Siegfried Zürn

Prof. Siegfried Zürn holds a professorship in Operations Management at the University of Applied Sciences Esslingen. He currently serves as Director of the International Centre and Graduate School, and previously as Dean of the Faculty Graduate School. His academic roles include membership in the Building Committee and International Committee. He leads act.if Consulting Group, focusing on operational and digital transformation consulting.

His research interests center around Digital Transformation Management, Quality Management, and Systems Thinking Modelling. He has pioneered business simulation tools like 'Sustain2030®' and 'StarsEngines' for teaching complex management concepts. His work integrates Industry 4.0 strategies with quality systems, emphasizing SME digitalization challenges and sustainable business frameworks.

Key contributions include over 30 peer-reviewed publications since 2019, addressing topics like AI integration in quality processes, digital transformation frameworks, and SDG implementation strategies. He has presented at international conferences including the NUST Public Lecture (Namibia) and the BRITAE Conference (Sri Lanka), focusing on systemic approaches to modern management challenges.

• Consultation Hours: Thursdays 9:00-9:30 via Webex or F02.122
• Professional Certifications: Professional Scrum Master (PSM I), ECQA Certified Innovation Manager
• Memberships: German Association for Project Management (GPM), DGQ (Quality Management), SAGSAGA (Simulation & Gamification)

His professional experience spans 14 years in industry roles, including Director positions at BASF Construction Systems and Xella Group, where he managed international operations and technology development.