Prof. Dr. Kuhn is retiring: A lasting legacy in Ingolstadt!

Prof. Dr. Kuhn is retiring: A lasting legacy in Ingolstadt!

After more than 25 years at the Ingolstadt Faculty of Economics (WFI) at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt (KU), Prof. Dr. Heinrich Kuhn officially retired, like ku.de reported. Kuhn's academic career at KU began in 1997, when he established the field of business administration, particularly supply chain management and operations, first as a chair representative and later as chair holder.

The Ingolstadt location was not chosen by chance for Kuhn. The committed students and the proximity to the flourishing automotive industry were decisive factors for him. After completing his doctorate at the Technical University of Darmstadt and a habilitation at the University of Cologne, which he completed with a stopover at the TU Braunschweig, Kuhn devoted himself to the further development of his chair. The change towards digitalization and analytical methods was particularly visible in the renaming of the chair to “Supply Chain Management & Operations”.

Practice-oriented teaching and lasting influences

Kuhn integrated numerous practical elements into his teaching. This included factory tours and projects with regional companies, which gave the students a direct connection to professional practice. One of his most notable projects examined the difference between system inventory and physically present goods in food retail, which underlined the practical relevance of his teaching.

His decision to turn down four offers to other universities shows his strong commitment to the KU and its students. Over the years, he served as dean of the faculty twice and organized an annual faculty hike, a popular event that he plans to continue in retirement. In addition to advising on dissertations and habilitations, he plans to continue to give lectures and advance two research projects.

Kuhn attaches great importance to not only imparting technical skills to students, but also promoting a deep mathematical and analytical understanding. He leaves a lasting mark on the KU through his professional profile, his practical teaching approach and his strong connection to the faculty.

Current developments in supply chain management

The relevance of topics such as digitalization and supply chain management remains unbroken. On November 10, 2023, the “Digital Supply Chain Management” working group will be founded, which will deal with the networking and digitalization of supply chains. Participation is free and is aimed at companies such as Vitakraft pet care GmbH & Co. KG and Leuze electronic GmbH & Co. KG who have already shown interest linkedin.com reported.

Under the technical leadership of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rüdiger Lohmann (TH Lübeck) and Prof. Dr. Rainer Lehmann (FH Lübeck), companies should develop individual supply chain strategies. The working group will address areas of tension in the selection of approaches and tools and emphasize their importance for the competitiveness of companies.

In summary, the farewell to Prof. Dr. Heinrich Kuhn, that the influence of committed teachers on the academic landscape and the professional future of students is of great importance. The founding of the new working group also illustrates how important it is for companies to prepare for the challenges of digitalization.