Automotive & Supplier

The question is no longer whether or not the combustion engine in cars will be replaced by electric engines: the question is when. Realistically speaking, it may well be that both drivetrain concepts operate parallel to each other for at least another 10 to 15 years. And this transition phase will dramatically increase the degree of complexity in the years ahead, creating new challenges in how OEMs and suppliers will work together. Making complexity manageable will thus be one of these businesses’ key tasks. Among other things, this means that every process has to be reviewed.

We assist you in creating transparency, perfecting your procedures and making them more flexible. As a result, you can turn your attention to your value-chain activities — keeping your customers happy in terms of deadlines, quality and cost-efficiency.

Beyond that, Staufen also guides you as you implement professional variant and complexity management.

In the automotive industry, there are hardly any factories where the Lean approach has not already been introduced. For decades, the methods and culture of Lean Management have been making major contributions to successful production lines.

Further increases in efficiency are feasible as well, especially using smart factory solutions as well as connecting and digitizing facilities. Beyond those areas, however, Lean management has not yet been able to establish itself in back-office areas — from purchasing to administration to sales and everything in between. These are often the areas which lead to bottlenecks in the value stream and have a negative impact on the overall lead time and customer satisfaction.

Staufen assists you in structuring every area of your company to focus on the value stream.

More than ever, companies depend upon the successful work of their experts in innovation and development.  Electromobility, lightweight construction and CarIT all involve new technologies and production processes. At the same time, conventional technology is also experiencing massive pressure to innovate. Creativity and structured work are in no way mutually exclusive: engineers and developers alike can benefit from the methods and culture of Lean Management.

Professional multi-project management shows that lead time in the product-development process can be significantly decreased despite a growing number of tasks.

In our many projects, we have demonstrated that Lean Development and Lean Innovation help new ideas launch quickly and successfully. 

The automotive industry is facing fundamental transitions, resulting in major uncertainty among managers and employees. More than ever before, those in charge have to focus their efforts on creating a culture of constant learning. The main emphasis here is on professional development that empowers employees, expanding their competence and motivating them. Shop Floor Management and Kata help establish this kind of culture. Employees at your work environment will be empowered to identify problems early on and resolve them independently. Management assumes the role of a coach and mentor.

Staufen’s consultants teach your managers the skills they need to make these changes. We create leadership excellence in every area of your company and work with you to complement the classic hierarchical structure with new agile kinds of collaboration. The result: a working environment which can quickly adapt to changes and anticipate customer needs.