The global drive toward efficiency and innovation in manufacturing often circles back to foundational principles.
These principles are explored in depth in a conversation between Prof. Dr. Peter Kuhlang, CEO of the MTM Association, and Krish Sengottaiyan, Senior Director, Industrial & Manufacturing at Caresoft Global. The discussion – in the video below – reveals how MTM (Methods-Time Measurement) drives transformative changes in industrial processes – and ultimately, how businesses can meet the demands of Industry 4.0 and embrace digital transformation effectively.
From Passion to Global Leadership: A Personal Journey
For Prof. Dr. Peter Kuhlang, MTM is more than a methodology—it’s a passion ignited during his university days in Austria. His early exposure to MTM demonstrated its ability to bring stability, accuracy, and predictability to improvement projects. This foundation allowed him to forecast efficiency gains with precision, a skill he’s carried throughout his career.
Now at the helm of MTM’s global operations, Prof. Dr. Peter Kuhlang emphasizes the organization’s dual approach:
- A non-profit arm dedicated to research and training
- A commercial unit focused on consulting and software development.
This structure, coupled with its OneMTM network spanning 14 countries, ensures that MTM remains a consistent and reliable standard for industrial engineering worldwide.
MTM in the Era of Industry 4.0 and Digital Transformation
As industries embrace technologies like AI, VR, and AR, traditional methodologies must evolve. MTM has risen to the challenge by digitizing its foundational tools.
The Human Work Design System
The Human Work Design system, one of its key innovations, integrates physical workload and ergonomic considerations to create detailed process descriptions. These digitized tools allow organizations to plan, simulate, and compare work systems seamlessly within digital environments.
This approach equips companies to adapt quickly to new technologies while maintaining a solid foundation for decision-making. Whether evaluating alternatives or optimizing processes, MTM provides the data and methodologies needed to stay competitive.
Overcoming Barriers to Adoption
Despite its clear benefits, some manufacturing leaders hesitate to adopt MTM for several reasons:
- Perceived complexity
- Implementation challenges
Yet digitization streamlines the process. A phased approach, starting with small pilot projects, often proves effective. These “lighthouse projects” showcase measurable productivity gains, building confidence and paving the way for broader adoption.
This method aligns with the Japanese Kaizen philosophy of “seeing is believing,” demonstrating success to leadership and teams. Once the groundwork is laid, digital tools enable rapid scaling, ensuring that MTM’s benefits extend across entire organizations.
Inspiring the Next Wave of Engineers
For aspiring industrial and manufacturing engineers, Prof. Dr. Peter Kuhlang offers timeless advice: cultivate passion, remain proactive, and gain hands-on experience.
“Make your hands dirty”
– Prof. Dr. Peter Kuhlang
Prof. Dr. Peter Kuhlang encourages young professionals to learn directly from shop floor operations and seasoned colleagues by getting their hands dirty. Equally important is finding an environment that fosters growth and innovation—qualities exemplified by organizations like Caresoft Global.
Time to Win: A Productivity Mantra
This mantra captures the dual objective of acting decisively at the right moment and optimizing processes to “win time.” As organizations adopt these principles, they not only optimize their operations but also pave the way for a new era of innovation and collaboration.
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