AbstractStructural Change of Engineering Units in the Chemical Industry – Ways of Becoming a Partner and Entrepreneur. Structural change must not be misunderstood as only observing staffing levels or methods of organisation. On the contrary, the cost/benefit‐relation is much more important. A balanced relation of a company's own personnel and the contractor's has to be considered. Structural change means also change of mind set: The task of management is nowadays to implement a culture of operational profit instead of a culture of demands. It is becoming more and more important to cooperate in a team. This cooperation starts early in defining the project aims, includes analysing all functions, looking for alternatives regarding cost/benefit‐aspects and is based on a clear, structured analysis of the problem instead of quick solu