Hire the perfect REFA Industrial Engineer in Germany in minutes from over 15,000 CVs with the power of AI
Optimize your production workflows, time studies, and shop floor management. Our platform connects you with certified German manufacturing and operations experts, precisely matched to your project requirements in minutes.
About the certification
The standard for German industrial engineering
The REFA methodology has been the cornerstone of work design, data determination, and corporate organization in Germany for decades. Professionals holding this qualification are experts in analyzing and optimizing processes across production, administration, and logistics. By combining traditional work-study techniques with modern management practices, they help businesses streamline operations and increase productivity.
Core competences of REFA specialists
- Time studies and work data determination using standardized REFA methods
- Design of ergonomic and highly efficient workplaces and assembly lines
- Process mapping, value stream analysis, and cost accounting
- Implementation of lean production systems and shop floor management
Typical project scenarios in Germany
Companies in Germany frequently bring in freelance REFA experts during critical operational phases. These include setting up new manufacturing lines, resolving bottlenecks on the factory floor, and standardizing assembly times for precise product costing. Their structured approach is highly valued in the German automotive, machinery, and logistics sectors, where precise work data is essential for collective bargaining agreements and labor planning.
Business impact of hiring certified professionals
Engaging a qualified specialist ensures that operational improvements are based on solid, objective data rather than estimates. This minimizes friction with works councils and ensures compliance with German labor standards. By optimizing cycle times and reducing waste, these engineers help companies maintain their competitive edge in high-cost manufacturing environments.
Meet FRATCH REFA Industrial Engineers
Thomas Hartung
Project Manager & Tender Manager
Last position:
Project Manager & Tender Manager at GEA Group AG
- Implemented an access control solution and prepared tender documents for a visitor management system.
- As project manager, I was responsible for the successful rollout of a cloud-based access control system for two sites with around 4,000 employees.
- Accountable for the successful execution of the project.
- Created and aligned project plans and status reports with all stakeholders.
- Prepared/coordinated an initial effort or cost estimate and related planning for operational services implementation.
- Identified interfaces.
- Ensured budget and schedule compliance.
- As tender manager / demand manager, the following specific tasks were my responsibility:
- Analyzing potential suppliers.
- Gathering requirements.
- Creating and aligning the requirements catalog.
- Developing an evaluation matrix.
- Preparing the tender documents.
Joachim Peters
ERP-SAP/SSC Consultant
Last position:
ERP-SAP/SSC Consultant at GEA
- Mechanical engineering
- Post-merger integration
- Preparation for S4/HANA implementation
- VIM implementation
Siegfried Dreher
Head of Production Planning
Last position:
Head of Production Planning at Scheuerle/TII-Group
- Reorganized production planning (4 planning staff, 6 control staff, and 1 Lean specialist)
- Optimized SAP processes (PS/PP planning and control)
- Managed interfaces (purchasing, production, sales, logistics)
- Maintained master data
Wilfried Oelmann
Brokering import trade transactions
Last position:
Brokering import trade transactions at Self-employed
Kai-Uwe Tillmann
Senior Consultant Supplier Quality
Last position:
Senior Consultant / Task Force Leader at MitsumiMinebea Electro Motors Malaysia
- Set up and lead a task force to develop the supplier on site
- Determine the current quality status on site
- Evaluate the current results of ongoing actions
- Monitor and support the implementation of corrective actions from field complaints
- Provide process training to the supplier’s staff on site (8-D method, Ishikawa, process documentation)
- Introduce the APQP process, Gemba walks, and LPA audit process
- Optimize the maintenance process, including preventive and predictive maintenance
- Oversee internal VDA 6.3 process audits
- Monitor immediate and corrective actions
- Validate the results of the actions
- Guide the supplier’s teams to achieve mission goals: improve process effectiveness, strengthen production process robustness, enhance complaint handling efficiency, and ensure method competence in PFMEA, 8-D, risk analysis, and problem-solving methodology
- Ensure effectiveness of action implementation
- Restore customer satisfaction and trust in the supplier
- Improve the VDA 6.3 rating from C to A (>90%)
Frank Thurner
Engineering & Industry 4.0 / IoT Project Manager
Last position:
Engineering & Industry 4.0 / IoT Project Manager at Contech Software & Engineering GmbH
Engineering & Industry 4.0 / IoT projects with AI system using the Robust Design method for products & processes
Development, implementation & introduction of AI system Analyser® for Robust Design for products & processes
AI and Industry 4.0 standard product for preventive and reactive quality assurance as well as maintenance (Predictive Quality and Predictive Maintenance) based on big & smart data
Ralf Leuthäuser
Spare Parts Cost Estimator / Mechanical Engineering
Last position:
Spare Parts Estimator / Mechanical Engineering at GROB-WERKE GmbH & Co. KG
- Creation of work plans in SAP
- Cost calculation in SAP
- Optimization of production processes to reduce costs
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
REFA Industrial Engineers statistics
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
32 years
Position duration
3.3 years
Positions per freelancer
21
Top business areas
Operations, Procurement, Quality Assurance
Top industries
Automotive, Manufacturing, Professional Services
Certification focus areas
Operations, Quality Assurance, Production
Bachelor's degree or higher
57%
Master's degree or higher
14%
Certifications per freelancer
9
Most common languages
German, English, French
Speak two or more languages
86%
Daily Rate Distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of freelancers holding this certification are distributed, based on recent contracts on our platform. Each bar covers a rate range — its height shows how many freelancers charge within that range. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Average rates for REFA Industrial Engineers & Seniority distribution
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.
The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.
Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Frequently Asked Questions
Want to learn more? Find helpful information about FRATCH
A professional holding the REFA Industrial Engineer qualification specializes in optimizing work processes, determining accurate time data, and designing ergonomic workplaces. They apply standardized methods to analyze manufacturing workflows, reduce waste, and increase overall operational efficiency.
In Germany, the REFA Industrial Engineering standard is deeply integrated into industrial relations and collective bargaining agreements. Both employers and works councils trust REFA methods as an objective basis for work design, performance-based pay, and target-time determination.
While Lean Six Sigma focuses heavily on statistical variance and general waste reduction, the REFA Industrial Engineer program focuses deeply on work science, time studies, and the physical design of workplaces. Many German manufacturing projects combine both methodologies for maximum impact on the shop floor.
They are highly sought after in automotive manufacturing, mechanical engineering, aerospace, and contract logistics. Any industry with complex manual or semi-automated assembly processes in Germany benefits from their systematic approach to labor utilization and process planning.
Most projects for a REFA Industrial Engineer require a significant on-site presence in Germany to conduct direct time studies, observe shop floor operations, and collaborate with local production teams. However, data analysis, process documentation, and initial planning phases can easily be handled remotely.
To qualify for the REFA Industrial Engineer title, candidates typically need a solid technical background, such as a degree in engineering or a master craftsman credential. They must then complete a rigorous multi-stage training program covering work organization, data determination, and company logistics.
Because the REFA methodology is recognized as an objective, scientific standard by German trade unions and works councils, utilizing a certified professional helps prevent disputes. It ensures that time standards and workload calculations are fair, transparent, and legally compliant.
The timeline depends on the scope of the plant or production line, but many engagements last several months. A freelance REFA Industrial Engineer can deliver initial process analyses within a few weeks, while full implementation and workplace restructuring projects naturally take longer to complete.
The average hourly rate for freelancers with REFA Industrial Engineers in Germany is 123 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 980 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers with REFA Industrial Engineers in Germany, 57% hold at least a Bachelor's degree and 14% hold at least a Master's degree.
On average, freelancers with REFA Industrial Engineers in Germany have 32 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 3.3 years.
The most common languages among freelancers with REFA Industrial Engineers in Germany are German (100%), English (86%), and French (14%).
The most common industries among freelancers with REFA Industrial Engineers in Germany are Automotive (100%), Manufacturing (100%), and Professional Services (86%).
The most common business areas among freelancers with REFA Industrial Engineers in Germany are Operations (100%), Procurement (86%), and Quality Assurance (86%).
FRATCH REFA Industrial Engineers main locations
Our freelancers and interim experts are at home across the DACH region — available on-site in the major business hubs or fully remote. Choose a location to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.
Berlin Hamburg Munich Cologne Frankfurt Stuttgart Dusseldorf Leipzig Dortmund Essen Bremen Dresden Hanover Nuremberg Request a Free Demo
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Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
