Tag: Strategy

ŠKODA AUTO celebrates grand opening of an automatic small parts warehouse at the main plant in Mladá Boleslav

ŠKODA AUTO has invested around 8 million euros in its small parts warehouse in Mladá Boleslav
Robots transport small parts from the automatic warehouse to the assembly line
High level of automation increases the efficiency of processes in production logistics

MLADÁ BOLESLAV, 14-Nov-2018 — /EuropaWire/ — ŠKODA AUTO is pressing ahead with the implementation of technologies in line with Industry 4.0 principles: the grand opening of an automatic small parts warehouse took place at the main plant in Mladá Boleslav today. The high level of automation makes it possible to increase the efficiency of work processes in the plant’s small parts logistics. One example of this is the use of robots which put small parts into storage and transport them directly from the warehouse to the assembly line. ŠKODA AUTO has been operating a similar small parts warehouse in Kvasiny for around one year.

Michael Oeljeklaus, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Production and Logistics, said, “Last year, we were already able to significantly improve the production logistics processes at our Kvasiny plant. We are now also taking the efficiency of the processes at our main plant to a new level with the new automatic small parts warehouse. The warehouse in Mladá Boleslav is considerably larger and optimally prepares the plant for the future demands of car manufacturing with state-of-the-art technology in line with the principles of Industry 4.0.”

Michael Oeljeklaus officially opened the new automatic small parts warehouse (ASPW) together with Jiří Cee, Head of Brand Logistics, and KOVO Union MB representative, Miloš Kovář. The warehouse has been in operation since July 2018. ŠKODA AUTO has invested around 8 million euros in the construction of the small parts warehouse.

The ASPW is rigorously applying Industry 4.0 principles. The small parts are now stored and removed from the respective shelves fully automatically. From there, they are delivered to the assembly line just-in-sequence as required. This means that they arrive in exactly the order in which they are required and fitted. Automation makes it possible to further increase working precision, accelerate logistics processes and further minimise the error rate. Robots take the strain off the employees by taking on the physically demanding work. This frees up the employees’ time for tasks such as scanning labels or moving small load carriers (SLC) in the incoming and outgoing goods areas.

Covering 2,000 m2, the new ASPW in Mladá Boleslav offers plenty of space for 71,000 small load carriers. Per hour, up to 580 of these small plastic crates can be stored in the shelves which are 14 metres high. The same number of SLCs can be handled in order picking, i.e. outgoing goods. Two robots store the parts and two other robots take them out and deliver them just-in-sequence to production.

In July 2017, ŠKODA opened a similar small parts warehouse at its Kvasiny plant, offering space for 45,000 SLCs. In June 2018, ŠKODA was awarded the expert audience prize at the ELA European Logistics Awards for the Kvasiny warehouse.

By commissioning the automatic small parts warehouse in Mladá Boleslav, ŠKODA AUTO is pressing ahead with the digitalisation of its production – a key pillar of its 2025 Strategy.

SOURCE: ŠKODA AUTO a.s.

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Jens Katemann
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e: jens.katemann@skoda-auto.cz
t: +420 326 811 880

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Gurpratap Boparai

Pavel Richter

More efficient use of synergies: under ŠKODA’s leadership, Volkswagen Group establishes new management structure in India from 1 January 2019
Gurpratap Boparai, currently Managing Director of ŠKODA AUTO India Private Limited (SAIPL), to also become Managing Director of Volkswagen India Private Limited (VWIPL)
The restructuring of the Volkswagen Group companies is scheduled for 2019 subject to the relevant authorities’ approval

Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic /Mumbai/Pune/Aurangabad, India, 21-Nov-2018 — /EuropaWire/ — As part of the ‘INDIA 2.0’ project, the Volkswagen Group plans to sustainably strengthen its position in the Indian market. The Volkswagen Group in India is restructuring its management in order to use the existing synergies more efficiently in the development of this important growth market. Gurpratap Boparai, currently Managing Director of ŠKODA AUTO India Private Ltd., will also become Managing Director of Volkswagen India Private Limited (VWIPL) with effect from 1 January 2019. In the future, all the Group brands will continue their operations under the leadership of Gurpratap Boparai with a common strategy in the Indian Market. The restructuring of the Volkswagen Group companies in India is planned for next year, subject to regulatory and other approvals.

The Volkswagen Group is placing the responsibility for implementing the ‘INDIA 2.0’ project in the hands of the newly formed management team. The aim of this measure is to make more efficient use of existing synergies and to establish more agile coordination processes so that decisions can be made more quickly and flexibly.

With effect from 1 January 2019, Gurpratap Singh Boparai, currently Managing Director of ŠKODA AUTO India Private Ltd., will also become Managing Director of Volkswagen India Private Ltd. (VWIPL). On the same date, Mr. Pavel Richter, Production Technical Director of INDIA 2.0 project, will be responsible for production at both Indian plants. As part of the restructuring Dr. Andreas Lauermann will be moving to the Volkswagen Group by end of the year to take on new responsibilities.

Bernhard Maier, ŠKODA AUTO CEO, explains: “India is an important and attractive growth market for us. Our goal is clear: In this highly competitive environment, we aim for a combined Volkswagen and ŠKODA market share of up to 5% by 2025. Based on the MQB A0-IN platform from 2020, we will be offering the right models to unlock the Indian market’s potential.”

Gurpratap Boparai, Managing Director of ŠKODA AUTO India Private Ltd. and Head of ‘INDIA 2.0’, adds: “With the introduction of the new management structure, we are laying the foundations both for the joint implementation of ‘INDIA 2.0’ and for achieving our goals in India: we will secure employment in India, create new jobs, attract talent and launch high quality and attractive vehicles on the market.”

As part of ‘INDIA 2.0’, ŠKODA will be responsible for the Volkswagen Group’s model campaign on the Indian market. To best meet the needs of Indian customers, ŠKODA has been focusing on maximum market proximity from the very start. All future models to be developed and produced locally in India will be based on the Volkswagen Group’s modular transverse matrix (MQB). This platform already meets the stricter legal requirements in India, which will come into force in 2020. In this context, ŠKODA is developing the MQB-A0 IN sub-compact platform exclusively for the Indian market. The model campaign will be launched in 2020 with an SUV. In the second phase of the project, ŠKODA will be examining the possibility of exporting vehicles built in India.

SOURCE: ŠKODA AUTO a.s.

MEDIA CONTACT

Jens Katemann
Head of Communications
e: jens.katemann@skoda-auto.cz
t: +420 326 811 880

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