METZEN Survey: Addressing industry pain points with targeted solutions
Industrial plant operators face significant economic and technical pressure. Projects are becoming more complex, timelines tighter, and requirements more dynamic.
To gain a clear understanding of the key challenges in our customers’ project business, METZEN conducted an in-depth customer survey. The aim was to identify specific pain points and develop targeted strategies, effective levers, and sustainable solutions. The results clearly show where the main challenges lie and what expectations industrial companies have of a capable partner.
Top 5 Challenges in Project Business
- Costs (30%): Rising project costs and margin risks create the highest pressure.
- Deadlines (21%): Meeting schedules remains a central challenge.
- Resources / Personnel (16%): Limited capacity slows down projects.
- Technical Complexity (16%): Systems are becoming more demanding and harder to manage.
- Quality / Performance (13%): High expectations under simultaneous time and cost pressure.
Key Findings
The economic risks clearly reflect these challenges. Project margins (31%) and contractual penalties (30%) rank highest. At the same time, issues directly lead to additional costs (31%), rework (23%), and complaints (21%).
Delays occur mainly during installation and commissioning (31%) and already in engineering (28%). The main causes are interface issues (27%), unclear requirements (24%), and changes during the project (22%).
Further observations:
- 75% of companies report only sufficient or limited transparency regarding costs, timelines, and risks.
- 43% rate the internal coordination effort with partners as high.
- The greatest weaknesses lie in collaboration, particularly in communication (28%) and flexibility (28%).
Expectations are clearly defined. Survey participants primarily expect technical solution expertise (30%), economic optimisation (21%), and schedule reliability (18%).
How METZEN Addresses These Challenges
These problem areas translate into clear fields of action. This is where METZEN applies a structured, forward-looking, and consistently customer-focused approach.
- Clear Project Requirements
Unclear requirements are a key cause of delays and quality issues. METZEN establishes clarity early through structured requirement analyses before project start.
Our senior engineers assess feasibility, identify risks, and define realistic objectives. This reduces later changes and creates a solid foundation for quality and on-time delivery.
- Proactive Change Management
Changes during a project cannot always be avoided, but they can be controlled. METZEN implements transparent change management that makes impacts on costs, timelines, and resources immediately visible.
Customers receive reliable decision-making data and retain full control. This increases flexibility without compromising economic efficiency.
- Precise Schedule and Capacity Control
Delays often arise where multiple interfaces converge. At METZEN, industrial companies have a central point of contact who manages projects with clear resource planning, defined milestones, and active bottleneck management.
This ensures schedule reliability, reduces risks such as contractual penalties, and increases overall project dependability.
- Transparency as a Management Tool
Limited transparency is a key challenge. METZEN addresses this through continuous reporting on costs, progress, and risks.
Digital tools and regular status reports provide a reliable data basis. Customers can respond early and make informed decisions.
- Active Management of Partners and Interfaces
Many issues arise from collaboration and coordination with external partners. METZEN centralises project management, defines clear interfaces, and ensures aligned processes.
This reduces friction, lowers internal effort, and improves overall project performance.
Conclusion
The results show that the greatest leverage lies in structure, transparency, and active management. METZEN combines exactly these elements.
With strong solution expertise, technical competence, clear processes, and a consistent customer focus, we create the foundation for successful projects: economically efficient, on schedule, and sustainable.
METZEN Survey: Addressing industry pain points with targeted solutions
Industrial plant operators face significant economic and technical pressure. Projects are becoming more complex, timelines tighter, and requirements more dynamic.
To gain a clear understanding of the key challenges in our customers’ project business, METZEN conducted an in-depth customer survey. The aim was to identify specific pain points and develop targeted strategies, effective levers, and sustainable solutions. The results clearly show where the main challenges lie and what expectations industrial companies have of a capable partner.
Top 5 Challenges in Project Business
- Costs (30%): Rising project costs and margin risks create the highest pressure.
- Deadlines (21%): Meeting schedules remains a central challenge.
- Resources / Personnel (16%): Limited capacity slows down projects.
- Technical Complexity (16%): Systems are becoming more demanding and harder to manage.
- Quality / Performance (13%): High expectations under simultaneous time and cost pressure.
Key Findings
The economic risks clearly reflect these challenges. Project margins (31%) and contractual penalties (30%) rank highest. At the same time, issues directly lead to additional costs (31%), rework (23%), and complaints (21%).
Delays occur mainly during installation and commissioning (31%) and already in engineering (28%). The main causes are interface issues (27%), unclear requirements (24%), and changes during the project (22%).
Further observations:
- 75% of companies report only sufficient or limited transparency regarding costs, timelines, and risks.
- 43% rate the internal coordination effort with partners as high.
- The greatest weaknesses lie in collaboration, particularly in communication (28%) and flexibility (28%).
Expectations are clearly defined. Survey participants primarily expect technical solution expertise (30%), economic optimisation (21%), and schedule reliability (18%).
How METZEN Addresses These Challenges
These problem areas translate into clear fields of action. This is where METZEN applies a structured, forward-looking, and consistently customer-focused approach.
- Clear Project Requirements
Unclear requirements are a key cause of delays and quality issues. METZEN establishes clarity early through structured requirement analyses before project start.
Our senior engineers assess feasibility, identify risks, and define realistic objectives. This reduces later changes and creates a solid foundation for quality and on-time delivery.
- Proactive Change Management
Changes during a project cannot always be avoided, but they can be controlled. METZEN implements transparent change management that makes impacts on costs, timelines, and resources immediately visible.
Customers receive reliable decision-making data and retain full control. This increases flexibility without compromising economic efficiency.
- Precise Schedule and Capacity Control
Delays often arise where multiple interfaces converge. At METZEN, industrial companies have a central point of contact who manages projects with clear resource planning, defined milestones, and active bottleneck management.
This ensures schedule reliability, reduces risks such as contractual penalties, and increases overall project dependability.
- Transparency as a Management Tool
Limited transparency is a key challenge. METZEN addresses this through continuous reporting on costs, progress, and risks.
Digital tools and regular status reports provide a reliable data basis. Customers can respond early and make informed decisions.
- Active Management of Partners and Interfaces
Many issues arise from collaboration and coordination with external partners. METZEN centralises project management, defines clear interfaces, and ensures aligned processes.
This reduces friction, lowers internal effort, and improves overall project performance.
Conclusion
The results show that the greatest leverage lies in structure, transparency, and active management. METZEN combines exactly these elements.
With strong solution expertise, technical competence, clear processes, and a consistent customer focus, we create the foundation for successful projects: economically efficient, on schedule, and sustainable.