Industrial Research Report: Hofmann Engineering Pty. Ltd. (BSC109C)

This report presents an industrial research project focused on Hofmann Engineering Pty. Ltd. (HE), a company specializing in manufacturing, designing, and supplying electrical machines and equipment. The report explores the nature of work at HE, detailing its operations in various sectors like mining, energy, and defense, and its commitment to quality. It examines the company's use of technology, organizational structure, and culture, highlighting its divisional-geographical structure and its focus on innovation and sustainability. The report also discusses the knowledge and skill requirements for employment at HE, concluding with an overview of the company's contributions to various industries and its global presence.

Running Head: PM
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IERP: Hofmann Engineering
Research Report
(Student Details: )
4/16/2020

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Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Industrial Research: Hofmann Engineering Pty. Ltd.................................................................2
The nature of work.................................................................................................................2
Use of technology at HE........................................................................................................3
HE’s organisational structure and culture..............................................................................3
Workflow, duties, and responsibilities...................................................................................3
Knowledge and skill requirements for employment at HE....................................................4
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................4
References..................................................................................................................................6

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Introduction
The report is based on an industrial experience research project with the help of conducting
preliminary research on engineering companies whose operations are related to study
engineering discipline during the course. In order to understand and learn the nature of
engineering work, the company chosen is Hofmann Engineering Pty. Ltd. (HE) so that key
requirements for further gaining employment with the HE can be understood thoroughly 1. In
general, the Company HE was founded in the year 1969 2. The company is located in Perth,
Western Australia. The report is going to discuss the nature of work at the HE while
discussing the organizational culture and structure as well. In this way, the paper will
highlight the key engineering job roles at the HE while exploring the use of technology at the
company.
Industrial Research: Hofmann Engineering Pty. Ltd.
The nature of work
The company used to support the electrical equipment needs of the companies and industries
all around the world 3. The nature of work at HE can be defined as the recognized leader in
the field of manufacturing, designing and supplying electrical machines, tools, and supporting
devices. Initially, the company was found in 1969 by two brothers in Germany. They started
a small toolmaking backyard shop in Perth, Australia. When these two brothers saw their
future in gears-making then the company started on a big scale.
Presently, HE is one of the top gear-making companies which operate in the Southern
Hemisphere. It is worth knowing that Hofmann Engineering mainly operates through 5 cities
as well as employs more than 500 Australian workers for gear-making operations 3.
Currently, Erich Hofmann is managing the company’s operations for the last 4 years. The
company is providing quality products in all possible fields of electrical and mechanical
engineering. Specifically, the company is supplying its products in the fields include mining,
transport, energy, defence, engineering services, manufacture, agriculture, and power plants.
Apart from this, the nature of work is indicating that Hofmann's engineers and managers are
continuously working towards the commitment to prime quality in all aspects of HE products,
customer support, and services 4. Hofmann Engineering Pty. Ltd. is currently supplying gear
and engineering products all across Australia, Chile, Peru, Canada, China, and India. In this

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context, recently the company has started developing wind turbine gears for engineering
clients in the nation Germany. In Australia, HE is gearing up for the clean energy future in
the form of wind energy generation opportunities. In addition to that, Hofmann Engineering
is also building efficient components for the regional wind power industry with the Federal
Government of Australia 2. For example, presently, the company is working on Hofwind
project in Perth, Australia, which will generate 900 megawatts additionally of green power,
and that is adequate to supply 200,000 homes across Australia 2.
Use of technology at HE
Apart from this, in the field of mining operations, HE designs, manufactures, and supplies
products such as gearboxes, mills, kilns, crushers, HPGRs, sizers, hofnuts, vibrating screens,
disc vacuum filters, and valves along with some mobile mining equipment 2. In the field of
defence, the company is working by manufacturing and supplying types of equipment related
to airforce, army and navy operations 1. Most importantly, the nature of work at HE can be
described with the company operations in the energy sector. Hofmann provides engineering
equipment required to generate energy from oil and gas, wind turbines and solar farms. In
addition to that, Hofmann Engineering is also assisting power generating companies by
providing valves, pumps, power station types of equipment and other essential devices 2.
HE’s organizational structure and culture
The organizational culture and structure of Hofmann Engineering group are clear from its
nature of work in the field of green technology 5. The company is helping the world’s
engineering companies to produce green power for homes and society. With this act, the
company is showing its responsibility, accountability, and duties for the society 6. The
organizational culture of the company is driven by the clean technology boom and quality
assurance. The head Erich Hofmann is an optimistic person about the future of the company,
Australia and the world as well. The organization is working hard for evolving a novel green
economy 7.
Workflow, duties, and responsibilities
It is clear that Hofmann’s skills and tools can be changed but the company’s ingenuity is vital
for the organizational culture and work. The organizational culture of HE can be explained
as:
 Risk-taking and innovation-driven culture

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 Outcome-oriented culture 4
 People and sustainability-oriented culture 8
 Team-work oriented and talent promoting culture
 Stable and consistent towards organizational vision and mission.
Source: 9
On the other hand, the understanding of Hofmann’s organizational structure is necessary so
as to see the company’s whole image in the field of industrial research and engineering
services 8. The key types of organizational structure include divisional, functional, matrix
and hierarchy organizational structure. It has been found that Hofmann is having an
organizational structure of the divisional-geographical structure. The basic structure of such
an organizational structure is depicted in the above figure 9.
Knowledge and skill requirements for employment at HE
 The ability to achieve the production and supply of engineering products all across the
world 1.
 The ability to train, to research, as expert, engineers and specialist tradespeople.
 The ability to work on field sites while having relevant experience and cadetship.
 The ability to push the limits as well as boundaries of existing skills, technical
knowledge, and non-technical expertise 1.

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Conclusion
In whole, the industrial research has successfully explored all possible aspects of an
engineering field firm Hofmann Engineering, Australia. It has been found that such
organization like HE typically provides higher flexibility to various sectors of a country
include mining, power generation, agriculture, transport, and others. Also, the company is
handling many divisions at an international level while working with China, India, Chile, and
Australia. Moreover, the company is working for long in the field of transport and making the
lives of people easier by providing gears and other electrical types of equipment for rail,
aerospace and automotive.

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References
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[1] Hofmann Engineering Pty. Ltd. (2020) Apprentice and Engineer Training Programs.
[Online]. http://www.hofmannengineering.com/Apprenticeships.aspx
[2] Hofmann Engineering. (2020) Born in a backyard. [Online].
http://www.hofmannengineering.com/Born_in_a_backyard.aspx
[3] MSG. (2020) MSG. [Online]. https://www.managementstudyguide.com/need-for-
international-business.htm
[4] Warnock Davies, The International Business Environment: A Handbook for Managers
and Executives, 1st ed. london: CRC press, 2016.
[5] IPCC. (2020) Renewable Energy in the Context of. [Online]. http://www.mcc-
berlin.net/~creutzig/SRREN_Ch09.pdf
[6] UNDP. (2020) Renewable energy. [Online].
https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/2030-agenda-for-sustainable-development/
planet/sustainable-energy/renewable-energy.html
[7] C.C. and Huang, L Chang, How could business culture motivate enterprise innovation.
Uited States: CRC press, 2018.
[8] Leslie Hamilton and Philip Webster, The International Business Environment, 4th ed.
london: oxford university press , 2018.
[9] Point Park University. (2018) 4 Types of Organizational Structures. [Online].
https://online.pointpark.edu/business/types-of-organizational-structures/
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