Meet our cost engineering colleagues in Wroclaw

Central and Eastern Europe Client Capabilities Network

Best place to be a cost engineer

August 26, 2021Piotr, a knowledge analyst based in our Wroclaw Client Capabilities hub, joined us after 10 years in the chemistry processing and manufacturing industry. He says: “Before McKinsey, I worked for two international manufacturing corporations, and my focus area was largely Poland. I wanted to expand my knowledge and expertise and knew a global firm like McKinsey would give me the opportunity to do so. Since joining McKinsey, I have worked with clients from all over the world—from Brazil to Japan.

Being a cost engineer with McKinsey has opened doors I never expected and continues to fulfil me professionally. Every day, I am just one phone call away from colleagues with 20+ years of experience who have a vested interest in helping me grow. The open discussions we have as a team are thought-provoking and keep me learning—we discuss concepts and ideas and are really pushed to think creatively to achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients. I have unlimited exposure to a wide range of technologies and products which feed my curiosity and inquisitiveness. All of these things combined make McKinsey one of the best places to be a cost engineer.”

Never a dull day

Karolina, a senior capabilities and insights analyst based in our Wroclaw Client Capabilities hub, is passionate about delivering meaningful solutions to clients. She shared: “I help clients understand the cost drivers of products and how to build cost models. I help compare existing cost breakdowns and show differences that are potential savings opportunities, while increasing cost transparency. After analyzing different production strategies or design choices, I provide recommendations to our clients based on calculations and research.

I enjoy the variety of clients and projects I work on. One day I may be working on the cost analysis of huge casting parts (including a 62-ton grinding table!) and two weeks later, my role requires me to teardown a luxury, hand-crafted leather handbag.”

Facing challenges to double my knowledge

Piotr, a senior knowledge analyst based in our Wroclaw Client Capabilities hub, earned his PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Science and Technology in Wroclaw. The variety of projects he works on has kept him excited and engaged during his five years with the firm.

“I help our clients by optimizing their products and teaching them about the manufacturing costs of their components. The teams I am a part of tear down products to fully understand the components and where they can save. We analyze everything from minced meat to beer bottles to candy to car components. My work has exposed me to virtual reality, data analytics, 3D printing and mathematical modelling. And the development opportunities I have are amazing. One of my colleagues described the development curve with McKinsey as a vertical line—the challenges and questions you face here allow you to double your knowledge—and I couldn’t agree more.”

Delivering great value

Jakub, a senior knowledge analyst based in our Wroclaw Client Capabilities hub, enjoys the variety of projects he works on within our cost engineering team. He shares: “With each project, I expand my knowledge about how products are made, the materials used, and the technologies and production processes needed. I have begun to look at manufacturing beyond engineering, and now understand how to have a more holistic perspective that includes cost optimization, user-friendliness, and sustainability. Thanks to the variety of projects, clients, and experts, I have had exposure to many new industries—from automotive to clothing, to pharma, to aerospace and defense. I am given room for creativity during the idea generation phase of a project, and I contribute to design improvements which deliver greater value and product features, often with reduced production cost.”

Find a role within our cost engineering team in Wroclaw