Switzerland is widely seen as a country of cutting-edge industry and innovation par excellence. It is where many products are designed in an incomparable marriage of quality, meticulousness, reliability and durability. Numerous traditional Swiss brands in their own way embody the Swiss values of quality and precision all around the world.
In this article, we’ll explain what makes Swiss products and quality world-famous, and you’ll discover that the reality of this success is sometimes far from its popular perception.Extremely favorable framework conditions
Switzerland has built its prosperity on the development of products and services with high added value. All cutting edge technology sectors are represented here, and innovation is the spearhead of our economy. Our country notably enjoys extremely favorable framework conditions, supported by strong political drive:
• High productivity
• Areas of expertise in all high-tech sectors
• Moderate taxation
• High level of training
• Multicultural, multilingual workforce
• Modern, effective infrastructure
• Safety
• Political stability
• Flexible employment laws
Apprenticeships: unique professional training envied all around the world
Switzerland has the best educational system in the world according to the World Economic Forum (WEF) and professional training that could well be one of the keys to its excellence in apprenticeships.
At the end of their compulsory education, Swiss youths can choose between continuing their studies or opting for professional training (an apprenticeship), mostly “dual”. The latter combines both school and practical experience. It’s based on an apprenticeship in a company with three to four days of work per week, coupled with lessons in a vocational college. The training, during which the apprentice is paid by the employer, lasts between two and four years, resulting in the awarding of a Federal VET Diploma (3 or 4 years) or Certificate (2 years). The former apprentice can then enter the job market directly or begin advanced training. Many bosses of small and medium-sized Swiss companies followed this route.
This professional training is so effective that it’s attracted serious attention from the rest of the world! Between 2012 and 2016, the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) welcomed around 120 foreign delegations (two per month, on average), consisting of experts and researchers, important national and regional training officials, and ministry representatives.
At the end of 2014, the Federal Councillor, Johann Schneider-Ammann, and numerous leaders of Swiss multinationals were invited to the White House in the USA to discuss the dual training system (school and company), which allows the Swiss to enter the job market at the end of their compulsory education. In order to reduce youth unemployment, the USA, like many other countries, is looking to copy the Swiss model.
Industry with a strong international orientation
The old cliché says that Swiss industry produces products that are 100% manufactured and assembled in Switzerland, but the reality is quite different. It seems that the Swiss have above all become masters in the orchestration of international talent in the manufacturing of their products.
To be able to establish itself among its international competitors, the Swiss economy especially requires inexpensive raw materials and half-finished products, as well as secure supply chains. Here is where Swiss industrial expertise comes into play; they excel in partnering with the necessary foreign service providers.
So, Swiss products depend largely on foreign preliminary service providers. The distribution of exports according to value-creating elements shows that one quarter of this is performed overseas. In the chemical and pharmaceuticals industry, which represents almost half of all Swiss exports in terms of value, this proportion is closer to 40%. Overall, half of the working hours dedicated to Swiss products come from abroad. So, foreign companies provide an essential contribution to the manufacturing of Swiss products.
CODE41: a distillation of Swiss tradition
In many respects, CODE41 is a typical example of Swiss artisanal expertise in the manufacturing of a high-quality product:
• a multicultural, multilingual team
• a mix of advanced and professional training
• watchmaking expertise combined with comprehensive knowledge of international commerce.
Thanks to the unique expertise of the CODE41 team and the skilful orchestration of foreign providers, CODE41 is now capable of offering Swiss-quality mechanical watches at unbeatable prices. With this in mind, founder Claudio D’Amore announced at the start of the project that a guarantee of Swiss quality above all means Swiss Brain Inside :-)
