Management of Product Development (MSc, Executive) at HECTOR School Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

The MSc in Management of Product Development is for professionals who are interested in agile engineering of mechatronic systems and design thinking, innovation management, multicultural and virtual teams, collaboration methods and interdisciplinary development, and advanced systems engineering.

Product development is the process of entirely planning and prototyping novel technical systems. It ranges from finding the product profile to creating a concept, designing, making prototypes, testing and validating. The actual manufacturing phase follows subsequently and is the second and final stage of the product creation process.

Thus, product development is certainly one of the core means of adding value into companies and is crucial for their success through innovation. Creativity and performance potential define the success of product development.

Participants of the Master's programme in Management of Product Development are able to analyse, design, operate and implement the product development process in their companies in an optimised way by means of acquired research and application-oriented methods and processes.

Based on an integrated approach to product creation processes, graduates can successfully implement innovative ideas and innovation in competitive products, while drawing a special focus on major criteria such as customised product solutions and the reduction of production costs as well as the optimisation of quality standards. Furthermore, they are capable of implementing creativity techniques to accompany further innovation processes.

Additionally, due to increasing performance and competition pressure in product development, graduates can counteract shorter development times and product life cycles with appropriate methods and techniques.

Finally, the Management of Product Development Master's programme shares five management modules with the other Master's programmes. This fosters networking across study programmes and provides the participants with general knowledge in finance, accounting, sustainability, marketing, international multi-project management, international law, and human resource management. As a result, they can consider the commercial implications of project decisions and develop a holistic view.

Each module has a duration of 10 days. 

Engineering Modules (EM)*:

EM1: Integrated Product Development by ASD – Agile Systems Design:

• Mission & Vision in Product Development
• Integrated Product Development
• Industrial Design Engineering
• Data Structures and Algorithms for Intelligent Engineering

EM 2: Design & Validation Process and Information Systems for Product Development:

• Structured Problem-Solving in Mechatronic System Development – SPALTEN
• Product Development Processes and Activities
• Patent Strategy in Industry
• Introduction and Application to SysML
• Lightweight Design
• IoT Solutions for Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)

EM 3: Simulation and Target Values in Product Development:

• Methods of Simulation
• Target Costing
• Virtual Twins & Immersive Environments
• Project Work I: Conception

EM 4: Validation and Verification in Product Development:

• Project Work II: Realisation
• Test-Based Development
• Systems Engineering
• Eco-Design Methodology of Sustainability

EM 5: Tools and Methods of Product Engineering:

• Project Work III: 2DR Documentation, Reflection Theory and Practice
• Quality Management
• Supplier Management

Management Modules (MM)*:

MM 1: Marketing & Information:

• Data Driven Marketing
• Information Systems Management
• Data Analytics
• Legal Aspects of Information

MM 2: Finance & Value:

• Management Accounting
• Sustainability
• Strategic Financial Management
• Case Studies

MM 3: Decisions & Risk:

• Decision Modelling (+ Computer Tutorials)
• Risk Aware Decisions (+ Case Studies + Finance)
• Interactive Decisions
• Robust and Stochastic Optimisation

MM 4: Innovation & Projects:

• Technology Driven Innovation
• International Intellectual Property Law
• Project Management
• Multi-Project Management in an International Setting

MM 5: Strategy & People:

• Strategic Management
• Managerial Economics
• Business Organisation & Corporate Law
• Strategic Human Resource Management
• Leadership and Conflict Management

*may be subject to change

University qualification:
Bachelor's, Master's, German "Diplom", etc. (university, university of applied sciences, cooperative state university)

Professional experience:
Depending on the level of the first degree (210 or 180 ECTS points)

• A minimum of one or two years of practical experience in the specific field of the course is required.
• Three years of work experience are recommended.
• References are needed as evidence.

For further details, please see:
Admission Requirements

Approx. 150 EUR per semester

Approx. 1,000 EUR per month

Tips on finding a job and how to apply in Germany are available. Find more information on the services website: HECTOR School - Services.

The HECTOR School is integrated in the campus of the International Department of the KIT with its own campus accommodation, which is available to all students of the International Department upon request.

For further information, see the website: HECTOR School - Accommodation

Being “The Research University in the Helmholtz Association”, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, KIT employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programmes. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the eleven German universities of excellence.

As the only German university of excellence with a national large-scale research sector, KIT offers excellent study conditions. Nowhere else are your opportunities to become directly involved in research better. The spirit of KIT, one of the biggest science institutions in Europe, where long university tradition is combined with programme-oriented cutting-edge research, is that all researchers get involved in teaching and that all students participate in thrilling research projects at an early stage of their studies. Graduates of KIT are among the most desired young talents.

KIT understands the application of scientific findings as a basic principle. According to the QS Graduate Employability Ranking 2022, KIT is the best university in Germany, the tenth-best in Europe, and in the top 46 worldwide. The ranking focuses on the preparation of university graduates for the labour market.

The large KIT campus is located in the city centre of Karlsruhe, and it borders the Hardtwald Forest, a perfect place to take a leisurely stroll. The proximity to Alsace and the mild climate of the Rhine River give the Baden metropolis an almost Mediterranean flair in the summer.

Founded in 1715, Karlsruhe is the second-largest city in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. It is also known as the "Residence of Justice", being the seat of Germany's two supreme courts (the Federal Constitutional Court and the Federal Supreme Court).

Karlsruhe is located in south-western Germany, and it has about 300,000 residents. Its central location within Europe offers unparalleled opportunities for exploration and connectivity. Situated at the crossroads of major transportation networks, students have easy access to neighbouring cities like Stuttgart, Frankfurt, and Strasbourg as well as popular European destinations such as Paris and Zurich. This accessibility opens doors to potential career opportunities and internships within multinational companies and research institutions.

Moreover, Karlsruhe's cultural scene is as diverse as it is enriching. Home to world-class museums, theatres, and galleries, the city offers a plethora of cultural experiences to suit every taste. From the iconic Karlsruhe Palace and the State Art Gallery to the avant-garde ZKM Center for Art and Media, students can immerse themselves in history, art, and innovation. The city's vibrant music and theatre scene ensures a wealth of performances and events to enjoy.

The local economy is based on a well-developed structure of medium-sized businesses, particularly in forward-reaching technologies such as computer science, multimedia, control systems, energy technology, and environmental science as well as nanotechnology. Several major companies, among them Bosch, Siemens, Daimler AG, and Michelin, have production facilities in the region. Major research and development institutions (e.g. Fraunhofer Institute, Intel research campus) are part of the reason why the innovative potential of this city and region are well known worldwide.