ENG: “ICV Controlling Excellence Award 2018” to Robert Bosch GmbH

Award presented at the 43rd Controller Congress / Nominated were also Brau Union Österreich AG and Verband der Ersatzkassen e.V. (vdek)

Munich, 23.04.2018 – On Monday (April 23) at the Europe's largest controlling conference, the 43rd Controller Congress the "ICV Controlling Excellence Award 2018" was given to Robert Bosch GmbH, Powertrain Solutions Division (Diesel Systems), Stuttgart, for the "Big Data-Based Approach to Optimizing Net Working Capital at Bosch / Diesel Systems".

The Jury of the International Association of Controllers (ICV), headed by Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Weber, WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management, Institute for Management and Controlling (IMC) and Chairman of the ICV Board of Trustees, nominated three candidates for the Award: Brau Union Österreich AG, Linz; Robert Bosch GmbH, Powertrain Solutions Division (Diesel Systems), Stuttgart; Verband der Ersatzkassen e.V. (vdek), Berlin. Nominations and decision was a difficult task, reports Professor Jürgen Weber, because "the quality of submissions this year has been higher than ever". Finally "a trend-setting solution from the field of 'digitalization', which is extremely up-to-date for the entire controlling community," was awarded, said the Jury.

The solution of the winner Robert Bosch GmbH
The Robert Bosch GmbH, Powertrain Solutions, won the „ICV Controlling Excellence Award“ with the solution „Big Data-Based Approach to Optimizing Net Working Capital at Bosch / Diesel Systems“.

Economic framework conditions are changing faster and faster, and controlling in the Powertrain Solutions Division of Robert Bosch GmbH is also facing the challenge of adequately adapting controlling methods and processes. In order to establish controllers as business partners in accordance with own controller mission statement, efficiency must increase and a higher level of automation in the basic processes must be achieved. For these reasons, the Powertrain Solutions Division has developed a digitalization roadmap, which aims at the widespread use of Big Data tools in controlling by 2021. In addition to adapting the IT infrastructure, this required additional controllers’ skills in dealing with Big Data. Finally, organizational adjustments were required in terms of long-term collaboration across cross-functional teams to analyze and process results from Big Data applications. In order to gain experience with the use of Big Data and the resulting challenges in the practical example, a first project was started in 2017 with a Big Data & Analytics Tool. This has closed a hitherto existing gap in controlling in dealing and the associated working capital optimization by modern algorithms. As a result, the project has already uncovered conflicts of interest within working capital, analyzed viable potentials and recorded employee experience in working with BI tools. Based on the up-to-date, detailed data from the Big Data & Analytics Tool, Bosch Powertrain Solutions can now uncover potentials and, with the help of alert functions, react in a timely manner with the affected departments in case of deviations.

The nominated solution of Brau Union Österreich AG
The solution: „KPI (Key Performance Indicator) Framework in der Supply Chain der Brau Union Österreich AG“ was nominated to the Award

In Brau Union Österreich AG the controllers, as business partners, want to increase the financial knowledge of their management partners and their departments and thus promote cooperation within the company, especially in the supply chain. For this purpose, a tool has been created with which all parties involved can recognize their contribution to the company's success and identify management variables. This will further develop the understanding of financial data in operational areas. The KPI Framework is integrated into the governance cycle and thus a fixed component for managing the supply chain at various levels. It's not just the first report in the supply chain linking production and logistics metrics; rather, the supply chain now also has a clear representation of logical links between the key figures. As a result, cause and effect considerations per key figure are possible and employees can understand their contribution to the company's results. Everyone in the supply chain, from the SC director to the shop floor level employee, can benefit from this report and gain additional financial knowledge. The framework is used in most management-relevant areas of the supply chain.

The nominated solution of Verband der Ersatzkassen e. V. (vdek)
The solution: „National Health Insurance Planning Tool as Controlling Solution of the vdek for Planning of the Financial Development in the Legal Health Insurance“ was nominated to the Award

The planning tool was commissioned by the Verband der Ersatzkassen (vdek) and introduced by Barmer as a joint project of all health insurance companies in Germany - Barmer, Die Techniker, DAK Gesundheit, Kaufmännische Krankenkasse, HEK Hanseatische Krankenkasse and hkk Handelskrankenkasse Bremen. The health insurance companies need a financial planning instrument. To do so there are no blueprints on the market, as the national health insurance system is very special. In addition, the individual cash planning must be flanked by planning financial development for the health insurance system, as this is the basis for the financial development of the individual insurance companies. This is exactly what the nominated solution offers. With the new health insurance system planning tool, the project team has succeeded in creating a tool and an overall process that incorporates almost all the information concerning the health insurance system in the Federal Republic of Germany. The central factor determining this is the cost-covering contribution rate to be paid by employees and employers in a medium-term plan. At the heart of the controlling solution are the completely new types of financial scoreboards, which comprehensively describe the financial resources of the entire system at key performance level in all areas. An important role in the overall process plays the technical know-how of the individual financial controller, who must analyze and evaluate all the data, and then process it with technical support. The health insurance system planning tool provides as a central information the cost-covering contribution rate for the health insurance system. This is then used primarily at the individual cash level to create short- and medium-term financial planning and to develop pricing strategies. In addition, the results are needed for policy discussions in the health insurance system as well as for an inter-association early warning system and individual-cash competition rules.

The International Association of Controllers (ICV) has in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland and 12 other countries in Central and Eastern Europe around 6,500 in practical Controlling active members. The key objective of ICV controlling philosophy is reaching permanent economic success. With its honorary chairman Dr. Albrecht Deyhle the association, founded in 1975 has shaped the Controlling in German speaking countries placed and influenced. The ICV merges controllers, CFOs, managers and scientists and  it is strictly oriented its members’ benefit. Experience, communication and being focused  on future-oriented trends are foundations of ICV. ICV combines practical experience with the latest research results and prepares its knowledge for practical implementation. The ICV is makes personal contribution to the success of its members and to the sustainable performance of companies. Prof. Dr. Heimo Losbichler, FH Steyr, is the Chairman of the ICV, Vice Chairman of the ICV is Matthias von Daacke, BLANCO GmbH & Co. KG.

For more information:

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