• “Toolmaker of the Year” for the third time
• Production chief Frank Dreves: “Innovation, sustainability and employees as our guarantees of success
• Introduction of synchronized production impressed the jury
The AUDI AG Toolmaking Division has once again proven the pioneering nature of its role in the industry. Audi was able to outperform 291 competitors from the German-speaking regions in the “Excellence in Production” competition and can now lay claim to the title “Toolmaker of the Year 2011.” The awards ceremony took place during the 11th International Colloquium “Tool and Die-Making for the Future” in Wiesbaden.
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This was the third time that the award has gone to the automaker from Ingolstadt. Frank Dreves, Member of the Board of Management for Production at AUDI AG, views this as an important guidepost: “Our Toolmaking Division has not been resting on its laurels, but has instead continued developing by leaps and bounds,” underscores Dreves. He is convinced that the Audi Toolmaking Division is well equipped to master future challenges and keep pace with developments: “After all, innovation, sustainability and in particular our employees are key guarantees of lasting success.”
During the awards ceremony in Wiesbaden, the distinguished jury of experts consisting of representatives from industry, research and associations gave special praise to the introduction of synchronized production at the Audi Toolmaking Division. All work steps are perfectly coordinated with each other to yield a more streamlined and efficient production process. The jury members were also impressed by the separate innovation department devoted solely to development of topics related to production of equipment for modern materials such as carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs). As a general contractor for car bodies, Audi Toolmaking is thus significantly expanding its product portfolio.
“We have consistently converted the toolmaking process to synchronized production and are continually looking for ways to optimize our products and processes,” says Michael Breme, Head of the Audi Toolmaking Division, describing how his area has developed. “Together with our highly qualified team, these are the main reasons for our success in the ‘Excellence in Production’ competition,” he adds.
Audi Toolmaking covers the entire metal panel production chain and has established itself as a strategic supplier. The Volkswagen Group designated Audi Toolmaking a “Center of Excellence” in November 1996. Approximately 1,860 employees work at the various toolmaking locations in the Audi Group: 950 in Ingolstadt, 400 in Neckarsulm, 450 in Gy?r, 50 in Barcelona and ten in Beijing. Revenue from toolmaking alone totaled €540 million in 2010.
The “Toolmaker of the Year” award is an initiative from the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL) of RWTH Aachen and the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (IPT). This was the eighth annual “Excellence in Production” competition.
Audi AG
