Operating technicians contribute to the development of an economically successful company and ensure its optimal operation. They deal with company processes, the optimal use and management of resources, production processes, workflows and material and information flows.

AttentionSince 2022, the HF further education course in operating technology has been running under the course title "Process Technology HF". Certified process technicians HF deal with the collection and analysis of relevant data, the comparison and evaluation of technical aids and processes, the recording of material and information flows and the preparation of cost-benefit calculations. They also monitor market developments and use their market analyses to develop solutions for improving operational processes. They lead interdisciplinary teams, work as department, group or project managers and sometimes also take on training tasks.

Yes, as a rule, an apprenticeship qualification in a commercial or technical profession, for example as a production mechanic EFZ, IT technician EFZ, polymechanic EFZ, electronics technician EFZ, logistics technician EFZ, businesswoman EFZ and similar professions or another upper secondary level qualification with at least one year of professional experience is a prerequisite for participation in the HF training course in industrial engineering.

AttentionSince 2022, the content and skills in process engineering have been offered in the HF course to become a qualified process technician HF. The universities of applied sciences will inform you about their specific admission requirements for the process engineering course.

Please note: The HF course in industrial engineering was discontinued in 2021. Operational engineering content and skills are now taught as part of the "Process Technician HF" course, in some cases still with the option of a school-specific specialization. Those who successfully complete the course will receive the federally recognized title of "qualified process technician HF".

Note: Since fall 2022, the HF technician courses (formerly "HF technician specialization") have been given a separate framework curriculum and a new title for each specialization. For example, the course "Techniker HF Unternehmensprozesse" is now called "Prozesstechniker HF". In addition, the specializations have been abolished.

Please note: Since 2022, process engineering has been taught as part of the HF course "Dipl. Prozesstechniker HF / dipl. Prozesstechnikerin HF". The contents of the HF process technology course are sometimes named differently by the various schools and depend on the specializations offered; they basically cover

• Corporate management
• Work processes and techniques
• Logistics, Supply Chain Management
• Production and quality management
• Lean management
• Business administration
• English

Since 2022, continuing education, further training to become an operating technician has been part of the "Dipl. Prozesstechniker/in CHE" course. The course lasts 6 semesters and is completed on a part-time basis. However, there are also courses that can be completed full-time over 4 semesters. To be on the safe side, contact the schools to find out about the form and duration of the courses on offer.

It is not only possible to continue working during the HF training as an operating technician, but is also a prerequisite for attending the course. To this end, applicants must be able to demonstrate at least 50% employment in a related professional field.

AttentionSince 2022, training in operating technology has been running under the designation "Process Technician HF".