Events and trade fairs - vdma.eu

For years, VDMA members have faced steadily increasing and ever more complex demands from their stakeholders—regulatory requirements, geopolitics, digitalization, (de-)globalization, and sustainability are among the most prominent. At the same time—particularly given the sheer pace of these demands—organizations must develop suitable responses using existing resources, in ever shorter timeframes, and ensure successful implementation by employees. In short, the challenges are intensifying. Even experienced leaders are therefore looking for new ways to embed strategy effectively in day-to-day operations and to secure their companies’ long-term success with even greater impact.

To deploy objectives across the entire organization, a range of methods exists—some more, some less “modern”—including Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) and Hoshin Kanri. OKRs are currently gaining global momentum, originating in U.S. digital start-ups and tech companies such as Google. Hoshin Kanri roughly translates from Japanese as “compass-needle management” and is practiced successfully, among others, at Toyota.

But what is behind these concepts? Which underlying principles matter, and what can work well in mid-sized companies too? You will receive answers to these questions at our event on March 26, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the KEBA Group in Linz. A key focus will be introductory presentations as well as a workshop led by the consulting firm Vollmer & Scheffczyk, which specializes in “new pathways for mechanical engineering.” The program is complemented by an engaging use case on the practical implementation of Hoshin Kanri by Provatrix GmbH, as well as insights into the agile organizational models in place at our host, KEBA.