From the lecture hall to the production hall: how students improve processes at STIHL Tirol

How can theory and practice be successfully combined? The long-standing collaboration between STIHL Tirol and the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol (FH Kufstein Tirol) shows how practice-oriented university projects can create real added value – for companies and students alike.

In a recent practical project, master’s students from the ERP Systems & Business Process Management programme analysed STIHL Tirol’s production training concept. They revised training materials, defined core competencies and developed proposals for modern, well-designed training rooms. Many of their findings are already being implemented in production.

Students from the Industrial Engineering and Management programme also worked at the Langkampfen site. Using the MTM methodology, they examined the garden shredder assembly line, documented processes and identified optimisation potential. The FH Kufstein Tirol eLearning Center supported the project by producing professional video material for future training sessions.

“STIHL Tirol places great importance on developing its employees – this creates ideal links with teaching”, explains Martin Adam, Director of Studies at FH Kufstein Tirol. Courses held directly at the company, where theory and practice meet in real working conditions, are particularly popular among students.

Today, many FH Kufstein Tirol graduates work at STIHL Tirol – a clear sign of the lasting impact of this collaboration, which is set to continue in years to come.

The full press release on the collaboration is available here.