Profile

Dr. Christian Kober

An independent advisor and researcher connecting manufacturing strategy, Digital Twins, AI, and business value.

Industry experience

2024–Present

Dr. Christian Kober Advisory, Zurich, Switzerland

Founder and Principal Advisor

Independent advisory for manufacturing leaders on Digital Twin strategy, value realisation, implementation, and scaling.

2021–2025

Composite Technology Center GmbH(An Airbus Company), Stade, Germany

Research Associate, Industrial Systems and Assembly

Development and application of Digital Twin and digital manufacturing concepts within LaiLa, an €18 million EU-funded programme for intelligent lightweight production at the interface of CTC, Airbus, and academia.

LaiLa project details

2020–2021

Airbus Operations GmbH, Hamburg, Germany

Product Changes Project Leader

Transnational leadership of product and process change initiatives across A320 Family final assembly lines worldwide, including budget accountability and multifunctional coordination.

2019

Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Hamburg, Germany

Product and Process Development, Lightweight Structural Components

Development of fibre-reinforced composite structures and production concepts, including patented work.

2017–2018

Airbus Operations GmbH, Hamburg, Germany

Folio and Process Management, A350 XWB

Development of an optimised assembly process and a production digitalisation concept.

Research experience

2025–Present

ETH-HSG Manufacturing Alliance, Switzerland

Executive Co-Director

Joint manufacturing initiative of ETH Zurich and the University of St. Gallen. Leading corporate engagement with 13 global manufacturing companies, supporting the strategic development of the Alliance and collaborative research programmes, and co-leading a team of nine doctoral researchers.

Alliance profile

2025–Present

ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Postdoctoral Researcher, Chair of Production and Operations Management

Research on Digital Twins, AI, manufacturing strategy, and value realisation.

ETH profile

2026–Present

ETH AI Center, Switzerland

Associated Researcher

Interdisciplinary exchange on artificial intelligence and its application in industrial systems.

Associated researcher directory

2023–Present

University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

Visiting Scholar

Institute for Manufacturing, Centre for Digital Value. Research collaboration on Digital Twin stakeholder communication and value-oriented digital transformation.

University profile

2024–Present

University of Auckland, New Zealand

Visiting Scholar and Honorary Academic

Laboratory for Industry 4.0 Smart Manufacturing Systems. International research collaboration on Digital Twin development, implementation, and value realisation.

Laboratory details

2021–2025

Helmut Schmidt University Hamburg, Germany

Research Associate and Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute of Production Engineering

Doctoral and postdoctoral research on target-oriented and value-centred Digital Twins in manufacturing.

HSU profile

Education

2021–2024

Helmut Schmidt University Hamburg, Germany

Doctor of Engineering, Dr.-Ing. (PhD)

Completed with the highest distinction, summa cum laude, in collaboration with Airbus and the Composite Technology Center.

View dissertation

2018–2019

Wedel University of Applied Sciences, Germany

Master of Science, Industrial Engineering and Management

Completed summa cum laude, among the top 1%.

2014–2018

Wedel University of Applied Sciences, Germany

Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering and Management

Completed magna cum laude, among the top 1%.

2016

University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia

Study abroad, Industrial Engineering and Management

GPA 4.0.

Academic service and teaching

Editorial

Journal of Manufacturing Systems

Guest Editor

Special Issue: AI for Manufacturing – From Theories to Applications

Journal details

Reviews

Scientific Journal Reviewer

Robotics and Computer-Integrated ManufacturingCleaner Environmental Systems

ORCID record

Special Session Organiser

2026

20th IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management (IEEM) 2026

Singapore

Artificial Intelligence and Digital Twins in Advanced Manufacturing: Architectures and Value Creation.

Conference details

2026

45th IFIP International Conference on Advances in Production Management Systems

Bergamo, Italy

Industrialisation of Digital Twins: Adoption, Governance, and Value Realisation.

Special session details

2026

6th Digital Twin International Conference

Oxford, United Kingdom

Digital Twin Adoption and Value Realisation.

Special session details

Session chair activities

2026

6th Digital Twin International Conference

Session Chair

Oxford, United Kingdom

Conference details

2026

20th CIRP Conference on Intelligent Computation in Manufacturing Engineering

Session Chair

Naples, Italy

Conference details

2026

33rd Annual Conference of the European Operations Management Association (EurOMA) 2026

Session Chair

Vienna, Austria

Conference details

2025

5th Digital Twin International Conference

Session Chair

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Conference details

2024

18th IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management (IEEM) 2024

Session Chair

Bangkok, Thailand

Conference details

Teaching

2026–Present

Industrial Perspectives on Operations ManagementETH Zurich and University of Zurich

Course organisation and leadership

Curated, organised, and led a twelve-session industry lecture series across mobility, process industries, and discrete manufacturing, including contributions from Audi, maxon, Pilatus Aircraft, Siemens, and SWISS International Air Lines alongside member companies of the ETH-HSG Manufacturing Alliance.

Course details

2025–Present

Production and Operations ManagementETH Zurich

Digital Twins module

Delivered a dedicated module on Digital Twins within the Production and Operations Management course.

2021–Present

ETH Zurich and Helmut Schmidt University

Thesis and student supervision

Supervision of bachelor’s and master’s theses and coordination of student researchers in production and operations management and production engineering.

Professional service

2022–Present

Association of German Engineers (VDI)

Member, VDI Guideline Committee

Active expert panel member contributing to manufacturing and Digital Twin standardisation.

VDI 5000 project details

2022–2024

German Academic Association for Production Technology (WGP)

Assistant to the Board

Supported the executive board on strategic research topics, participated in board meetings, and co-organised four scientific congresses, each attended by more than 50 professors of production engineering.

Organisation details