With NextPM, Bühler + Scherler is taking a focused approach to further developing its project management. The initiative provides the foundation for a shared understanding of processes, roles, and collaboration, combining clear standards with practical methods and tools. In doing so, we strengthen our project managers and teams while ensuring that we can continue to deliver complex projects efficiently and with a strong customer focus in the future.
Since the kick-off in June 2025, the NextPM project team has been working intensively on the foundations for future-ready project management at Bühler + Scherler. Key milestones already completed include a current analysis of existing processes, the identification of central problem areas, and the highlighting of team-cultural obstacles that may affect collaboration.
This initial project phase has shown that Bühler + Scherler works on projects of very different sizes, meaning that one single approach cannot be applied equally to every project. At the same time, it has become clear that the basic principles of good project management remain comparable across all project types and that the focus must not be limited to technical aspects alone.
Following the analysis of existing processes, the current focus is on the target process that has been developed. Building on this, tasks, authorities, and areas of responsibility are being defined in detail, so that the appropriate roles can be derived in the next step. In parallel, the project team is also addressing cultural topics such as trust within team collaboration, a decisive success factor, especially at the many interfaces in the future process.
A particular highlight so far has been the reflection on each individual’s “Circle of Influence.” This exercise provided valuable impulses and clearly showed that change cannot only be expected from others, but begins with each of us. This was also where some of the greatest challenges emerged: there were many eye-opening moments, as it is not always easy to move away from patterns of thinking and behaviour that have developed over many years.
In the next steps, the role of the project manager will be further sharpened. This includes both the interaction with other functions and the clear distinction from tasks within engineering. Step by step, NextPM is creating the basis for a shared understanding, clear responsibilities, and even more effective project execution.
We will continue to develop our project management through NextPM in a targeted way. Not only by working out the insights conceptually, but also by applying them in practice in our current projects.
