Prior to the Global ManuChem Strategies 2014, we spoke with Dr. Markus E. Scheller, Site Manager at BASF Monthey SA / Switzerland

1. Interview
BASF MONTHEY SA
Dr. Markus E. Scheller
Site Manager
Prior to the Global ManuChem Strategies 2014, we spoke with Dr. Markus E. Scheller, Site Manager at
BASF Monthey SA / Switzerland
we.CONECT:
In your opinion: What are the main
current
challenges
and
trends
regarding
management
and
optimization of chemical production
and what are the specific challenges
related to your company?
Dr. Markus E. Scheller: It is important to
create an environment of motivation, this
is an ongoing challenge. If this is given,
the company becomes a high performing
organization. Big companies are solid but
inflexible - smaller ones could beat them
easily.
we.CONECT:
Looking to volatility in commodity
markets, which role plays operations
management, specifically SOP and
plant capacity management?
Dr. Markus E. Scheller: SOP is the
basis of every professional operation.
However it is useless if the given
forecasts are wrong. Additional capacity
(e.g. equipment and people) might help
to overcome this weakness.
we.CONECT:
Do you use mobile technologies to
optimize operator management and
operator mobility?
Dr. Markus E. Scheller: Yes, we started
using mobile technologies in areas
where we thought it might be useful.
Though we are using this kind of
technologies for now ten years, but it
does not always show the desired effect.
we.CONECT:
According to your presentation “How
to create High Performance Teams
beside Classic KPI Tools”, could you
briefly introduce us to the project and
what is important about this topic?
Dr. Markus E. Scheller: First of all, I
don’t talk about a project, but a culture -
a leadership culture. It answers the
question of how people see their
organization: How do we treat our
people, what is their value? The focal
point is to create a high-quality
organization - this is one of the main
discussions. This Case Study should
encourage to think about some difficult
questions on every company’s HR and it
should even challenge the status quo.
we.CONECT:
How different will the Chemical
Operations/Manufacturing of the year
2020 be from today’s ones?
Dr. Markus E. Scheller: It depends on
the environment. The future is not the
continuation of the past, it will be
different. Let us be flexible and open for
new technical capabilities.
we.CONECT:
Which question would you like to ask
the delegates of the ManuChem
Strategies 2014?
Dr. Markus E. Scheller: Are we doing
enough to get the right person into the
right job? Do we happen to have too
many very skilled people in the wrong
position?
Dr. Markus E. Scheller is a Head of Clariant
Production at BASF Monthey SA /
Switzerland.
Origin from Switzerland. Studied Organic
Chemistry at the ETH Zürich. Started career in
pharmaceutical research in USA. Returned to
Switzerland CIBA-GEIGY for a big capital
investment project. Then 2 production
assignments in USA. Followed by another
challenge as Process & Development head in
NAFTA and finally global head process &
Technology worldwide until 2008. Now Site
Manager for BASF Monthey in Switzerland.
Global ManuChem Strategies brings together
industry leaders to discuss the current state of
the industry, the impact of new regulations and
the challenge to increase efficiency in chemical
operations and technical assets.
Information about the event and
we.CONECT can be found at:
http://production-chemicals2014.weconect.com
Contact:
Henry Fuchs
Managing Director / Product Management &
Marketing
Phone: +49 (0)30 52 10 70 3 – 44
Fax: +49 (0)30 52 10 70 3 – 30
Email: henry.fuchs@we-conect.com
we.CONECT:
Thanks a lot for this interview!
Interview Partner: Peter Haack and Dr.
Markus E. Scheller.
about
we.CONECT Global Leaders GmbH
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10178 Berlin, Germany
www.we-conect.com