Logistics in the motor industry: casestudy of Tedrive Poland S.A. in Praszka

Abstract

The Praszka Plant, built in the 1970's (historically the business started in 1950's) and originally operated as a state owned enterprise, then Visteon Poland S.A. and now Tedrive Poland Ltd. is a manufacturing location of the Tedrive group consisting of 4 production facilities and 5 engineering, with 2600 employees worldwide with 0,5 billion Euro revenue. Tedrive is one of the world's suppliers of components to the automotive industry. Tedrive Poland employs ca. 880 people and its annual revenue of 120 million Euro places the plant in a middle size range companies. The current product portfolio: driveshafts, hot coiled suspension springs, aluminum pressure castings, angle sensors (lighting), door speakers and aftermarket applications. The customer base consists of major OEMs like Ford, Fiat, Opel, Isuzu, Volvo, Jaguar, Daimler or BMW. The plant logistics embraces internal and external logistics as well as systemic logistics solutions like Kanban, SMF, material handling scenarios, warehousing, packaging management, Total Productive Maintenance or shipping processes. Certifications of QS9000, ISO9001, TS16949, Q1 and ISO14001 and their integration are aimed to ensure meeting the company goals. With the motto: "Operational Excellence is to never stop improving" Tedrive believes and invests in teaching/learning and continuously improves through stable process oriented activities as well as new initiatives like EFQM. Tedrive Poland Ltd. participates in life of the local community as an active citizen of choice that finances and supports local needs to help children and protect natural environment.