Abstract
KEYWORDS:
external engineering, serious engineering
ABSTRACT:
The need of external engineering and the more and more demanded services in the future, show the ever increasing readiness of the industrial enterprises to externalise projects, or to strengthen their capacities using external partners when the situation requires. What is disturbing is the increase of the number of providers of such services that are putting more value on the quantity than on the quality of their employees. Unqualified personnel are in this way channelled into the industry thus spoiling the confidence of the enterprises in the external providers of engineering services. This makes the market entrance increasingly difficult for the founders of new companies with respectable engineering intentions. HPE Konstanz is a young engineering office that since its establishment in 1998 has pursued the philosophy of having only highly-qualified co-workers. Owing to these premises it has been possible to develop durable partnerships with renowned customers. The engineering office with the main office in Konstanz (Germany) and branches in Schönau (D) and Medias (Romania) was founded in 1998 by Wolfgang Hoffmann, graduate of the University of Applied Sciences Konstanz. The founder was able to convince a financial enterprise to provide the starting capital for the project. This has been invested in a modern 3D-CAD workstation and the licences for the High Tech CAD system Pro-Engineer.Two automotive suppliers became interested in the offer made by the founder. Smaller probe projects have been followed by larger orders that couldn#t be carried out alone by the founder any more. This is how the initially one-man enterprise has become an engineering service provider that has today a firm position on the international market. The proximity of the University of Applied Sciences Konstanz has proved as an ideal recruitment places for young, highly-qualified engineers. In the HPE house two practice semesters and a thesis (diploma) have already been achieved. Last but not least, the founder himself now teaches 3D-CAD technology to the bachelor and master students. HPE's challenge for 2004 is to become certified according to DIN ISO 9001, another proof of our quality. Likewise we shall undertake a step toward CATIA V5 as projects in this direction are already available.