How do companies successfully manage change and engage employees? The second part of the webinar series “Future-Proof Work Environments in Mechanical Engineering” focused on engagement as a key success factor.
Today, change is part of everyday life for many companies in the mechanical and plant engineering sectors. Whether it’s digitalization, new ways of working, or organizational adjustments, the success of transformation processes does not depend solely on a good strategy. What matters most is how changes are implemented within the company and supported by employees.
Why Participation Is Key to Success
In the second part of the webinar series “Sustainable Work Environments in Mechanical Engineering—Attracting and Retaining Skilled Workers,” ProduktionNRW, together with VDMA Nord, addressed the topic of “Supporting Transformation Processes Through Participation.” The focus was on how companies can shape change in a way that fosters acceptance and turns employees into active contributors.
Speakers Sabine Rings and Jørn Rings from NEU Gesellschaft für Innovation mbH demonstrated why traditional top-down approaches to change processes often reach their limits. Instead, they explained how engagement and participation can help leverage the workforce’s knowledge, reduce resistance, and embed changes sustainably. They presented various levels of involvement and practical formats that help companies engage employees early on and jointly shape change processes.
Engagement as the Key to Successful Change
Another key focus was on the importance of employee engagement and identification with the company for business success. The speakers made it clear that employee involvement not only increases acceptance of change but can also significantly boost the likelihood of project success. Using examples and study findings, they demonstrated how taking personal initiative and actively involving employees can contribute to the success of change initiatives.
Sharing Experiences from Corporate Practice
In the subsequent exchange of experiences, participants discussed their own challenges and practical examples from their companies. It became clear that open communication, transparency, and the active involvement of employees are key prerequisites for successful transformation processes.
Outlook for the Webinar Series
The event was part of the webinar series “Sustainable Work Environments in Mechanical Engineering,” in which ProduktionNRW, together with experts, explores various aspects of attractive and sustainable work environments. The next session will take place on September 2, 2026, and will focus on the topic “Building Bridges Between Administration, Development, and Production.”
Organizers
The event was organized by the Northern Regional Association and ProduktionNRW. ProduktionNRW is the mechanical engineering and production technology cluster in North Rhine-Westphalia and is managed by VDMA NRW. ProduktionNRW serves as a platform to connect, inform, and promote companies, institutions, and networks with one another and along the value chain. Significant portions of the services provided by ProduktionNRW are funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection, and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.