News 
Among the more than 60,000 employees in the watchmaking and microtechnology sector, there is no shortage of examples of outstanding careers. However, it is not always instinctive to manage teams, sometimes made up of former colleagues, or to take on major responsibilities within a production workshop.
Driven by high production needs and demographic changes in its workforce, industry is also affected by the shortage of skilled labour that threatens the Swiss economy as a whole. The federal diploma for workshop managers in the watchmaking sector has been designed in collaboration with companies in the sector, with the goal of providing organisational and human skills specific to the fields of watchmaking, micromechanics, polishing and artistic crafts. It is aimed at professionals holding a CFC in a technical or other field, with several years’ experience in the industry.
The training programme is structured around six essential modules, covering the management and supervision of staff, team leadership, training and succession planning, the planning, implementation and steering of workshop activities, the deployment of quality processes and the application of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) approach.
Completion of these modules will enable candidates to sit the final examination for the federal diploma, marking recognition of their skills. Available from next February, this new certification will initially be offered by the Centre de formation professionnelle Berne francophone (ceff Industrie) in St-Imier, the Höhere Fachschule Technik Mittelland (HFTM) in Granges and ifage in Geneva.
In addition to their operational and managerial responsibilities, workshop managers make an active contribution to CSR by promoting social, economic and environmental sustainability. As drivers of change, creativity and innovation, future participants are destined to become essential elements in the long-term future of the watchmaking industry.
This new stage in the sector’s training offer will enable many professionals to acquire characteristic skills, while guaranteeing companies a supply of highly qualified managers or future technical managers.
November 30, 2023