About Pirmin Mutter

Today, companies are increasingly exposed to unforeseen risks – ranging from physical supply shortages and cyberattacks to geopolitical trade conflicts. This volatility directly impacts supply chains and can severely affect financial stability. However, our latest simulation shows that preparation is the key differentiator: With a forward-looking steering model and enhanced transparency, cash positions in crisis scenarios can be improved by more than 100%. To secure long-term competitiveness and liquidity, companies must implement preventive measures spanning from strategic planning to operational interventions like an inbound freeze.

In the metals and raw materials industries, rising energy and material costs, intense international competitive pressure, and volatile sales markets have placed significant pressure on margins since 2020. Capital efficiency has declined by more than 30% during this period, as many companies have failed to offset declining profitability through targeted cash flow and working capital management. To stabilize capital efficiency, companies must increasingly address both levers—profitability and capital employed—and optimize them jointly within an integrated project approach.

Working Capital under pressure! €100 billion in liquidity potential lies untapped in the inventories and receivables of DACH companies, even as financial headroom shrinks. This is the key finding of our new Working Capital Study.We analyzed the performance of >250 companies in the DACH region over a 5-year period, segmented by industry, region, and company size.