Products and services from Switzerland are admired around the world for their high quality. A study conducted by the University of St. Gallen, itself a top-ranked institution globally, confirms what Otto Hofstetter AG regularly hears from its customers and partners. A global survey carried out by the university’s Institute for Marketing reveals that the vast majority of respondents would choose a product from Switzerland if the price is the same. In fact, in certain categories they are willing to pay up to 100 per cent more for Swiss products. If you ask why, the usual answer is: quality.
A country of inventors.
Quality is inherent in Swiss manufacturing. But innovation is also a tradition in products and services from Switzerland, and there is data to corroborate this. Comparing patent registrations worldwide, Switzerland ranks in seventh place. However, in absolute figures in relation to its population, Switzerland is the clear number one, with 489 patents per million inhabitants. The US leads in total patents granted, with almost 28,000 registered patents, or about 83 patents per million inhabitants. Why does a small country with a population of just 8.6 million people achieve such a high level of innovation?
Role model function.
An OECD report on the education systems of its member states concludes that Switzerland routinely extracts more value from its human resources than other countries do. The reason for this, once again, is the dual vocational training system, which places equal emphasis on theory and practice and is geared to the needs of the labour market. The Swiss approach to vocational education is a role model for many other countries worldwide. This is evident from the hundreds of visits made to Swiss educational institutions by foreign delegations in recent years.
Developed over centuries.
Today’s vocational training system has its origins in medieval guilds and dates back to the 16th century. In those days, a young person learned a craft from a “master” by serving as an apprentice. After three or four years, they received a certificate confirming their skills. Over the centuries, the content and manner of this education changed and was increasingly supplemented by a general education in the schoolroom. The dual approach – theory and practice – was first explicitly mentioned in Switzerland in the 1960s.
Combining practice and theory.
All young people in Switzerland complete at least nine years of schooling. After that, two-thirds opt for vocational training, which usually takes place in a company. Here, an apprentice acquires practical knowledge and skills, and at the same time is actively integrated into the company’s operational processes. Vocational schools also provide the relevant theoretical basis one or two days a week. This consists of vocational and general education classes as well as technical, methodological and social skills. The company and school training programmes are often supplemented by intercompany courses, in which basic practical skills are taught. The instructors in the company and in the schools are themselves trained specialists who have usually done apprenticeships in the professional area that they are teaching.
Development in all directions.
Another special characteristic of the Swiss system is its transparency. Vocational training is based on clearly defined courses and national qualification procedures. This imposes uniform criteria for its degree programmes that are set by the given industry and based on the future needs of the job market. Due to this clear, consistent regulation of qualifications, ambitious learners have the opportunity to enhance their careers by studying at a university of applied sciences. This can be done at any time in the course of their working life. In addition, there are numerous opportunities for pursuing job-oriented programmes for further education.
Supported by the state and the corporate sphere.
The dual education system in Switzerland has a long tradition and is firmly anchored in the economy. It is supported by the federal government, the cantons and the private sector. Its high level of practical relevance ensures that apprentices are trained to meet the current and future needs of companies. All courses and content are continuously adapted to developments in the economy. The transparency of the Swiss approach keeps all professional paths open to young people as they advance through their careers.
The Otto Hofstetter model.
In the summer of 2021, almost 58,000 young people started an apprenticeship in Switzerland, five of them at Otto Hofstetter AG. The Swiss mould manufacturer offers a total of 22 apprenticeships. Polymechanics – the multi-skilled discipline that encompasses every aspect of machining, from purely mechanical to CNC-controlled – makes up the largest group, followed by design engineers and commercial apprentices. The commitment to young professionals enjoys a long tradition in Swiss family businesses in general and at Otto Hofstetter AG in particular.
The future mould makers have their own special training workshop. The equipment in the “Gate to the Future” workshop meets the highest technical standards and enables apprentices to hone their skills on actual customer orders under the supervision of the head of training. Apparently with success. Apprentices at Otto Hofstetter AG regularly come top in professional competitions. The same applies to the prospective design engineers. They are integrated into the production process right from the start. They not only benefit from highly relevant practical experience, but also from contact with their more experienced colleagues.
Origins of quality.
Well-trained polymechanics are vital to achieve the quality of the moulds produced in Uznach. Four years of training must be successfully completed before the Federal Certificate of Competence can be issued. The apprentices learn how to operate turning, milling, drilling and grinding machines, which can also be programmed according to design drawings. With high-precision measuring and testing instruments, they learn to constantly check the quality of their output. They also create 3D drawings and technical documentation to acquire a better understanding of the manufacturing process. Finally, they also maintain and repair the machines that they use. The work in the “Gate to the Future” is supplemented by one or two days of classroom study per week, as well as participation in some intercompany courses.
Fit for the future.
Switzerland’s dual vocational training system has a bright future. In close cooperation with professional associations and specialist departments, the content that is studied is reviewed in depth every five years and adapted to the needs and developments in the industry. With “Vocational Training 2030”, the federal government of Switzerland, the cantons and the professional organisations have launched an exciting new joint initiative. The aim is to anticipate changes on the labour market and in society and to adapt vocational training programmes to be fit for the future. Thus, Switzerland’s reputation for quality and innovation should be secure for many years to come.
