Digital Factory and Operational Excellence — Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management Bavarian University of Business and Technology (HDBW)

Digital technologies are transforming manufacturing, logistics, and global supply chains. The Master's programme in Digital Factory and Operational Excellence at HDBW in Munich prepares students to design, optimise, and lead efficient, data-driven production and logistics systems in an increasingly digital industrial environment.

Combining industrial engineering, operational excellence, and digital innovation, the programme covers Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing, process optimisation, digital factory concepts, logistics, data analytics, and global supply chain management.

Through practical projects and applied learning, you will develop the skills needed to improve operational performance, manage complex production systems, and drive digital transformation initiatives in industrial organisations.

What you can expect in this HDBW programme:

• Small classes with personal support and active participation
• Professors with extensive industry and academic experience
• Practical projects based on real manufacturing and logistics challenges
• Interdisciplinary learning that combines engineering, management, and digital technologies
• Development of analytical, leadership, and problem-solving skills
• Direct access to a strong network of companies and industry partners in Bavaria's leading industrial and technology region

First semester:

• Business Planning, Finance and Entrepreneurship
• Business Analysis and Optimisation Processes
• Big Data, Analytics, Business Intelligence
• Work Science
• Agile Project Management in International Project Teams
• Production Strategy and Manufacturing in Global Networks

Second semester:

• Employee Management and Change Management
• Lean Production and Production Optimisation
• Digital Value Chain and Smart Logistics
• Project Work
• Global Supply Chain Management, Risk Management, Global Procurement Sourcing
• Decision Theory and Key Performance Indicator Development

Third semester:

• Digital Factory Planning and Process Simulation
• Introduction to Cyber Security
• Master's thesis
• Master's thesis final exam

Completed Bachelor’s degree in:

• Industrial Engineering
• Management / Business Studies with focus on Logistics or Supply Chain Management
• Production Management
• Logistics Management 
• Business Informatics / Computer Science
• Mechanical Engineering or comparable subjects

"Pre-Master" for a Bachelor's degree obtained outside the EU

• In case of a non-EU Bachelor's degree, a Pre-Master is compulsory: one semester prep course for academic skills and German language and culture classes.
• However, full recognition is possible with a matching Bachelor's degree and more than three years of work experience.

ECTS

• 210 ECTS
• For a Bachelor's degree with 180 ECTS, individual agreements will be made before the start of the Master's programme to obtain the missing ECTS.

• 97 EUR per semester – compulsory contribution for the Munich and Upper Bavaria Student Union
• 43 EUR per month (optional) – for the use of regional public transport across all of Germany

• Minimum of 600 EUR rent per month for a shared room in and about Munich,
  plus
• 600 EUR estimated minimum costs per month for personal expenses

Numerous part-time job opportunities are available during studies in Munich, contingent upon your visa status permitting it.

The city hosts a multitude of international companies and their offices, including Google, Microsoft, The Walt Disney Company, alongside the headquarters of German companies like Allianz Insurances, BMW, Flixbus, Siemens, Münchner Rück, etc.

With our HDBW Career Center by Jobteaser, we now provide a central platform for your search for student jobs, internships, final theses and permanent positions post-graduation.

Discover exclusive job opportunities tailored for HDBW students and explore exciting partnerships with companies in the greater Munich area. Additionally, discover a variety of companies and job offers in the region, in Germany, and throughout Europe.

Interesting events for your career are also displayed, and you can find out more in the career tips section. You can also read testimonials from other students about their internship experiences at certain companies.

HDBW does not have its own student accommodation. However, we support international students by providing extensive information and helpful resources on student housing in Munich on the HDBW website.

HDBW – the Bavarian University of Business and Technology is a small private, state-accredited University of Applied Sciences located in Munich. Founded in 2012, HDBW offers high-quality, application-oriented degree programmes in business and technology.

Rooted in industry and founded by the Bavarian business community, HDBW maintains strong and direct connections to companies and decision-makers. This close cooperation with the business world gives students early access to a strong professional network and shapes the practical orientation of all degree programmes.

At HDBW, business, technology, digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence are combined in innovative, future-oriented full-time and part-time study programmes. Key topics such as AI, data-driven decision-making and digital transformation are integrated across the curricula with a strong focus on real-world application.

HDBW follows an interdisciplinary approach and prepares students for careers in an increasingly digital and global economy. Alongside technical and economic expertise, students develop entrepreneurial thinking, leadership competencies and essential soft skills.

HDBW offers Bachelor’s degree programmes in Business Administration, Industrial Engineering and Business Informatics, as well as English-taught Master’s programmes in Digital Business Modelling and Entrepreneurship, Cyber Security, and Digital Factory & Operational Excellence. In addition, a leadership-oriented MBA programme is available in both English and German.

Studying at HDBW means collaborative learning in small groups, predominantly in presence. Close interaction with professors, personal academic support and teamwork are central elements of the learning experience. HDBW stands for networked learning – fostering lasting connections between students, alumni, faculty and industry partners.

The campus is located in eastern Munich, close to the city’s international trade fair centre and easily accessible by public transport.

We look forward to welcoming you to HDBW in Munich – the Bavarian capital in Southern Germany.

HDBW Munich
Konrad-Zuse-Platz 8
81829 Munich
Germany

More about the HDBW campus