023/2024". The software solutions are examined comprehensively with regard to their range of functions. Evaluations regarding technical features (e.g. supported server databases, clients, standardized interfaces, etc.) of the systems as well as general information on the MES providers (locations, staffing levels, services offered, etc.) complete the picture. A chapter also deals with the significance of MES for "Industry 4.0".

ChatGPT has triggered a new hype around Artificial Intelligence, the possibilities of AI are impressive. At the same time, quality assurance and control of AI systems is becoming increasingly important - especially when they take on responsible tasks. This is because chatbot results are based on huge amounts of data on texts from the Internet. However, systems such as ChatGPT only calculate the most probable answer to a question and output this as a fact. But what testing tools exist to measure the quality of the texts generated by ChatGPT, for example?

KI test catalog

Testing tools in use

Researchers from Fraunhofer IAIS will also be presenting various testing tools and procedures that can be used to systematically examine AI systems along their lifecycle for vulnerabilities and safeguard against AI risks at the Fraunhofer joint booth in Hall 16, Booth A12 at Hannover Messe 2023 from April 17 to 21. The tools support developers and testing institutes in systematically evaluating the quality of AI systems and thus ensuring their trustworthiness. One example is the "ScrutinAI" tool. It enables testers to systematically search for weak points in neural networks and thus test the quality of AI applications. A concrete example is an AI application that detects anomalies and diseases on CT images. The question here is whether all types of anomalies are detected equally well, or some better and others worse. This analysis helps investigators assess whether an AI application is suitable for its intended context of use. At the same time, developers can also benefit by being able to identify shortcomings in their AI systems at an early stage and take appropriate improvement measures, such as enriching the training data with specific examples.

Source and further information: Fraunhofer IAIS

With more than 12 million companies reached and around 20,000 applications, the HIPE AWARD is one of the most important and coveted awards in the German-speaking world. The main criteria examined for the award are service quality, above-average performance, outstanding service, as well as effectiveness and steady growth. The service provider bbi Software AG achieved top marks with full points in the areas of customer support, competence and customer expectations. Since 1994, the company has specialized in developing innovative license management solutions to help companies effectively manage their software licenses, save costs and minimize compliance risks.

Efficient, experienced, practical: this is how the software solutions of bbi Software AG present themselves. They support numerous companies in the optimal use of internal resources and create clarity in daily license management, as the company writes. Individuality and competence are written in capital letters, the company continues. Managing Director Marco Kurmann and his team offer customized solutions that will inspire customers in the long term - and at fair prices. In addition, the company attaches great importance to the continuous training of all employees, thus guaranteeing a pool of experience and knowledge in a class of its own, according to the company's further statements.

As an official winner of the HIPE AWARD 2022, bbi Software AG can now count itself among the TOP 400 award-winning service providers in the German-speaking world.

Source and further information

The list of risks that seriously threaten the existence of a company in extreme cases is long. To prepare a company for the worst case scenario, the establishment and operation of a business continuity management is the first choice. A BCM ensures that critical business processes and key functions remain available in emergency situations or are available again in time, i.e. before the damage becomes unacceptable.

Identified sensitive business processes and known dependencies

The survey, in which 118 companies from a wide range of industries participated, delivers encouraging results. In particular, when it comes to identifying the most sensitive business processes (87% of the companies have identified them) or ensuring that companies are aware of the most significant dependencies on third parties, e.g. suppliers (91% of the companies are aware of them), the companies are very risk-aware. 77% of the companies have also specifically drawn up plans to be able to respond to the occurrence of risks in a prepared manner. This is seen as a strong sign by the BCM specialists at Swiss Infosec AG and shows that the benefits of the BCM management discipline and its necessity have been recognized. 

Risk management and business continuity management move closer together

The actual risk management performs valuable (preliminary) work for the establishment and operation of a BCM. It identifies and names risks and estimates the probability of occurrence and the extent of damage. Based on these findings, emergency plans can be drawn up more efficiently and adapted more easily in the event of changed or new risks. Almost 70% of the companies consciously exploit the proximity between risk management and BCM and have risk management and BCM work closely together to control identified risks.

And what about employee awareness of BCM?

Developing emergency plans is one thing. However, it is important that employees actually know the emergency procedures in order to act correctly in emergency situations. In the survey, at least 2/3 of the companies state that their employees are aware of the emergency procedures, 20% deny this and 14% are not sure. This is where BCM specialist Reinhard Obermüller from Swiss Infosec AG sees potential for optimization: "Behavior in emergency situations must be practiced and addressed again and again. Especially when new employees join the team. Emergency plans are of little use in a drawer."

Use of BCM tools still expandable

Business continuity management tools provide organizations with a comprehensive platform to develop, implement and manage their BCM strategies. However, only just 23% of organizations are taking advantage of BCM software solutions. Besfort Kuqi, CEO of Swiss GRC AG, is not surprised, given his experience in the GRC environment: "It is unfortunate that many organizations are not taking advantage of GRC tools to improve their risk management and BCM. Particularly in times of heightened uncertainty, it is critical for organizations to maintain a comprehensive, consistent, and up-to-date view of their risks and opportunities and use this as a basis to strengthen their resilience capabilities. Those who have worked consistently with GRC tools know the added value and the many benefits."

Source: Swiss Infosec

The events surrounding the demise of Credit Suisse are reminiscent of the grounding of Swissair. An internationally known Swiss company suddenly no longer exists. The situation, in turn, affects many: "We are sorry for all employees who have to fear for their jobs because of the demise of Credit Suisse," explains Markus Baumgartner, President of the Swiss Association for Crisis Communication (VKK). The association has developed nine points on the Swiss banking crisis from the perspective of crisis communication.

1. crisis communication needs trust

The many scandals of recent years have increasingly destroyed the reputation of Credit Suisse. Even though the two captains CEO Ulrich Körner and VRP Axel Lehmann were ultimately credited with the turnaround of Credit Suisse, they were unable to free the bank from the dark shadow of the past. Both are undoubtedly qualified managers, but they failed to build up or create new trust through a lack of adequate communication.

2. crisis communication needs good communication consulting

It is not always easy for communications people to assert themselves vis-à-vis the board of directors or management. Because time and again, executives show themselves to be "resistant to advice" and simply do their thing. This is despite the fact that they have highly qualified internal or sometimes external communications consultants. When it comes to communication, many suddenly have the feeling that they are experts in this area as well. Particularly in crisis communications, it's all about facts so that speculation doesn't arise, but - as here at Credit Suisse - it's not just about bare figures, but about emotions and understanding, and often also about the view from the outside when you yourself are only spinning in the hamster wheel.

3. crisis communication needs trustworthy and empathic minds

The importance of this crisis communication principle, and the fact that success or failure depends on it, can be seen in the various exponents of the current situation. Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter has not had an easy time conveying credibility right away in the short time since she took over the Finance Department. What's more, her predecessor Ueli Maurer had said that Credit Suisse could turn itself around. Her personal example as a Credit Suisse client was insensitive. The vast majority of employees do not have the financial security of a member of the national government. At Credit Suisse, the heads of CEO Ulrich Körner and VRP Axel Lehmann are too little known through their own fault. In addition to their work "in the background," they have failed to build trust with the outside world and to convince clients that they are on the right track. This takes time and does not happen overnight. And Finma President Marlene Amstad was hardly able to raise her profile in the run-up to the crisis.

4. crisis communication needs empathy and emotions

That is rather difficult in the financial industry, but certainly not impossible. Axel Lehmann's performance was technocratic and showed a lack of self-criticism. Just now, the demise of one of the landmarks of the Swiss economy was communicated, and he, as Chairman of the Board of Directors, could not bring himself to apologize. From a legal point of view, it is understandable that he does not admit guilt, but at least at this moment he should think of his employees and customers whose jobs and money he has destroyed. At this moment, it is no longer just billions that count, but above all people. In addition, the question obviously arises as to who wrote the words "I am convinced that the new solution will bring sustainable stability and security for employees" on his paper. This statement shows that he has hardly reflected on it. The same applies to the announcement that all employees would devote all their energy to the process of merging with UBS. When so many jobs will be lost, such a statement is unworldly or simply ridiculous.

5. crisis communication needs preparation

A crisis never adheres to a regulated procedure or process. Many unprepared tasks come at the responsible parties from all sides and are difficult to coordinate. Companies therefore do well to prepare for possible crises with texts, dark sites or checklists - always in the hope that they will never need these documents and channels. Because everyone must be aware that crisis communication has long since ceased to be an episodic task and has become a permanent one. It is to be hoped, for example, that the last-minute, "personal" invitation to an information call from the Credit Suisse management team (only 10 days after the bang), which was sent out quite impersonally with only "Dear Customer" in the salutation - without names (!) - was not the first contact with the "valued" customers. All addressees may rightly ask themselves whether they are only known by name when it comes to profit and they become a neuter in the crisis.

6. crisis management needs credible sponsors

Credit Suisse's short-lived Chairman of the Board, António Mota de Sousa Horta-Osório, promised to introduce a new code of conduct, but failed to stick to it himself. This made it even more difficult for employees to believe in their leadership. And accordingly, the culture of insatiable risk-taking remained. 

7. after the crisis is before the crisis

The scandals at CS and other banks around the world show time and again that too little, if anything, is learned from crises. It is not enough to analyze past mistakes and name the guilty parties. It is crucial to really want to learn something from the misconduct, so that at least we do not put our foot in our mouth again and again. In plain language, this means that crises must not only be dealt with, but also anticipated. This requires a well-established and implemented issue management. It is also important to play out possible future crisis scenarios live and not just in theory. Internal processes and people are not enough. What is needed is a view from the outside that provides an unvarnished reflection of the situation without regard for one's own career - and tells in plain language what needs to be changed. It is not for nothing that those affected by a crisis often perceive the event as a "surprise," while third parties saw it coming long ago.

8. crisis prevention thanks to good corporate culture

We don't want to go into further detail about corporate culture. But a trusting, honest, open corporate culture may not prevent every crisis, but it is one of the best crisis prevention measures. And here, too, it often helps to call on external help, because the view from outside is often worth its weight in gold.

9. bonuses need sustainable criteria thinking

Finally, a word from ethicist Prof. Dr. theol. Peter G. Kirchschläger on the incentives provided by Credit Suisse's bonus culture: "It is worth considering linking bonuses not only to economic criteria, but also to social and sustainability standards. This is in order to honor and reward ethical and responsible decision-making and action. It is almost schizophrenic when a company uses elaborate communication and advertising measures to constantly emphasize how important sustainability and climate protection are to them. And it also publicizes this in glossy brochures. At the same time, ethical criteria apparently play no role whatsoever in bonuses."

Source: VKK

A high workload, irregular working hours, shift work and emergency preparedness make it impossible for physicians in Swiss hospitals and clinics to achieve a good work-life balance. Combined with excessive workloads, this leads to impaired job satisfaction and health, as well as to earlier retirement from the profession. The quality of care and profitability of hospitals also suffer as a result.

Approaches proven in practice

But how can hospitals and clinics improve the work-life balance for their medical staff? Practical answers are provided by the guide "Work-life balance for hospital physicians" from the School of Applied Psychology FHNW, which has been available since the end of March 2023. It offers Swiss hospitals and clinics numerous suggestions for the realization of a compatibility-friendly working environment for their medical staff. The guide was developed by a scientific team led by Prof. Dr. Brigitte Liebig and in cooperation with four acute hospitals and one rehabilitation clinic in Switzerland.

A targeted guide

"For the first time, the publication provides hospitals and clinics with specific guidance on developments that benefit physicians in inpatient healthcare," said project leader Prof. Dr. Liebig. "In addition, we show the benefits of measures for the medical profession and healthcare organizations." At the core of the guide is a catalog of 25 concrete measures that can be used to shape the working conditions for hospital physicians in terms of a better balance between medical work and private life. In addition to cultural changes, HR practices or structural improvements are addressed. A roadmap systematically shows how starting points for change can be identified within the framework of organizational development and implemented in everyday hospital or clinic life. Empirical data and practical examples illustrate the individual development steps.

Focus on medical personnel

The guide is aimed at human resources managers, hospital and clinic management, professional associations and politicians. The focus of the measures is on the professional group of physicians. In general, however, all employees in the inpatient healthcare sector can benefit from the approaches described here.

The guide is available in German and French. The Federal Office for Gender Equality supported the project financially.  

Links to the guide:
www.fhnw.ch/vereinbarkeit-im-spital-wegleitung-de
www.fhnw.ch/vereinbarkeit-im-spital-wegleitung-fr (available from mid-April)

Data protection specialist Veeam continues to grow in Switzerland and has repositioned itself with Reto Anderes (Regional Director) and Manuel Eberenz (Director Enterprise Sales) as well as newly formed teams. Reto Anderes has been at the helm of the Swiss organization for a few months. With Manuel Eberenz, who came from Dell, a dedicated team is now looking after the enterprise market. This does not mean turning away from the channel business, but rather striving for the trusted advisor approach, said Manuel Eberenz at a media roundtable on March 15.

Unstable security environment

Veeam's efforts in the Swiss market are encountering a still relatively unstable security environment, in which the severity of attacks from the side of digital crime is increasing, the requirements for data protection are thus rising, but gaps exist in reality. This is shown by several global surveys from Veeam, most recently the Veeam Data Protection Report 2023: 79 percent of companies have experienced at least one attack in the past year. Only 19 percent, however, were able to recover their data without paying a ransom. A third of companies fared worse: they paid, but still couldn't recover their data. Further analysis reveals a more mixed picture, with only 28 % of companies updating their recovery plans more frequently than once a year. And 95 % of companies are moderately to extremely concerned about cloud security. 82 % of companies use manual procedures to recover their data after a failure.

Quality of data backup could be improved in many places

The fact that the quality of data backup is not good everywhere is also confirmed by Doron William, who specializes in modern data backup with his DE&C GmbH and has been supporting Veeam for years as a so-called Veeam Accredited Service Partner (VASP). He has a deep insight into the reality of Swiss organizations, both small and large. He repeatedly encounters deplorable conditions, such as current ransomware attacks, a lack of automated tests and concepts that are long outdated. The solutions used are not hardened against ransomware and often lack the necessary storage know-how. Many Swiss companies are therefore putting themselves at risk with their eyes open and misjudging the risks.

New data backup platform

The Veeam Data Platform, newly introduced this year, can help. It puts the topic of backup on the CIO agenda by providing an overall view of the data in the company across all networks, clouds and platforms. Permanent copies of live data exist and can be restored in a short time at the touch of a button. Stephan Herzig, Enterprise Technical Advisor, sees the Veeam Data Platform as a tool for companies to achieve data sovereignty, i.e. self-determined control over all the company's data. This is especially important, he says, because cloud providers never have responsibility over corporate data. With this, Veeam addresses the increasing challenges in complex and growing IT environments that every company has to face - from failures to errors to ransomware.

Source: Veeam Switzerland

Machine builders rely on regular service to ensure that the machines are running, and that the quality and throughput are right. However, regular maintenance intervals are personnel-intensive - and it is not always easy to find suitably qualified personnel in the first place. And not every maintenance call is necessary: If the machine is running smoothly, the service technician's visit was basically a waste of time.

Reduce service intervals

In the past, regular service intervals were indispensable - and yet no guarantee that a machine would not suddenly come to a standstill. Even for highly qualified personnel, it was not possible to detect every failure that was already imminent.

This is where artificial intelligence comes into play. With the help of sensors, machines can be continuously monitored (predictive maintenance). This generates large amounts of data that can reveal a lot about the health of the machine or even individual components. If the data from the sensors is now evaluated by an AI, possible failures can be predicted well in advance. This means a win-win situation for both the manufacturer and the user: Unplanned failures no longer occur despite a reduction in service intervals.

However, most AI solutions currently on the market require a lot of computing capacity and rely on a costly, high-performance network infrastructure. The sensor data is transmitted via the network, analyzed on central servers or in the cloud, and then the result is sent back. This not only costs time, but also raises the issue of data security. Of course, it is an understandable manufacturer interest to access this data - but whether the customers who use the machines want potentially sensitive process data to be transmitted over the Internet remains to be seen.

AI solutions do not have to be complex and expensive

With modern, yet inexpensive sensors, it is now possible to acquire data in the gigasample range. With this amount of data - we are quickly talking about a volume of several terabytes, especially if the data from several machines is to be evaluated - transmission in the network is hardly possible, even with direct fiber optic cabling. Therefore, it is not only more clever, but also significantly more cost-effective to perform the data evaluation directly on site in the device.

However, such local monitoring has only been possible for a few years. The increasing computing capacity of even the smallest semiconductors makes it possible to accommodate the sensor and AI directly on a small circuit board adapted to the installation location. The sensor then no longer sends its data via the network, but directly to the AI on the same board. The AI "looks" at every single snippet of data in RAM, evaluates it, and then discards the raw data from the sensor. Only the evaluation results are passed on - in the simplest case by a lamp on the device that lights up red if an error occurs. Or the service department is notified directly that a component or the entire device will have a fault within a certain period of time. The service department can now order the necessary spare parts and plan a maintenance date with the customer that will not affect production.

Such local AI systems are referred to as "embedded AI". Due to the system-related resource limitations, such systems are comparatively inexpensive without sacrificing robustness. They do not incur any follow-up costs such as those incurred by a network infrastructure and are also real-time capable, which means they can also be used in safety-critical environments.

What are the possible applications for embedded AI

Even though the possible applications for embedded AI are almost unlimited, a (small) selection of potential use cases will be presented here:

• In engines, drive shafts can be monitored using ultrasonic sensors. If anomalies occur in the ultrasound image that indicate a possible failure, this is detected by the AI.
• Pumps and hoses can also be monitored with AI - it becomes visible at an early stage whether a hose is about to crack, for example. The AI can even detect whether, for example, the original detergent or a substitute is flowing through the hose.
• Axles and dampers can be monitored e.g. by means of pressure, vibration or even sound sensors
• Wear of conveyor belts can be detected at an early stage by means of spectrography
• Monitoring of main failure components and or wear parts in machines
• Monitoring of cooling systems and heating elements

Failure guarantee despite less service and win-win for manufacturer and customer

For service, predictive maintenance means that service intervals can be reduced and "unnecessary" visits avoided, and the planning of maintenance work can be made significantly more flexible. Machine manufacturers can guarantee a high level of reliability with fewer service personnel.

These new possibilities of predictive maintenance open up further potential for the machine manufacturer "quite incidentally". In addition to service reduction, it is not only possible to guarantee reliability; this scenario is also suitable for opening up a new business model: leasing machines instead of selling them. The interest in obsolescence decreases because the longest possible service life becomes a market advantage for the manufacturer. This also has advantages for the customer: machine procurement does not become a large one-time investment and is less of a burden on liquidity.

Especially in times of personnel shortages and sustainability efforts, machine builders can kill several birds with one stone with embedded AI and build another USP. In this way, they become reliable partners in the long term and at the same time set themselves apart from mass products, for example from Asia.

[1] https://www.all-electronics.de/automatisierung/soviele-milliarden-kosten-ungeplante-machinenstillstaende-271.html

Author:
Viacheslav Gromov is founder and managing director of AITAD. The company develops electronics-related artificial intelligence (embedded AI) that performs locally defined tasks in devices and machines in real time. He is the author of numerous papers as well as various textbooks in the semiconductor field.

The Aachen-based software house ConSense GmbH specializes in innovative software solutions and consulting services for management systems. With the spring program of its digital trade fair ConSense EXPO 2023, virtual guests can expect an extensive mix of specialist lectures and workshops, exchanges with renowned QM experts and plenty of opportunity for industry talk. Top speaker and Spiegel bestselling author Tobias Beck will also be there live this time.

Solutions for every level - from easy entry to deep dive for professionals

The software solutions presented are aimed at companies of all sizes and all levels of previous knowledge. Whether they are new to a software-based management system or have been using it for many years, visitors can find out everything they need to know about setting up a QM or integrated management system and expanding it with various modules. Fair visitors can arrange their tour through the virtual theme stands according to their desired focal points - from information on measures management or audit management, to the possibility of international, multilingual use of ConSense systems, to various deployment solutions - and much more. For example, the ConSense PORTAL booth provides information on the web-based solution for management systems, including simplification of roll-out and maintenance, as well as hosting services.

Highlights: Keynotes, live conferences and workshops

The conference program, one of the highlights of the ConSense EXPO, holds top topics and best practice examples around the application of the QM software and other software solutions of ConSense GmbH as well as exciting content QM and business topics. Among other things explains Tobias Beck, internationally successful speaker, Spiegel bestselling author and mental coach, in his humorous presentation "The Language of Success - The Human Type Model", which human types can be found in every company and how this knowledge can be used for targeted communication. QM experts from various companies, including m-tg (international language service provider for medicine and pharmaceuticals) and TÜV Austria, will report on ConSense application in practice. A ConSense user will also talk about QM and measures management in the Austrian district hospital Kufstein. In addition, live sessions and workshops invite participants to gain practical insights and ideas on all aspects of introducing, setting up and structuring management systems.

The program is supplemented by an exclusive area with additional topics for existing customers and representatives of the press. In his keynote address "ConSense Features, Versions, Visions", Managing Director Dr. Alexander Künzer will provide an insight into the latest functions, features and developments of the software solutions. In addition, exclusively for the circle of ConSense customers, there will be further selected download materials and information, for example on the ConSense system check.

ConSense EXPO 2023: Registration now open

In addition to the wealth of information, ConSense EXPO, much like a presence trade show, leaves plenty of room for direct exchange with industry professionals, networking and entertainment: The live chat provides an opportunity for queries throughout the trade show. In addition, exclusive appointments and slots can be reserved for personal consultations. On-demand webinars are also available to trade show guests to directly expand their knowledge base. Those who want to take a short break between the stations can take part in the health coaches' sessions on the topic of "Moving break - fit at the desk" or take part in the search and puzzle competition, where there are great prizes to be won.

Registration for the visit is now open at www.consense-gmbh.de/expo possible. A complete overview of the conference program from April 18 to 21, 2023, including registration for the individual events, is available at www.consense-gmbh.de/expo-konferenzen ready.

The Swiss Management Association, which emerged in 1961 from the Institute of Management Sciences (BWI) at the ETH, is by its own account the most important association of leading decision-makers in Swiss business. It is committed to ensuring that Switzerland's business leaders are at the forefront of global competition by virtue of excellent corporate management. At this year's General Assembly, new board members and a new president were elected: Nora Teuwsen and Thomas Amstutz are new members of the SMG Board and Sarah Kreienbühl is the new President. For the first time in the history of SMG, women are in the majority on the board.

The new members of the SMG Board

Nora Teuwsen has been Chief Executive Officer of ABB Switzerland Ltd. since August 2022. She holds a master's degree in law from the University of Zurich and is admitted to the Swiss bar, as well as an executive master's degree in European and International Business Law from the University of St. Gallen. Previously, Teuwsen held various positions at SBB, most recently as Group General Counsel from 2013 to 2019. In 2019, she founded Beyondlegal, a consulting firm for legal departments. Nora Teuwsen is also a member of the board of trustees of the "Menschen für Menschen" foundation and a member of the board of directors of Raiffeisenbank St. Gallen. 

Thomas Amstutz has been CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Feldschlösschen Getränke AG since 2012. After graduating in business administration from the University of St. Gallen (HSG), he joined Unilever and worked as Brand Manager in Zurich and as European Innovation Manager in Paris. From 1998, Amstutz served as Hero's Marketing Manager and took over as General Manager of Hero Switzerland in 2001. From 2005 - 2008, he already headed Feldschlösschen Getränke AG as CEO before serving as CEO of Brasseries Kronenbourg in Paris for four years and simultaneously holding the office of Chairman of the Board of Directors of Feldschlösschen Getränke AG.

Sarah Kreienbühl is the new president of SMG

Lukas Braunschweiler, member of the board of directors of various companies, hands over the office after the maximum term of 8 years as member of the board, 5 years of which as president. Under his aegis, close networking between business, science and young entrepreneurship was driven forward and suitable platforms were created for this purpose. Likewise, SMG's operations and appearance were consistently digitalized and ways were found to reach and network members with new forms and offers, even under the restrictions of the Corona pandemic.

Sarah Kreienbühl was elected President after a 1st term of 4 years on the Board: "Especially in these exciting as well as challenging times, we would like to offer our members a platform for inspiration and networking to jointly exploit opportunities - for a strong Swiss economy". Sarah Kreienbühl will become a member of the Executive Board at Kuehne + Nagel International AG and CHRO with additional responsibility for sustainability as of April 1, 2023. Previously, she was a member of the General Management of the Federation of Migros Cooperatives for five years and led, among other things, the areas of HRM, corporate communications, and social commitment of the Migros Group. From 2004 to 2017, she was globally responsible for HRM at Sonova (formerly Phonak) as a member of the Executive Board, and from 2012 additionally for the management of Corporate Communications, Corporate Branding and Sustainability. Since April 2022, she has been a member of the Board of Directors of Rieter Holding AG and Chairwoman of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.

In line with rotation after two terms of office totaling eight years and great commitment, Urs Riedener, CEO Emmi Group, Emmi Management AG (until the end of 2022), also stepped down from the SMG Board. Marco Gadola, Chairman of the Board of Directors, DKSH Holding AG, Kamila Markram, CEO and co-founder, Frontiers, and Monika Rühl, Chairwoman of the Executive Board, economiesuisse, were confirmed for a second term of 4 years.

Source and further information: SMG