Hi Daniel,
assuming that you are not fully flexible in choosing the region you will work in, it would help to know where you are currently located.
Generally, I would say that it is more important how you network once you are inside the company. For example for BCG Germany, you can get ringfenced to an Operations Practice Area who will then staff you exclusively, irrespective of where you are located.
Best,
Sebastian
Hi Daniel,
It will broadly follow the regional economy / footprint of potential clients.
E.g., German offices have a large manufacturing focus, US offices in the Midwest
An additional consideration is the staffing model (McK being more global, BCG and Bain more local), i.e., if you are looking to do manufacturing work it will be beneficial in all three firms to be in a local office that does that, but it will be less of a factor with McK.
Happy to chat in more detail.
Cheers,
Andreas
While McKinsey has a global staffing model, allowing for manufacturing opportunities across various offices, the firm's Midwest offices, particularly Chicago, have historically had a strong focus on manufacturing clients.
This makes sense, given the Midwest is home to over ~50% of the US's industrial manufacturing base. McKinsey's Chicago office, serving as the NA Operations hub, has likely played a significant role in supporting these clients.
That being said, it's essential to remember that McKinsey's manufacturing expertise is not limited to specific offices. As a global firm, they can deploy experts from various locations to support clients worldwide.
So, while Chicago might have a stronger manufacturing focus, it's not the only office with expertise in this area.
Hi there,
Generally, the MBB offices closest to major manufacturing hubs in each region tend to focus more on manufacturing clients.
That said, all three firms involve regular travel, so you don’t necessarily need to be based near a manufacturing hub - if that’s your goal, you’ll likely be flown out each week anyway.
McKinsey tends to staff more globally, BCG is more regional, and Bain is relatively local in its staffing model.
Cheers,
Florian
Look at the demand side. After a quick Google search, here’s the share of global industrial production by country:
Best,
Alberto
—
Explore my latest case inspired by a real MBB interview: StayPro - Consumer Growth Strategy
Hey there 😊,
Great question—and one I know well from experience! I worked in the Munich offices of both McKinsey and BCG, and can tell you that manufacturing-heavy offices definitely exist across MBB.
🏭 Key offices with strong manufacturing focus:
– Munich 🇩🇪 – very strong in automotive, industrial goods, and advanced manufacturing
– Stuttgart 🇩🇪 (McK, BCG) – especially auto & engineering clients
– Chicago 🇺🇸 – strong in industrials and manufacturing-heavy Fortune 500s
– Tokyo & Osaka 🇯🇵 – big on traditional manufacturing, lean ops, and supply chain
– Milan 🇮🇹 – industrial clients, especially machinery and consumer manufacturing
– Shanghai / Shenzhen 🇨🇳 – tied to supply chain, smart manufacturing, and sourcing
– Paris 🇫🇷 – also has a good industrials presence
So yes, if you’re targeting manufacturing, these offices will give you tons of relevant exposure. Let me know if you want help tailoring your application to one of them—I’d be happy to support 😊
Best,
Alessa 😇
All offices will serve multiple industries...
If you want manufacturing clients, consider regions that are heavier in manufacturing (e.g. US Midwest, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Paris), China, Japan...
Expert case by
