UdZ 01.21

UdZ 2-2021 / 31 FuturePRO: First theCheck, then the System Project Management System Projects Culture Standards & Methods Organisation Human Digital Figure 1: General conditions of a project management (own presentation according to Alser and Kasperczyk 2008) The mechanical and plant engineering industry is facing an ever faster changing business environment. In order to remain competitive in the future, professional project management is needed to respond to this change. However, especially in SMEs, this is still mostly done manually with Excel and Outlook. As part of the ‘ FuturePro ’ research project, FIR e. V. at RWTH Aachen University and ICM – Institut Chemnitzer Maschinen- und Anlagenbau e. V. have developed a self-check for SMEs in the mechanical and plant engineering sector, on the basis of which an individual guide for implementing a project management system is generated. > 31 / UdZ 2-2021 B eing able to respond quickly and efficiently to changes ensures companies’ long-term success. However, risks that arise in the process also require active management 1 . Changes are taking place at an increasingly rapid pace and are leading to more difficult framework conditions for companies. Various aspects of these changes are summarized by the acronym VUCA: volatility, uncertainty,complexityandambiguity.Inthecontextofprojects, organizations initiate change processes in order to make the company fit for the future. Projects are characterized by a set goal and an end as soon as these goals have been achieved. Mechanical and plant engineering is particularly affected by these changes. Innovation cycles are becoming shorter and shorter and product complexity is increasing due to new digital components. It is therefore all the more important that SMEs in this industry also set up their project management professionally in order to be able to respond to these changes. 1 s. Arashpour et al. 2017, S. 652 2 s. Bahr 2018 3 s. Hastie u. Wojewoda 2015