Engineering Transformation
H&Z led a successful engineering reorganization, fostering collaboration and creating a new structure that improved efficiency and supported major defense projects.
Client Challenge
The client encountered several challenges:
- The merger of different defense and space companies led to a siloed structure in engineering and enabling functions
- The lack of integration and cooperation caused a loss of efficiency and competitiveness
- Previous attempts at integration through reorganization and transformation were merely “changes of boxes without changes in ways of working”
H&Z Approach
Contrary to the widespread practice of developing new organizations behind closed doors, H&Z and our client, an international aerospace and defense company, chose a different approach. They informed thousands of employees about the planned transformation and called for participation. This led to over 200 actively involved employees, forming the “Sounding Community.” With H&Z’s extensive experience in engineering, strategy, and organizational development, the large team developed and tested use cases for the new setup.
The result was a well-functioning new structure that leveraged synergies and achieved a high level of acceptance for the new way of working. All workers’ councils involved praised this integrative approach.
H&Z’s successful transformation approach in this project was also highlighted in an article in the magazine CAPITAL.
Results
- Introduction of a Center of Excellence structure for a large-scale international engineering organization. The new setup supports integrated and connected development, enabling the win of one of the largest international defense programs
- Over 20 additional improvement initiatives were started and driven by the Sounding Community
- Increased efficiency and structural cost reduction achieved through re-use, standardization, and reduction of redundant work
