Abels & Kemmner once again named ‘Top Consultant 2026’ for supply chain management
Photo credit: KD Busch / compamedia
Heidelberg / Herzogenrath, 27 June 2026 – Abels & Kemmner has once again been recognised in the nationwide ‘Top Consultant’ consultancy ranking and now bears the 2026 Top Consultant seal. The consultancy firm, which specialises in supply chain management, inventory management and inventory optimisation, has thus been recognised yet again for its achievements in the German SME sector.
The award was presented by the competition’s patron, the entrepreneur and former Federal Minister Dr Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, during the German SME Summit on 26 June 2026 in Heidelberg. Silvia Frankenne, Managing Director, Tobias Brasch, Senior Consultant, and Peter Szczensny, Principal, accepted the award on behalf of the company.
Award based on scientific evaluation
The selection of the award winners is based on a scientific analysis carried out by the Scientific Society for Management and Consultancy (WGMB) on behalf of compamedia. This is based on an independent customer survey of medium-sized enterprises. Factors assessed include the quality of consultancy, customer satisfaction and willingness to recommend the company to others (details at www.top-consultant.de/pruefkriterien).
Specialist in supply chain management and inventory optimisation
Founded in 1993 and based in Herzogenrath, Abels & Kemmner supports industrial and commercial enterprises in making their supply chains more efficient and cost-effective. The consultancy’s work focuses on supply chain management, inventory management and inventory optimisation. The aim is to reduce stock levels sustainably, improve delivery reliability and, at the same time, reduce capital tied up in inventory.
The company’s roots lie in the Research Institute for Rationalisation (FIR) at RWTH Aachen University. To this day, Abels & Kemmner combines scientific methods with many years of project experience and a consistent focus on implementation.
Data-driven consultancy using the digital twin
A key component of the consultancy service is the use of a digital twin of the supply chain. This enables different scenarios to be simulated and the impact of planned measures on stock levels, delivery capacity and capital tied up to be objectively assessed even before implementation.
“We replace assumptions with valid decision-making criteria,” explains Silvia Frankenne, Managing Director of Abels & Kemmner. “Our clients can see, even before implementation, what effects measures will actually have on their supply chain.”
In practice, this simulation-based approach often leads to inventory reductions of 20 to 40 per cent, whilst delivery capability remains stable or improves. The key here is to optimise the entire supply chain rather than implementing individual, isolated measures.
Expertise and an understanding of SMEs
Prof. Dr Dietmar Fink and Dr Bianka Knoblach, heads of the WGMB, emphasise the importance of the quality of consultancy: “As well as technical expertise, an SME consultant needs a keen sense of entrepreneurship and an understanding of the culture of small and medium-sized enterprises,” says Knoblach.
Fink adds: “This is not about abstract organisations, but about established structures characterised by responsibility, tradition and personal risk.”
