IWC Schaffhausen
Our Business Areas
We have been producing high-quality timepieces in our workshops since 1868. Our watches uniquely combine precise engineering with timeless design. With their passion for traditional craftsmanship, our watchmakers are naturally at the center of our business activities. But they are not alone. A legion of competent specialists in many other departments, from the Creative Center, Finance, Human Resources, Infrastructure & Risk Management, IT & Security, Marketing & Communication, to the different areas of Operations & Sales, have all contributed to making the IWC brand and the town of Schaffhausen internationally known.
The Creative Center is IWC Schaffhausen’s design division. Specialists from various creative disciplines work here. The stylistic development of our six watch families is at the heart of what they do. The Creative Center translates the historic design codes of each line into contemporary, new watch creations. In close collaboration with the product development and marketing departments, designers also ensure a consistent brand image across all channels – from print materials, packaging, classic or digital communications to window displays and exhibitions. This holistic design approach is what sets the IWC brand apart from other brands on the market.
IWC Schaffhausen’s Finance Department covers the areas of controlling and accounting.
Controlling contributes significantly to the financial success of the company by having a comprehensive understanding of the markets. The department determines and develops key performance indicators for financial control. It provides the top executives with robust financial analysis and helps them achieve their financial goals. To do this, the controllers not only ensure functioning processes and optimal reporting but also quickly and effectively build new financial management tools.
Accounting is responsible for correct and complete accounting and ensures compliance with statutory accounting standards. The department ensures effective and efficient bookkeeping processes, prepares accurate and reliable financial information and acts as a valuable, support partner for both internal and external clients.
The main task of Human Resources is to place employees in the right role, according to their abilities and the requirements of the company. IWC Schaffhausen maintains a modern and performance-oriented HR organization that constantly develops and optimizes its services and processes. HR sees itself as an entrepreneurial sparring partner, consultant and coach for employees at all levels of the company. Each area is managed by a dedicated HR team with a Business Partner, a Recruiting Partner, and an HR Professional.
As a service provider, Infrastructure & Risk Management ensures that all business areas of the company have a decent setting and that employees have the best conditions for completing their tasks. In addition to the provision of an optimal infrastructure, the core tasks include securing operational safety, construction, real estate and energy management, compliance with regulatory requirements, the handling of lease matters, as well as relocation and space management. The department is also responsible for setting up the workstations, shop floor and offices, insurance, risk management, vehicle fleet maintenance, parking management and maintenance and support for building services.
As a service provider, IT & Security ensures that employees are supported competently in all technical matters relating to IT. The department is not just responsible for the provision and maintenance of all systems and servers, but also to support and implement new systems as well as to work on IT projects at a Richemont Group level. The IT specialists also provide a competent team in the areas of Physical Security, Health & Safety, IT Security and Information Security.
The Marketing & Communications team has the task of quickly recognizing changes in customer demand in different markets and translating these into new products or initiatives. Their targeted activities attract the attention of potential customers for IWC in the international markets. The individual areas of operation include: Product Management, Corporate Communications with Public Relations, Partnerships and Events, Brand Management, Visual Merchandising and Digital Marketing. The department also has the task of ensuring a consistent brand image and message across all communication channels, for instance, in IWC boutiques, at exhibitions, as part of strategic partnerships or events as well as with diverse activities on digital platforms.
Operations is responsible for coordinating and organizing all processes along the full supply chain of luxury mechanical watches, from product development to output in the supply chain and production to customer support in the area of customer service.
Operations – Production
Production is responsible for needs-oriented, high-quality production and refinement of components and for the assembly of movements, cases, and watches with straps. In the development of new products, mechanization accompanies the development process right from the start and ensures the right selection of processes, technologies and production sequences. Storage and logistics expertise, as well as the provision of operating resources, are also among some of the core tasks. In order to maintain the technical competence in Schaffhausen in the long term, the apprenticeship department trains apprentices in various watchmaking, technical or commercial professions.
Operations – Customer Service
Outstanding customer service is a crucial factor in helping customers enjoy their IWC watch for a long time. Whether a watch needs to be repaired, whether it needs a new bracelet or requires considerable or a small amount of maintenance, customer service carries out a variety of functional and aesthetic inspections and work. At the moment, they are focusing on improving the customer service experience with the help of digital technology. The section involved in restoring early vintage models is also rapidly growing. There are Customer Service employees not just in Schaffhausen, but worldwide, in Dubai, Texas, Hong Kong SAR, China and anywhere IWC watches are purchased.
Operations – Supply Chain Management
Whether shiny precious metals, high-quality bracelets or other filigree watch components, only the best is good enough for mechanical watches "Made in Schaffhausen". Employees in the purchasing department often travel to suppliers in west Switzerland and communicate fluently in German, French and English. IWC's procurement department has interesting development prospects, especially for engineers with expertise in materials science.
Operations – Quality Management
A mechanical timepiece from IWC Schaffhausen has to meet the highest requirements of quality and precision. Quality Management has the task of ensuring the quality of products and processes throughout the entire lifespan of the product by using a comprehensive quality strategy. State-of-the-art testing forms a solid foundation for IWC's Quality Management team. The department’s other crucial tasks include quality planning and control, testing and continuously improving quality. IWC's Quality Management department offers exciting challenges for professionals with a passion for perfection.
Operations – Research & Development
Research & Development is IWC Schaffhausen’s research department. It is responsible for developing innovations in movements and cases. With innovative ideas and concepts for new materials or functions, such as Ceratanium, which combines the benefits of titanium and ceramics in a groundbreaking new material, the division is strengthening IWC's position as a leader of innovation and technology in the watch industry. The research department also looks after the constant development and improvement of all watches on the market. The IWC specialists are in close contact with the research department in the Richemont Group and with various universities and suppliers’ development teams.
Operations – Product Management Technics
The Product Management Technics department is responsible for ensuring that newly developed watches can be introduced to the market at the right time, to the right standard and in keeping with the specified market price. An agile product development process is used to meet the “time to market”.
Operations – Operations Development
The Operations Development department is responsible for the punctual and sustainable implementation of strategic programs and transformation projects. Adhering to and developing the Business Process Management System for the whole of IWC is at the forefront of what they do. Other tasks include conducting internal Lean & Quality training and process audits.
Sales is responsible for all matters relating to the sale and distribution of high-quality mechanical watches from Schaffhausen. The team has proven competencies in various areas.
Sales– Sales Operations
The Sales Operations department is responsible for the control and optimization of global sales activities. It is made up of various teams that carry out different tasks and work closely with the distribution companies. Product Planning creates the marketing plan for each product. It ensures the seamless supply of watches to the market and also optimizes the global stock levels. The planning and monitoring of sales, as well as the optimization of global pricing structures, are responsibilities of the Sales Planning Team. SAP SD Projects coordinates all sales topics related to SAP projects.
Sales – Retail
The Retail department is responsible for the choice of location, concept, construction, operation and sales success of all 51 IWC boutiques currently worldwide. It is also responsible for maintaining relationships with customers. To cope with these tasks effectively, the department is divided into several teams.
Sales – Business Development
The luxury goods industry is currently experiencing profound changes, mainly due to digitalization. Often, therefore, ideas are created that do not fit into any existing department or division. Business Development is responsible for identifying the potential of such strategic ideas and projects and enabling IWC to use them ideally in the long term. As part of this activity, the department is also involved in the identification of new business opportunities, the development of sales channels and distribution. The immense range of projects includes, among others
- Travel retail e.g. Pop-up stores in major airports
- E-commerce on iwc.com or partnerships with established platforms
- Specific customer engagement for instance in China or in the Middle East
- Working closely with SWN (Specialist Watchmaking Maisons/Richemont) on Key Accounts
- Sharing best practices with international markets
Working For IWC
Why Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen has a population of around 36,000 people and is nestled around 40 min away from the city of Zurich.
Your Benefits
Flexible working hours, health care and sustainability initiatives are just a few of the benefits awaiting full time employees at IWC.
