These challenges include:
- Complex, often globally organized supply chains
- Different production processes like project manufacturing, contract manufacturing or make-to-stock production in a company
- Optimization of resources in project and production processes
- Organizational integration of service and maintenance processes
- Electronic data exchange with partners in the supply chain
- Growing BOM and revolving cost estimates
- Inventory management about different locations across

The implementation of lean manufacturing, mastering the congestion-oriented manufacturing, integrated support for service and maintenance processes, as well as the integrated project and supply chain management are the critical success factors of this industry sector.