Self-test: Is the "Metal Construction Workshop and Assembly Manager with Federal Diploma of Higher Education (FPE)" course the right one for me?

What is the day-to-day work of a Metal Construction Workshop and Assembly Manager with Federal Diploma of Higher Education like?

A metal construction workshop and assembly manager leads a team of metal workers in a metal construction company (steel construction or façade construction company). The managers receive the orders, discuss them with the designers and pass them on to the specialists for execution. As supervisors, they ensure smooth workflows, rationalize and improve the production processes and assign the work to the employees. During execution, the metal construction workshop and assembly manager coordinates and monitors the production processes in the workshop and the assembly work on the construction site. However, the managers are also skilled in practical work and lend a hand with difficult jobs. As team leaders, they keep work reports and logs, ensure that orders are completed on time and monitor materials management.

The tasks as a metal construction workshop and assembly manager are as follows:

• Monitoring of execution times
• Scheduling and coordination of assembly work, including discussion of work processes
• Assistance with scheduling and monitoring
• Reporting, monitoring of work reports
• Providing the assembly material
• Responsible for general tasks such as:
  • Workshop regulations
  • Responsibility for maintenance and repair of workshop equipment, checkrooms, workshop environment, recreation rooms
  • Vehicles and their maintenance work incl. scheduling and servicing
  • Preparation of simple quotations and small-scale measurements
  • Monitoring materials management
  • Control of working and production times
  • Control of accident prevention, safety and occupational hygiene
  • Rationalization awareness (proposals)
  • Dealing with customers and suppliers

Note: The distribution/frequency and weighting of tasks can vary greatly depending on the job profile and size of the company.

Typical functions as a metal construction workshop and assembly manager are

• Project manager
• Operations manager
• Production manager
• Workshop manager
• Assembly manager

Target group and skills: Who is the Federal Diploma of Higher Education in Metal Construction Workshop and Assembly Supervisor suitable for? What qualities and skills are required as a manager?

The "Metal construction workshop and assembly manager" training is aimed at the following people who have learned a metal construction trade or related profession and would like to deepen their knowledge and develop their skills. In other words, professionals who:

• Want to take on management tasks
• want to take care of the workshop staff
• would like to supervise learners
• want to handle metal construction orders efficiently
• like to maintain customer contacts
• are looking for a new challenge in the metal construction industry

Important qualities and skills for the profession of metal construction workshop and assembly manager are

• Strong organizational personality who enjoys carrying out customer-specific projects and unusual tasks
• Strong customer and service orientation
• High quality awareness
• Communication skills
• Leadership qualities
• Assertiveness
• Technical understanding
• Commercial interest and skills
• Precise working method

Requirements for admission to the Federal Professional Examination Head of Metal Construction Workshop / Metal Construction Assembly:

The following four prerequisites are required for admission to the final examination (Federal Professional Examination) as a metal construction workshop and assembly manager:

• Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training as a metalworker or a related profession (e.g. metal construction fitter, metal construction designer)
• at least 3 years of metal construction experience since completing the apprenticeship (graduates of a day vocational school recognized by the QS Commission are credited with a maximum of 1 year as metal construction experience)
• a course as a vocational trainer
• Required module qualifications or certificates of equivalence

Some schools also require basic and user knowledge of MS Office and a computer with Internet access. Depending on what previous knowledge you bring with you, it is advisable to take a preliminary course in PC application.

You will be informed in writing at least three months before the start of the examination whether you meet the requirements for the Federal Professional Examination for Metal Construction Workshop and Assembly Supervisors.

Note: The prerequisites, such as professional experience, only need to be fulfilled at the time of the federal written examinations. Some schools may be prepared to admit you to a preparatory course for the Federal Professional Examination for Metal Construction Workshop and Assembly Supervisors if you do not (yet) meet the criteria for admission to the federal examination at the start of the course. You are responsible for fulfilling the conditions at the time of the examination or examination registration. This is subject to the timely transfer of the examination fee.

Learning material and contents of the metal construction workshop and assembly manager continuing education, further training:

The subject matter of the preparatory courses for the Federal Diploma of Higher Education in Metal Construction Workshop and Assembly Supervisor is based on the specifications of the responsible body for the Federal Diploma of Higher Education, theAM Suisse.

The learning content of the metal construction workshop and assembly manager continuing education, further training is divided into the following modules:

• Marketing and acquisition
  • Fundamentals of general business administration
  • Marketing basics
  • Marketing tools
  • Customer care and customer loyalty
• Personnel management
  • Understanding personnel administration
  • Understanding staff remuneration
  • Understanding social insurance
  • Knowledge of the apprenticeship system (excl. master teacher course)
  • Knowledge of personnel management
• Calculation
  • Basics of the calculation structure
  • Cost types
  • Calculation and offer
  • Directing work
  • Procurement bases
  • Revenue reduction
• Project management
  • Basic concepts of project management
  • Project initialization
  • Project goals
  • Phase models
  • Project organization
  • Structure plan, procedure list and schedule
  • Resource plan, resource plan and cost plan
  • Standards, guidelines and contracts
  • Quality assurance and quality management
• Materials technology/process engineering
  • Fundamentals of materials technology
  • Mathematics / technical calculations
  • Steel materials
  • Stainless steels
  • Aluminum
  • Casting materials and processes
  • Plastics / composites
  • Glass
  • Connection techniques
  • Assembly
  • Insulating and sealing materials
  • Fire protection
• Management
  • Work preparation
  • Reporting
  • Production and materials management
  • Order processing
  • Security guidelines
  • Assembly preparations
• Construct
  • Basics of the freehand sketching technique
  • Detailed sketches of metal constructions
• Building physics
  • Basics of thermal insulation
  • Basics of moisture protection
  • Sound insulation basics

Costs and financing of continuing education, further training Head of Metal Construction Workshop / Metal Construction Assembly:

Depending on the provider and duration of the course, the cost of continuing education, further training as a metal construction workshop and assembly manager varies slightly. On average, these amounts are to be expected:

• Course fees:between CHF 8'450.- and CHF 12'500.-
  After taking the exam, you will receive around 50% of this back from the federal government on application (regardless of the result)*.
  Note: Members of the Kaufmännischer Verband receive a 10% discount on the costs of training courses and courses offered by individual training providers
• Examination fees:CHF 2,300 (as at August 2025)
  The examination fee is set by the body responsible for the Federal Professional Examination. It is paid by the candidate after confirmation of admission to the metal construction workshop and assembly manager examination.
• Extra costs:At some schools, the costs for enrolment fees, teaching materials, training documents, books, intensive exam training, simulation exams, school diplomas and intermediate qualifications, for example, are not included in the course fees. Please contact the provider of your choice directly to find out what additional costs you can expect for the metal construction workshop and assembly manager continuing education, further training.

*Since 1.1.2018, preparatory courses for Federal Professional Examination such as the Metal Construction Workshop and Assembly Supervisor course have been financially supported by the federal government. Graduates of these courses can therefore be reimbursed up to 50% (max. CHF 9,500) of the course costs paid after taking the federal examination. In cases of hardship, the federal contributions are also pre-financed in exceptional cases.

Duration of study, number of teaching hours and learning effort for metal construction workshop and assembly manager training:

• The metal construction workshop and assembly manager training, continuing education, further training is modular (i.e. some of the skills are assessed in module examinations before the Federal Professional Examination and are only tested across modules at the final examination) and lasts 2 to 4 semesters while working. It comprises approx. 600 lessons.
• Lesson times vary depending on the provider of the metal construction workshop and assembly manager continuing education, further training. As a rule, the lessons take place on individual half-days during the week and on Saturdays, one evening and on Saturdays, all day and on Saturdays and, less frequently, in course blocks lasting several days.
• Many schools now offer a mix of face-to-face and online courses (online, hybrid teaching, blended learning) as well as self-study.
• Thanks to the extra-occupational concept of the metal construction workshop and assembly manager course, you can apply and consolidate the learning material in practice straight away. Nevertheless, you should allow sufficient time for preparation and follow-up of the lessons and self-study - how much depends on your previous knowledge, working style and learning speed. As a precaution, we recommend that you allow at least 4 - 8 hours per week.

Note: Some schools offer so-called "taster lessons". This gives you the opportunity to gain an insight into the lessons and the learning atmosphere. These are important aspects on the way to successfully completing the metal construction workshop and assembly manager course. It is best to contact the school of your choice directly.

Degree, diploma and title Head of Metal Construction Assembly / Metal Construction Workshop:

The Federal Professional Examination "Metal Construction Workshop and Assembly Manager with Federal Diploma of Higher Education" takes place annually, provided that at least 12 candidates meet the admission requirements, otherwise every two years. It can be held in German, French or Italian.
Candidates for the Federal Professional Examination in Metal Construction Workshop and Assembly Supervisor are notified at least 3 weeks before the start of the examination. The invitation includes the examination program (with details of the place and time of the examination as well as permitted aids) and the list of experts.

The Federal Professional Examination for Metal Construction Workshop and Assembly Managers comprises the following five parts:

• Practical work (double weighting, 12 to 15 hours)
• Technology (written, 1 weighting, 2 hours)
• Technology (oral, 1 weighting, approx. 2 hours)
• Market/people/company (written, single weighting, 1 hour)
• Market/people/company (oral, single weighting, approx. 1 hour)

Diploma and title "Metal construction workshop and assembly manager"

Graduates of the Federal Professional Examination receive a Federal Diploma of Higher Education and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected title "Metal Construction Workshop and Assembly Manager with Federal Diploma of Higher Education" or "Metal Construction Workshop and Assembly Manager with Federal Diploma of Higher Education".

• In French: "Cheffe / Chef d'atelier et de montage en construction métallique avec brevet fédéral"
• In Italian: "Capo officina e di montaggio metalcostruttrice / Capo officina e di montaggio metalcostruttore con attestato professionale federale"
• In English: "Workshop and Assembly Manager in Metal Construction with Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education and Training" (Attention: This is only a recommendation/translation and not a protected title)