Executive review

This issue of the executive review presents the findings of a study of more than 250 machinery and industrial systems firms conducted by Roland Berger from October 2006 through May 2007 in collaboration with the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) and the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering at RWTH Aachen University …  >>

This issue of our magazine is dedicated to finding the right strategies for designing products and solutions, always with innovation and change in mind …  >>

"Viewing emerging markets simply as low-cost countries is far too one dimensional."
Our first article on emerging markets zooms in on the opportunities that India and Turkey in particular afford to small and medium-sized enterprises, especially in the engineered products sector …  >>

Once a manufacturer veers into crisis and gets caught in the liquidity trap, it can be difficult to escape even in a lucrative market …  >>

As everyone had hoped, the long overdue investments in the capital goods industry now have materialized and foreign economies show robust export ratios that to some extent also spur domestic demand. The industry is set for growth. However, this growth does not run on its own resources, but has been carefully prepared for by past rationalization initiatives …  >>

The development and consequences of globalization are dominating economic debates and, with them, summit agendas, both economic and political. Our latest issue of executive review looks at what this means to business …  >>

Our cover story, "Conquering the Great Wall" looks at the attractions of the Chinese market for European engineered products manufacturers. We consider how to make the most of the opportunities without losing sight of what is actually feasible …  >>

Today, even industrial support processes can be outsourced. "A factory within a factory" highlights the opportunities of outsourcing in the capital goods industry. It also presents a structured process designed to help companies make the right outsourcing decisions …  >>

Mechanical engineering companies are not the only ones that have to come to terms with intensified cost pressure and shorter product lifecycles. How they can make product development more efficient under …  >>

Despite its major economic problems over the past 10 years, Japan remains a dominant and important market for virtually all globally oriented companies. It is Japan's size, particularly that of its capital goods industries …  >>

Right now, Russia has one of the fastest growing economies in the world. A buoyant domestic market, a wealth of raw materials, a highly skilled, low-cost workforce and considerable scientific potential are just …  >>

Our cover story in this issue, "Growing out of stagnation", looks at strategies focused on the entire life cycle of production machinery. "Basel II and the real estate market" discusses …  >>

Our lead story "The path to successful external growth" examines the experience companies have gained from mergers and acquisitions. "Off-the-peg machines", a background study, discusses how standardized products …  >>