Structure for Clarity

Johann Sutter, Managing Director in Markdorf, relies on his MasterPlanning expertise. This helps him bring order to a demanding period of change. With clear processes, he creates structure for his team and maintains focus even in complex situations.

For Johann Sutter, the four ALPLA Principles are the core of good collaboration: being reliable, making decisions, communicating effectively, and solving problems. He sees MasterPlanning as the tool for applying these principles in everyday operations. This is particularly crucial right now, as he is leading his team in Markdorf through one of the biggest changes in the site's history as plant manager.

Markdorf is undergoing a transformation. In the past, the focus here was on EBM technology. Now, the plant is being converted into a state-of-the-art facility for pharmaceutical packaging: new technologies, new standards. The highest quality requirements, coupled with extremely demanding customers, are placing very high demands on production. The situation is complex. That's precisely why Johann is already working with many tools from MasterPlanning, even though the program hasn't officially launched at the plant yet.

The MP agenda is particularly important to him. It accompanies every regular meeting: " The MP agenda helps to conduct structured meetings and derive clear measures with assigned responsibilities. And that's the only way we can move forward. The key questions are: What is the problem to be solved? What decisions need to be made? What are the next steps (Who does what by when and in what form?)"

"That sounds easy, but just getting to the heart of the matter – the problem to be solved – in a few words that everyone can understand is often not so simple. But we work on it day after day, week after week, and are constantly improving ," Johann explains his approach.

The MasterPlanning tools help implement the ALPLA Principles in daily operations. They create clarity and orientation. The team knows which task is due when and who is responsible for it. This is particularly valuable right now, as the transformation process involves many parallel activities.

The transformation is not yet complete. However, the structured way of working helps the team to maintain an overview during this phase and to collaborate more effectively.

Claudia Wörner, the developer of MasterPlanning, adds: “ Especially in the age of AI, it’s important that we humans take the reins and plan and document meetings ourselves. This allows us to understand problems and upcoming tasks differently than if we leave our planning to AI or a digital tool. The MP agenda gives meetings a simple structure. This structure helps to focus our thoughts on the essentials. This provides clarity and leads to good decisions, which in turn are entered into MasterPlanner as tasks and checklists. ”