Efficiency in the Construction Industry
Interview with Dipl.-Ing. Falk Hartmann, CEO of Catterfeld Welker GmbH
Sustainable and clearly communicated political decisions are necessary for the construction industry to plan safely – this is the conclusion reached by Dipl.-Ing. Falk Hartmann, CEO of Catterfeld Welker GmbH. The Munich-based company is addressing current challenges by modernizing internal structures, sustainable building, and digitalization. Given difficult market conditions, the CEO calls for better conditions for future-proof investments.
In 2022, Catterfeld Welker GmbH initiated a comprehensive change process aimed at modern leadership culture and work environment. "We focus on sustainable construction and digitalization, especially through Lean Management and Building Information Modeling, to work more efficiently and quickly," explains Falk Hartmann. The focus is on Target Value Design, where skills are integrated into projects early on to reduce construction time and costs.
Looking to the Future
The current situation in the construction industry is tense, which is also felt at Catterfeld Welker. "The industry is cautious, political decisions are lacking, and there is no support from the banks," says the managing director. Thus, he makes a clear appeal to the banks to reconsider their stance: "The banks seek help in Berlin, but the construction industry has no lobby. Investments in the future must be supported." Falk Hartmann views political measures such as the amended Heating Act critically: "Those who have no money for investments today will not have any in five years either."
Sustainable Construction Processes
Sustainability is a key issue for Catterfeld Welker. Falk Hartmann emphasizes that it is not only the end products that need to be sustainable, but the construction processes as well. "Prefabrication and shorter construction times are crucial to minimize material and time losses and to economically realize our projects," he explains. "In individually characterized building construction, however, this is not always easy and requires more engineering."
Solid Growth
The shortage of skilled workers also poses a challenge. The CEO relies on standardized processes and increased efficiency at construction sites: "Currently, only 30% of the activities of companies at construction sites are value-adding. We want to significantly increase this through Lean Management." Despite the uncertainties, Hartmann looks to the future with optimism. Catterfeld Welker has ambitious plans, including the expansion of cooperation with universities and a regulars' table for industry exchange. "Our goal is solid growth with high quality. This way, we can also be successful in the long term."