First IMS breakfast

At the invitation of TÜV Rheinland Akademie GmbH and the Chair of integrated management systems (IMS) at HSZG, approximately 20 representatives from companies, service providers, and the university to kick off the new “IMS Breakfast” event series.

“Establishing this type of colloquium series with the university is also a pilot project for us,” said Jens Enderlein, Account Manager at TÜV Rheinland Akademie GmbH. The concept is as follows: Current technical information is presented on a topic related to integrated management systems, followed by a case study from a company detailing the implementation of these systems within the framework of its management system. Both elements form the basis for an exchange of experiences regarding the implementation of, for example, legal, technological, or management system-related requirements. The goal is to develop a small, regional network working on specific projects in the field of IMS, consisting of practitioners, university professors, students, and consultants.

The first breakfast meeting was held on the topic of “Energy Management.” In her introductory remarks, Anke Zenker-Hoffmann from the HSZG explained the “privileges, benefits, and subsidies currently available under energy law, as well as the role of energy management systems and energy audits.” Corinna Neumann, Management Representative for Quality, Environment, and Energy and Safety Officer at Ploucquet GmbH and a graduate of the “Ecology and Environmental Protection” Diplom degree course at HSZG, then reported on her experiences with the implementation, maintenance, and certification of an energy management system in accordance with ISO 50001.

In the subsequent panel discussion, implementation challenges—such as establishing a suitable metering system for accurately tracking energy consumption by individual facilities—as well as best-practice examples from the companies for continuous information, and training of employees within the framework of corporate energy management. During this discussion, representatives from TÜV Rheinland (Academy and Industry Services) briefly presented consulting and support options as well as opportunities for cooperation in this area across the various divisions (consulting, training/continuing education, certification). Under the category “Did You Know?”, students from the new Master's degree programme “Integrated Management Systems” presented their coursework and opportunities for companies to collaborate through theory-to-practice transfer projects, internships, and Bachelor’s theses and Master’s theses.

The comparative collection and analysis of energy data at the industry level, the development of company-specific measurement concepts for energy consumption tracking, and the creation of a guide featuring information and communication tools in the energy sector are the first concrete topics on which students and companies can now continue to work together. Incidentally, during the breakfast meeting, company-specific exchanges were also arranged, and companies extended offers of practical work experience to students. It was a productive morning—or as one company representative summed it up: “It was really good!”

The 2nd IMS Breakfast will take place on June 11, 2015, on the topic of “ISO 9001 Revision.”