The practical handbook Legal OperationsManagement (Springer Verlag; EUR 79.99 / CHF 82.50) is currently being published in bookstores; more than 40 experts from universities, public administration and the private sector from Germany, Austria and Switzerland have contributed to it. The new standard work deals with the structure, management and organization of legal structures in companies and public authorities.

The estimated legal costs in German-speaking countries are estimated at over 200 billion euros annually. Well-managed legal departments in companies and public authorities therefore have a major influence on operational and public efficiency. For a sustainable further development of legal departments, the two co-editors Roman P. Falta and Christian Dueblin present an 831-page standard work. Well-known personalities such as Prof. Dr. Heinz Riesenhuber (former Federal Minister of Research), Alfred N. Schindler (Schindler Holding), Prof. Dr. Heinrich Koller (Director of Justice in Switzerland), Prof. Dr. Rolf Dubs (former Rector of the University of St. Gallen HSG), as well as numerous other top managers and general counsels of well-known companies from Switzerland, Germany and Austria have contributed to this book. They all share their personal experiences in managing law and legal functions; insights that are extremely rare to obtain in this form.

The publisher (Springer-Verlag) positions the Legal Operations Management Practice Handbook as a source of inspiration for the establishment, operation and optimization of professional legal structures. For general counsels, heads of legal services and lawyers in companies and public authorities, the new practical handbook is an important source of information and inspiration with contributions on all interface functions associated with legal operations.

In 55 chapters, the authors deal with key topics such as identity, positioning, leadership, structures, resources and processes of legal operations in a practical manner and address current challenges. The practical handbook Legal Operations Management thus provides a basis for the efficient management of legal affairs in companies and public authorities.

R.P. Falta, C. Dueblin (Eds.): Legal Operations Management Practice Manual. 1st ed. 2017, XXV, 831 p. 80 illus, 52 illus in color. Springer Verlag, ISBN 978-3-662-50506-9. http://www.springer.com/de/book/9783662505052

Axians IT&T is a pioneer in the modernization of its specialist application for e-government purposes of the residents' registration offices (EWK): the Infoma newsystem municipal software is the first Swiss EWK solution to go live with version 3 of the eCH0020 interface standard. The latest version of the interface standard leads, for example, to simpler birth notifications and better correction notifications between the EWK specialist application of Lucerne municipalities and the cantonal register platform Lureg. The benefits of the technological upgrade have already been felt by the pilot municipality of Rothenburg since May 2017 and currently by several other municipalities. By the end of the year, all Lucerne customers will have been migrated and will thus benefit from a considerable reduction in the effort required to correct technical errors.

Improved data quality

"With the new version of the Infoma newsystem municipal software, we can already see a significant improvement in data quality," says Enrico Moresi, member of the management team and responsible for the Lureg data platform at Lustat Statistik Luzern, the central statistics office of the canton of Lucerne. Moresi also expects this to have a positive impact on the use of the data by his customers such as the cantonal police, the military administration, the road traffic office and the compensation office. At the beginning of next year, Axians IT&T will also carry out the main certification for the Geres platform used by many cantons with the canton of Nidwalden. The canton-specific features will then be certified separately for the corresponding cantons.

Further building block for e-government

Version 3 of the eCH0020 interface standard specifies the possible reasons for reporting that lead to mutations in the data in the population registers and the codes to be used for the electronic exchange of reasons for reporting. The standard takes into account the exchange of messages between the population registers and the cantonal data platforms, the Infostar register of civil status, the Zemis central migration information system, which is used to process personal data from the area of foreigners and asylum, and other offices of the public administration.

Further information is available on the website of the eCH association: https://www.ech.ch/vechweb/page?p=dossier&documentNumber=eCH-0020

Further information on the EWK specialist application Infoma newsystem from Axians IT&T: https://www.axians-infoma.ch/loesungen/einwohner/

The impulse event wants to show the diversity and the possibilities of Lean Management. The aim is to create the necessary basic understanding of lean management, to make opportunities visible and to provide participants with concrete methods and tools. The program is exciting and varied: enlightening inputs, field reports and success stories from practice, interviews with doers and workshops on various lean topics round off the event. The Lean Management Practice Days also serve as an opportunity to network, share knowledge and learn from others. The event is aimed at managers and specialists in production and administration, managing directors, members of the board, consultancies in the field of lean management, CIP/KAIZEN and other interested parties.

Information and registration

Analyses, forecasts and decisions are the fuel of our economy, society and private life. There should be no mistakes! The book sets out which questions to ask in order to identify and avoid the thinking traps when compiling data and evaluating it. With this, and the many practical examples, the book is aimed at the following target groups:

• Managers in companies and decision-makers in organizations and politics The book provides the tools to systematically and specifically question statements by experts and available data.
• Experts who provide and interpret information Practical tips help to avoid mistakes when using supporting methods and to arrive at rationally justifiable statements.
• Consultants and trainers who introduce, train or use tools Every tool has its limitations. With the information in the book, they can be clearly named and observed.
• Interested citizens who follow factual issues in the media will learn where weak points may be hidden in the arguments or figures presented and what should therefore be critically questioned.
• Anyone who is faced with a decision: private, professional or as an entrepreneur For every type of decision - to buy a product, for investments, planning the future or deciding between possible alternatives for action - the book offers arguments on how to evaluate essential criteria and weigh them against each other.

This book is not about the "misperceived, misunderstood" that has often been described, but about the usually much more important system of "How do I go about it the right way?" and avoiding misinterpretation by asking, "Why can't something be right?"

The author Dr. Bernd Rodewald himself advises companies on modeling and improving their processes and structures as well as on change management. In his workshops and trainings he experiences again and again how strongly individual and corporate decisions are dependent on personal assumptions and imprints, wrong or inadequate use of methods and techniques as well as insufficient knowledge about how to interpret information correctly.

Bernd Rodewald: Your guide to rational analysis and decision-making. How to avoid mistakes and draw the right conclusions. Publicis Pixelpark, 2017, 247 pages, 58 illustrations, paperback with dust jacket, ISBN 978-3-89578-466-8.

In the course of Industry 4.0, i.e. the networking of industrial and control systems across plants and locations, companies and critical infrastructures (CRITIS) are increasingly coming into the crosshairs of cyber attacks of all kinds. With malware of all kinds, from Stuxnext to CozyBear, HammerPanda to Winnti, social engineering or vulnerabilities in outdated software, criminals are repeatedly succeeding in gaining access to companies and infrastructures. The German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) itself cites the attack on a German industrial group in 2016, publicly accessible control systems of waterworks, and power outages in Ukraine due to hacked power plants as examples.

Scanner not a solution for industrial security

The advantages of increasing networking, such as flexibility or optimization, are obvious. But the question arises as to how automation environments can be networked and industrial plants and CRITIS secured at the same time. The answer: It is necessary to identify all devices in the network, to know all vulnerabilities and to scan them as continuously as possible in order to discover vulnerabilities as quickly as possible - the BSI also advocates this continuous network monitoring.

Regular, commonly used active scanners are not a solution here. They generate network traffic themselves and slow down networks. Many companies are therefore reluctant to regularly scan their systems for outdated patches or vulnerabilities: The systems are designed for continuous operation, which ensures profitability.

Passive monitoring as the method of choice

Passive monitoring is quite different: Passive monitoring starts at the switching fabric of the network or its egress points and analyzes traffic end-to-end to detect signs of security breaches and unusual behavior. They do not slow down ongoing operations and can continuously look for vulnerabilities and unusual incidents in the network. So they don't just create a snapshot, they continuously monitor the network. This makes them the ideal tool for immediately detecting vulnerabilities in highly sensitive production and control systems so that they can be remedied as quickly as possible.

Rethinking Industrial Security

However, there are a number of requirements for the corresponding solutions. They must cover numerous ICS, SCADA, production and other systems from various manufacturers, such as Siemens, ABB, Rockwell or GE. The basis is that they support numerous protocols. These include standards such as BACnet, DNP3, Ethernet/IP or IEEE C37.118.

Networking plants and infrastructures is necessary - but industrial security must be rethought just like production or service provision in Industry 4.0. This is the only way for operators to benefit and at the same time make life difficult for criminals.

Source and information

Metrology, materials testing, analysis equipment, optoelectronics, QA systems and service - with this portfolio of products and services geared to industrial practice, the past Control - International Trade Fair for Quality Assurance was able to successfully stage itself for the 31st time in spring 2017. 52,500 m² gross exhibition space, more than 900 exhibitors from 31 countries, almost 30,000 trade visitors from 106 countries and an increase of around 10% in all areas were the successful trade fair results. The organisers from the Schall group of companies are taking this as an incentive for the next Control, which will take place at the Stuttgart Exhibition Centre from the 24th through the 27th of April, 2018.

Control 2018 will continue to grow

The signs for another significant growth are good, as can be seen from the remarks of the long-standing project manager of Control, Gitta Schlaak: "A good five months before the start of the trade fair, we can report a booking level of more than 90%, based on the exhibitor numbers and exhibition areas of the 2017 session. This makes us confident that we will be able to top the 2017 figures. Especially as we are adding Hall 8 for Control 2018, which means that the world's leading trade fair for quality assurance will have more than 60,000 m² of hall space at its disposal. Planning is already in full swing, because we will find new and significantly improved conditions for both exhibitors and trade visitors at Landesmesse Stuttgart for the 2018 session."

New infrastructure brings relief

Indeed, the new exhibition hall 10, which will be available from January 2018, the associated new construction of the WEST entrance area and accompanying infrastructure measures such as access roads, parking spaces, seminar rooms, utility rooms and restaurant, will result in a new layout, which will not least bring with it a better distribution of the morning visitor flows. In the future, the two entrance areas EAST and WEST are to be weighted equally, so that the streams of visitors are distributed more evenly, which provides relief in the entrance zones and allows exhibitors to plan capacity with regard to stand and support personnel. In addition, the hall layout for Control is now even more visitor-friendly, as Halls 3, 5 and 7 (strand with odd numbering) and 4, 6 and 8 (strand with even numbering) are now laid out in a "block-like" arrangement. This results in short distances between the individual areas, which in turn allows for targeted visitor planning with time-optimised access.

Proven cooperation partners

The information and communication offerings at Control 2018 will be rounded out by the renewed commitment of the proven cooperation partners Fraunhofer Vision Alliance and Fraunhofer IPA. On the other hand, by the popular exhibitor forum which features top-class presentations, and finally by the awarding of the Competence Prize for Innovation and Quality Baden-Württemberg 2018, which will already be taking place for the 11th time, initiated and carried out by the private trade fair company P. E. Schall GmbH & Co. KG and the TQU-GROUP. The patron is the Steinbeis Foundation for Economic Development.

Control - International Trade Fair for Quality Assurance will take place from 24 to 27 April 2018 at the Landesmesse Stuttgart. For further information: www.control-messe.de

Expensive mistakes: A defective pedal causes a car to accelerate unintentionally. Processing of defective peanuts causes an industry-wide sales decline of 25%. Each of these incidents triggered major product recalls resulting in billions of dollars in losses. Product-related risk is one of the biggest threats facing companies today. Recall risks have increased significantly over the past decade and the potential for larger and more complex claims continues to rise, warns industrial insurer Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) in a new report. The evaluation of 367 global insurance claims shows that the automotive industry is most affected by product recalls, followed by the food and beverage sector.

Rising number of product recalls

The number of product recalls has risen steadily over the past decade. "We are now seeing record numbers of recalls in terms of size and cost," says Christof Bentele, Head of Global Crisis Management at AGCS. He sees multiple factors contributing to this, including stricter regulation and tougher penalties, the rise of large multinationals and more complex global supply chains, growing consumer awareness, the impact of economic pressures in research, development and manufacturing, and the increasing importance of social media.

The study, "Product Recall: Managing The Impact of the New Risk Landscape," analyzes a total of 367 product recall claims from 28 countries across 12 industries between 2012 and the first half of 2017. The main cause of recalls is a defective product or design, followed by product contamination. The average cost of a major recall is over €10.5 million, with the cost of some recent large recalls far exceeding this total. Over 50% of the losses are due to just ten recalls. The IT/electronics sector is the third most affected industry after the automotive and food and beverage industries, according to the AGCS claims analysis.

Automotive industry faces most expensive recalls due to "domino effect

"Automotive recalls account for over 70% of the total claims analysed, which is unsurprising given recent record activity in both the US and Europe. We are seeing more and more recalls with more and more vehicles affected in the automotive industry," said Carsten Krieglstein, Regional Head of Liability, Central & Eastern Europe, AGCS. "Factors such as more sophisticated technology, shortened product testing times, outsourcing of research and development and increasing cost pressures are all contributing to this. The technological shift in the automotive industry towards electric and autonomous mobility will bring further recall risks."

In one of the largest recalls in the automotive industry to date due to defective airbags, 60 to 70 million vehicles from at least 19 manufacturers worldwide are likely to be recalled to workshops. The costs are estimated at almost 21 billion euros. This case highlights the increasing "domino effect" affecting the automotive sector, as well as other industries. Since many common components are used by many manufacturers at the same time, a single recall can have an impact on an entire industry.

Product recalls in the focus of the Swiss food and beverage industry

The food and drink industry is the second most affected sector, accounting for 16% of the losses analysed. The average cost of a significant product recall is almost €8 million. Undeclared allergens (including ingredient mislabeling) and pathogens are a big problem, as is contamination from glass, plastic and metal parts. "In Switzerland, product tampering and product recalls are also a big issue with our clients in the food and beverage industry," explains Christoph Müller, who is responsible for AGCS business in Switzerland. The increased demand for insurance solutions in Switzerland comes mainly from large end customers who want to insure themselves against the difficulties of their key suppliers. "Another driver in the market is the claims experience of the past, which can be directly attributed to product recalls or product tampering," says Müller.

Products from Asia, the AGCS study found, continue to trigger a disproportionate number of recalls in the U.S. and Europe, reflecting the eastward shift of global supply chains and historically weaker quality controls in some Asian countries. But increasing safety regulations and growing consumer awareness are causing recalls to increase in Asia as well.

Early crisis management as part of the corporate DNA

Forward planning and preparation can have a major impact on the size of a recall and the financial and reputational damage. As part of a holistic risk management approach, specialist product recall insurance can help companies recover more quickly by covering the costs of a recall, including business interruption. Such insurance policies also provide access to crisis management services and specialist consultants. These review a company's procedures and assist with regulatory liaison, communications, product tracing, and laboratory testing of contaminated goods, including genome sequencing and DNA testing, in the event of product contamination worldwide.

"Much more attention is now being paid to how companies deal with faulty or contaminated products, how quickly they respond and how reliable they are when it comes to product safety. More than ever, consumers are also speaking up and making their consumption decisions based on how companies handle crises. A company that sees crisis management as part of its DNA is far less susceptible to a major scandal," says Bentele.

Further information

Until now, all gas companies have only tested the quality of comparable products internally. Messer Schweiz AG is now the first and only supplier in Switzerland to supply the first officially certified medical nitrogen. "No healthcare provider can afford to compromise on safety and quality," says CEO Dr. Hans Michael Kellner. "It's about our health and we don't compromise on that." As a result, the Lenzburg-based industrial gases company offers customers a guarantee of the highest quality. "We started this registration process early and at the same time built a new large nitrogen filling plant so that we can deliver to the whole of Switzerland immediately and without delay," says Dr Kellner. "We already have the first orders and assume that no gas company will be able to do without Swissmedic approval in the future."

Strict requirements of Swissmedic

For the registration of medical nitrogen with Swissmedic, detailed documentation of production, quality assurance and process flows is required. This means that all three areas are firmly defined and regularly audited. Messer Schweiz AG is liable for the medical product supplied, in terms of compliance with processes and quality. Medical facilities thus receive a guarantee that the nitrogen is always produced and supplied in accordance with the strictest regulations.

Use of medical nitrogen

Particularly in the case of medical products, such as in the production of drugs in the pharmaceutical industry, nitrogen is used as an auxiliary substance to displace oxygen. This is a prerequisite for compliance with the specifications of the European Pharmacopoeia. This property is of particular benefit in the production and packaging of pharmaceuticals in order to achieve long-term stability of active ingredients. Cryogenic liquefied nitrogen is also used in cryotherapy (icing) to remove warts, etc. by dermatologists. In this case, it can replace surgical interventions or drug treatments.

Other applications in gas form are:

• Inert gas for protection against oxidation
• For X-ray contrast imaging
• For flushing and displacement of air
• For inhalation with oxygen (maximum 80 vol.-% N2)

Frozen liquefied:

• For cryotherapy (cold wind treatment) for rheumatic diseases
• For cryosurgery (for operating cryosurgical instruments)
• For freeze-preservation of biological materials (cells, tissue, blood, semen etc.)

Messer Schweiz AG employs over 100 people and is part of Messer Group GmbH, the world's largest owner-managed industrial gases company with over 5,400 employees and over one billion euros in sales. Today, Messer Schweiz AG is strongly anchored in the Lenzburg region and is continuously growing throughout Switzerland.

www.messer.ch

Thanks to Pierre Maudet, member of the Geneva government and almost Federal Councillor, the FOREP 2017 conference featured a prominent guest. In his speech, he explored the question of what public administration - i.e. politics - could contribute to the innovative capacity of companies. His presentation gave rise to a lively discussion with the audience. Pierre Maudet also commented on new developments such as blockchain technology, which is also likely to change public administration. He was basically positive about this, but admitted that it was now up to the state to do its extensive homework.

Quality assurance and more

Further presentations before the first break dealt with topics such as the analysis of stakeholders in connection with management systems. According to the first speaker, HES-SO and EPFL lecturer Paolo Barrachini, it is precisely these stakeholders who are the driving force behind a corporate strategy. Six Sigma specialist Bernard Murry from Paris appealed to the practice of continuous improvement and reminded the audience that quality should not only depend on controls.

The next round of presentations dealt with other concrete topics in the field of quality assurance. Damien Chardaire from Sonceboz SA, for example, explained how his company ensures a zero-defect rate for automotive components. Jean-Michel Pou of Deltamu discussed the advantages of "Smart Metrology" and Katia Gutknecht approached the subject of quality assurance from the purchasing side: The quality offered to customers is always dependent on the quality purchased from suppliers. That is why value must always be placed on optimal purchasing processes. Finally, Nathalie Wardé postulated improvements in the traceability of medicines in order to achieve greater safety for patients on the one hand, but also to reduce the costly recalls of pharmaceutical products on the other.

Also a topic at FOREP 2017: Big Data

The power of data was the topic of the joint presentation by Fabrice Jeanningros and Abraham Carama (both from Maison Cartier Horlogerie). Big Data offers the opportunity to bring "more intelligence" to quality assurance, according to one of the speakers. And in connection with the topic of continuous improvement, Myriam Bertrand explored the question of how not to overburden employees in the process. Because often enough a CIP is not carried out equally consistently at all levels. This ultimately creates doubts about the suitability of the instruments and the resulting uncertainty. That is why all improvement processes require continuous support and leadership.

A panel discussion on the conference topic "Quality management between requirement and efficiency" formed the conclusion of the event. In parallel to the above-mentioned presentations, visitors had the opportunity to attend various practice-oriented workshops, for example on the analysis of value chains, leadership or digital QMS. A small exhibition also provided information about specific products and services in the broad field of quality assurance. The conference was organised and held jointly by the SAQ and its French-speaking Swiss sections, the SQS, ARIAQ and other partners. All in all, the approximately 250 participants were offered a highly professional event with many networking opportunities.

Further information

Many companies are still not sufficiently prepared for the new directives. The European security software manufacturer ESET has compiled some tips that IT managers can use to make their company fit for the new requirements of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

1. Bring the issue to the attention of management: All key decision-makers in the company should be aware of the impact of the GDPR and what it means for day-to-day operations. Therefore, also inform the management about the importance of the topic.
2. Check how your company processes data: Until now, companies have had to deal with the protection of personal data to varying degrees. However, starting next year, all companies will be responsible for protecting data. To get an accurate understanding of how data is handled in your company, you should put the current methods of data processing to the test. This will help you identify the extent to which your company still needs to prepare for the changes.
3. Appoint a data protection officer: Data protection officers are becoming important contacts, especially for public authorities and third-party companies. They work independently and report directly to the management. Their most important task is to have comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of the General Data Protection Regulation and to implement all necessary compliance and security measures.
4. Involve all stakeholders in the analysis: Before assessing the security of stored personal data, companies need to determine where the data is stored, who is responsible for managing it, and who has access to it. Involve both the data protection officer and the IT department in this process! This gives decision-makers a better idea of the measures taken so far.
5. Investigate past data breaches: By examining previous security vulnerabilities in the system, you not only get a clearer idea of what options your company has to respond to future attacks. You also check whether the procedures meet the future requirements of the GDPR. For example, security breaches must be reported within 72 hours of discovery, along with the nature and severity of the incident. Companies that do not adequately prepare their systems for this must expect heavy fines in the event of an emergency.
6. Consider the personal rights of individuals: One of the main objectives of the new regulation is to strengthen the rights for individuals, including the right to erasure of data and data portability. The latter means, for example, that individuals can take their data to a competitor of your company. Companies have an obligation to promote these rights. Therefore, it is important to establish appropriate procedures to make this possible.
7. Place value on consent to data processing: The GDPR aims to provide clarity when it comes to the issue of consent to the processing of personal data. New measures require companies to demonstrate unambiguous consent or "clear affirmative action". The new guidelines aim to protect children, for example, from agreeing to data processing without parental consent. It is therefore worth checking which practices are already established to inform users about the use and processing of their personal data.
8. Last but not least: Support the necessary measures already today: The measures required to implement the new GDPR can put a great strain on a company's infrastructure. Additional resources available in the right place can determine whether a company can meet the requirements in time. Therefore, plan ahead so that IT managers have the necessary resources available at the crucial time to meet all compliance requirements.

For more information on the General Data Protection Regulation, please visit an ESET specially designed pagewhich supports companies in preparing for the GDPR.

Source: ESET

Many people seek advice on nutrition. In doing so, they encounter a jungle of nutrition experts. The Association of Swiss Nutritionists is often asked for help because patients, but also professionals such as doctors or pharmacists, lose their way.

Unfortunately, the professional title 'nutritionist' is not protected, although its tasks and competences are clearly laid down by law. This allows misleading designations to appear. The SVDE says: "Where it says nutritionist on it, it should also be nutritionist in it!" This creates clarity in terms of patient safety. The SVDE vouches for the "legal conformity according to KVV Art. 50a" and for this reason has the priva

The label "Ernährungsberater/in SVDE" is protected by law and may be used exclusively by its members. The label is deposited in Swissreg (Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property - IGE) and protected accordingly. This creates transparency and quick recognition for doctors, employers, authorities and patients. With the help of the label, those seeking advice and professionals can quickly and easily find legally recognised nutritionists.

The addition "Swiss health profession" refers to the Health Professions Act passed by the Swiss Parliament in 2016. This law promotes quality in certain health professions in the interest of public health. Nutritionists are one of these professions. The label will be presented to the nutritionists SVDE on the occasion of the anniversary conference for the 75th birthday of the SVDE. This will take place on Friday 24 March 2017 at the Zentrum Paul Klee. Information under: www.svde-asdd.ch/jubilaeum/

This year's ESPRIX Forum saw a significant change compared to previous years. For the first time, it was no longer held in the concert hall, but in the smaller Lucerne Hall. But this in no way detracted from the quality of the conference. On the contrary: with 400 participants, the number of guests was also lower than in previous years, making it easier to establish personal contacts among those present.

Facing the future

Once again, the ESPRIX Foundation as organizer succeeded in putting together an attractive panel of speakers. And the conference topic "Appetite for the future?" was also a good one. The philosopher and publicist Ludwig Hasler pondered right at the beginning, noting that it is difficult to talk about the future in Switzerland "because the present is so shiny". Current solutions to problems, which our political leaders are concerned with, are actually only aimed at "improving the present". He gave the audience three ideas to whet their appetite for the future: firstly, the future is something for the "gluttonous"; secondly, the future needs to be discovered; and thirdly, imagination is better than knowledge when it comes to the future.

For Christian Methe, expert for digital transformation, the future has already begun. He demonstrated this directly with his "virtual conversation partner" Alexa, the voice assistant launched by Amazon. The future belongs to voice commands and apps are increasingly being replaced by them. Christian Methe then showed the audience a kind of compass on how to tackle digitization in one's own company via strategy, needs and requirements clarifications, data, organization and procedure. "Start now," was his concluding call.

When people talk about digitalization, the term "Industry 4.0" comes up at some point. In this regard, Rupert Hoellbacher, plant manager at the Bosch plant in Blaichach (southern Germany), provided concrete visual lessons. He showed how Industry 4.0 works in his company, based on networking (machines and control systems), information (generated from collected data), knowledge (deriving recommendations from information) up to the highest level of maturity with predictions and automated decision-making processes. However, "Industry 4.0 without people is a waste of time," says Hoellbacher, pointing out that even at Bosch, machines cannot completely replace employees.

Swiss pioneering work

Another promising project was the focus of Rolf Huber's presentation. He is the founder and board member of H2 Energy AG. Together with four colleagues, he has set out to realize his vision of driving a car in a closed water cycle, completely CO2-neutral. While filling station operators and car manufacturers put obstacles in each other's way, with hydrogen technology available as an energy source, they took matters into their own hands: looking for and finding the right partners themselves, they finally managed to set up Switzerland's first public hydrogen filling station and build a hydrogen-powered truck. And all this almost without subsidies, because "subsidies are doping: they are expensive and have side effects", as Rolf Huber summed up. Only without funding do you become really creative and innovative. And the success? A pioneering achievement, carried out by a small team, which is only now beginning to cause a stir among the big players.

Man does not become superfluous

The second half of the conference then focused more on the "human factor". Andreas Herz, for example, describes resilience as the fuel of successful people. Getting back up again after strokes of fate: He was able to report on this from his own painful experience. After a cancer diagnosis, he fought his way back into life. Personal training helped him a great deal to be able to better endure the adversities of cancer treatment. Being able to manage yourself is a skill that leaders in particular need more than ever. Andreas Herz mentioned "mindfulness" - also understood as the ability to pay attention to oneself - as a key concept in this context.

Then it was Gerd Leonhard's turn. As a futurist, he is not a futurologist; "I don't predict anything, I just observe", is how he described the term, which is still little known in this country. In his presentation, Gerd Leonhard focused on the contrast between "Technology vs. Humanity", which is also the title of his latest book. He sees the present as a "take-off" for exponential technological change. Machines can observe, but they cannot exist," says Gerd Leonhard. Creativity and emotional intelligence are human abilities that cannot be replaced by algorithms. Routine should certainly be delegated to machines, but efficiency should never take precedence over humanity.

Finally, Patrick D. Cowden continued the thread and explained that it is not about systems and technologies, but always also about the human factor. It is this factor that has always made the decisive difference. The basis for quality lies in the willingness to cooperate. Finally, the greatest human need lies in the pursuit of relationships. "The future is people - and we are the alternative," concludes Cowden.

ESPRIX Forum moves into the future

And finally, the presentation of the ESPRIX Swiss Award for Excellence was also about people and their excellence. Even though neither of the two finalists achieved the number of points required for the actual award, there was still a worthy winner in the form of Noser Engineering AG (see Brief Report). Once again, it became clear that this is not a "prize for the sake of it", but an award that an organisation must first earn through performance.

The Forum for Excellence was musically framed by the performances of the Lucerne chanson singer Milena. Accompanied by her band, she presented several pieces from her repertoire of original and third-party compositions. Presenter Sandra Studer guided the audience through the event in a confident and skilful manner, which indeed whetted their appetite for a future in which quality and excellence will probably play a greater role than ever before. And speaking of the future: The ESPRIX Summit will take place on June 20, 2018 - the tried and tested forum will therefore undergo a "retread".

Further information: www.esprix.ch