Fierce competition in eight categories.
The award categories – plant efficiency, assembly efficiency, shop floor management, process excellence, cost of tools and networking – were supplemented this year by two further categories, namely lead time and hours per unit (HPU). The new lead time category focuses on process orientation and cross-divisional consideration of the whole value stream. HPU is the key performance indicator for net staffing in production and non-production areas down to assembly line level. The winner in the special networking category was decided for the very first time by online votes submitted by employees. Three plants which had been nominated beforehand were up for election.
Thomas Schmall, CEO at Volkswagen Group Components, said, “In its third year, we have not only added more suspense by incorporating two new categories into the SPEED+ Awards, but have also increased the number of participating plants. The inclusion of more Group brands has added to the sense of competition surrounding the awards. However, the focus continues to be on creating standards that enable us to learn from the best in our company. The company won’t benefit from the best examples if we don’t share them and make them available for all to use.”
Dr Stefan Sommer, Group Board member for Components and Procurement said, “The SPEED+ Awards put the operative performance of our plants under the spotlight and simultaneously promote competition among the participating sites. But it is also about ensuring that our plants remain competitive, and thus viable in the future, in relation to external competitors. This efficiency contest provides our plants with a benchmark and showcases best practices to the entire Group.
High turnout
Now in its third year, the Speed+ Awards presented by Volkswagen Group Components have continued to gain in importance. The number of participants has increased and become even more international. In addition, a further three brands from the Volkswagen Group participated with their component plants in the efficiency contest: Audi, SEAT and ŠKODA. Over 10,000 employees (8,000 last year) from 23 (19) plants in 11 (7) countries competed and learned from one another in a total of eight award categories.
The winners of the SPEED+ Awards presented by Volkswagen Group Components are:
Plant efficiency
1. Tianjin plant, China
2. Braunschweig plant, Germany
3. Dalian plant, China
Assembly efficiency
1. Puebla plant, Mexico
2. Braunschweig plant, Germany
3. São Carlos plant, Brazil
Shopfloor management
1. Braunschweig plant, Germany
2. Kassel plant, Germany
3. SITECH plant in Polkowice, Poland
Process excellence
1. SITECH plant in Wolfsburg, Germany
2. Poznán foundry, Poland
3. Kassel plant, Germany
Cost of tools
1. Tianjin plant, China
2. Dalian plant, China
3. Braunschweig plant, Germany
Lead time
1. Tianjin plant, China
2. SITECH plant in Polkowice, Poland
3. SITECH plant in Wolfsburg, Germany
HPU
1. SITECH plant in Polkowice, Poland
2. Motor Polska Polkowice plant, Poland
3. Poznán foundry, Poland
Networking
Kassel plant, Germany