21st PLANTA User Forum: Project Management Innovations and Insights

Intensive Networking and Exchange of Best Practices

The 21st PLANTA User Forum which took place on June 12 and 13, 2024 in the Novotel Hotel in Karlsruhe, was a complete success and offered the participants an abundance of valuable insights and practical suggestions for their project work. This annual event brings together PLANTA customers and business partners, allowing them to exchange on current trends and developments in the field of project management as well as on new features of the PLANTA software.

Special Atmosphere and Intensive Networking

The User Forum was characterized by a special atmosphere of intensive exchange and open dialog between the participants. The industry tables offered customers the opportunity to talk to other users from similar application areas and make valuable contacts. Furthermore, many participants took the opportunity to exchange directly with PLANTA employees and to get new impulses for their projects.

Highlight: Tour at the Mercedes-Benz Plant in Wörth

An absolute highlight of the User Forum was the impressive supporting program: an exclusive factory tour of the Daimler Truck AG truck assembly plant in Wörth am Rhein offered participants unique insights into the world of truck production. With about 3 million m2 of factory premises and more than 11.000 employees, this production plant is one of the largest truck production sites worldwide. Up to 470 trucks are assembled here on a daily basis and according to customer-specific requirements. During the tour, visitors were able to experience at first hand how state-of-the-art technology and innovative manufacturing processes work together to produce high-performance trucks. The guided tour through the various production lines and assembly halls was a special experience for the participants of this years’ PLANTA customer event.

Inspiring Presentations and Practice-Oriented Live Demos

The highlights of the forum included a variety of inspiring presentations and practical live demos. PLANTA customers from different sectors present their experiences and best practices in their use of the PLANTA software. Daniela Karipidis from the University of Konstanz delivered an impressing presentation on project and project portfolio management in university administration. The presentation by Tanja Kieslinger and Christof Frank from Max Frank GmbH describing the successful implementation of a transparent budget process was equally informative. Frank Sonntag from Hack Formenbau provided valuable insights in the implementation of PLANTA software for the planning of customer projects in injection mole construction.

These contributions were complemented by numerous practical PLANTA presentations, each of which demonstrated live how the software can be used for efficient project and resource management, hybrid project management strategies and tailored task management. These practical presentations provided participants with insights into valuable project management methods accompanied by concrete examples of use.

At the demo counters, participants had the chance to test PLANTA software themselves or to get an introduction to new features. This presented a great opportunity to get first-hand experience of the functionalities and application options of the software and to pose questions directly to PLANTA experts.

Focus on Sustainability and Trendsetting Projects

Another highlight was the keynote of Dr. Torsten Eckardt from HERMES Arzneimittel, who shed light on the question of sustainability, emphasizing the urgency of this subject for our future. Regional projects such as the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology’s “RaceIng Project” and Andreas Mangold’s “City Transformation” urban development project also gave participants an insight into innovative and forward-looking initiatives in the region.

Visions for the Future and Road Map

To conclude the forum, PLANTA presented the future development of the software and its road map for the coming years. The 21st The PLANTA User Forum was an inspiring event, providing participants not only with impulses in the field of project management, but also with a platform for intensive networking and exchange on best practices. The combination of in-depth content, an impressive supporting program, and personal interaction once again made the event a special experience for everyone involved.