www.automotivepurchasing.com Exclusive Interview Dr. Klaus Zehender Member of the Divisional Board Mercedes-Benz Cars responsible for Procurement & Supplier Quality Bentayga January 2016 A look as the fi rst of Bentley’s super-SUV rolls o the line NEW ASTRA ˜ HUNGARY REGIONAL REPORT ˜ LIGHTWEIGHTING ‘A Global Industry in constant change, needs strong leadership’ The Automotive Leaders Summit bring together the leaders who are shaping our industry. Together they will discuss and debate; share initiatives and search for new avenues and opportunities – all in an exclusive environment. The Automotive Leaders Summit in Las Vegas will feature innovative and inspiring keynote addresses, in-depth and thought-provoking debates, focused forum discussions and private one-on-one meetings. This exclusive event, will promise attendance by top-level executives, attendees are CEOs, board members and senior executives from within the global automotive industry. Exceptional networking opportunities and access to the knowledge of what may drive, shape and affect the future design and execution of global automotive supply makes this truly a must-attend event. The Automotive Leaders Summit North America provides the opportunity for leading industry players, both domestic and international, to meet, network and debate how best to establish a practical approach to achieve common goals. The Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas | 6-7 April 2016 www.automotiveleaderssummit.com Lunch Sponspor Event Sponspor Exclusive Gala Dinner and Awards Sponsor Following on from the success of the inaugural event in 2015 at The Plaza Hotel, New York, the team at Three6Zero are once again bringing the entire industry together in Las Vegas. This event is eagerly awaited by those who attended in 2015 as it promotes and highlights the achievements from the North American automotive supply chain sector through best performance. In the heart of Las Vegas at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, the North American Automotive Global Awards follows the Automotive Leaders Summit – North America, taking place on the 6th & 7th April and will be the perfect finish of these two prestigious happenings at the Nevada venue. The first-class Awards Gala Dinner is already guaranteeing attendance by top-level executives from both vehicle manufacturers and within the global supply chain industry, all wishing to take part in an event that celebrates best the industry has to offer. The Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas | 7 April 2016 www.automotiveglobalawards.com Editors Note Saluting suppliers’ commitment Visiting the Bentley plant recently, and those drawn from long-serving I was struck by several things; the VW Group vendors, all the while intriguing mix of automation and hand observing the best industry practices crafting, the diversity of suppliers, of just-in-time and tight inventory both in component and module/ control. Editor: system supply, and also the use Outsourcing assembly and Simon Duval Smith of outsourcing assembly and plant plant management has been maintenance and management carefully thought out, to add Editor-in-Chief: functions. exibility and control costs with less Peter Wooding To build and sell a super-luxury complex operations like tyre and car, be it a saloon, coupe, convertible wheel assembly and paint shop News Editor: or now, with the new Bentayga, a maintenance being outsourced but all Alex Kreetzer super-luxury SUV, takes tremendous the ‘Bentley-speci c’ craft tasks such Advertising: commitment and planning. When the as trim and nal assembly being kept Paul Singh in-house. Bentayga was rst shown in concept, [email protected] the press, and much of the public, The contrast with GM Vauxhall’s reaction was one of bewilderment Ellesmere Port Astra line is stark Deryck Morris mixed with suspicion. How could such but there are some similarities; as [email protected] a prestigious brand build an off-road with GM’s Luton van plant, some capable vehicle? How could it eclipse sub-assembly is outsourced to a the enormous success of the Range contractor and looking after the Chief Marketing O cer: Rover, seen by many as the pinnacle plant’s facilities management is Catherine Jackson of SUV re nement and capability? entrusted to a service company. [email protected] And how could the OEM possibly From making just over 1000 cars Circulation & Distribution Manager: make it pay, given the preponderance in 2003 to 10,100 in 2015, Bentley has Zoe Chapman come a long way, and at Ellesmere of luxury and performance off-roaders [email protected] in the VW Group family? Port, production of the new Astra +44 (0) 208 882 1330 Well, if you have experienced the will have gone from zero to 150,000 Bentayga in the metal, those doubts units in the next few months, and will have been quelled. The car is all thanks in considerable part to a wonder of luxury, performance suppliers’ expertise, innovation and and craftsmanship, and as sales commitment. gures show already, it will be an In response to many requests from our All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system extraordinary success. readers and industry partners, Automotive without the written permission of the publishers. All this has been achieved on a Purchasing magazine will be published Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication, the publisher cannot accept carefully-husbanded budget; careful monthly from the next issue; a testament responsibility for any inaccuracies or changes implementation of automation has to its value as an information source and since going to press, or for consequential loss arising for such changes or inaccuracies, extended to some of the trim line platform for discussion and debate. We are or for any other loss direct or consequential and other parts of assembly but proud to be your supplier. Join us to continue arising in connection with the information in this publication. The views expressed by the money has not been wasted on to read about what is without doubt the most contributors are not necessarily also those of installing expensive and in exible challenging and exciting industry in the the publisher. systems where existing systems world! A Publication could be adapted, or where manual handling is most appropriate, such as ISSN 2059-3295 transporting bodies from one building E. & O.E. to another. This is done on a powered © 2016 Three 6 Zero Limited - Automotive Purchasing but manually controlled tugger-type Simon( trolley. [email protected] Additional illustrations freepik.com The sourcing of parts and systems Printed by: The Magazine Printing Company PLC is an intelligent mix of local suppliers 4 Lottery When you win the lottery, you win big. Mostly, of course, you don’t win at all. The lottery is not a business model. Business needs certainty. The certain knowledge that an action will result in a predictable improvement in that most basic fundamental: productivity. Certainty Over thirty years Unipart has developed a system that engineers certainty into every process of our business. By making productivity the focus of every activity. By engaging everyone who works for us to interrogate what they do. By permitting them to make it better. Daily, incremental improvements add up, creating consistent gain. Over time, the benefits of this scientific approach are considerable. We call it The Unipart Way. It works. Of that you can be certain. Find out more at unipart.com The Science of Productivity contents January 2016 Cover Story 18 www.automotivepurchasing.com 8 Mercedes-Benz - Magna’s screening the global lightweight supplier landscape for new partners crusader Exclusive Interview Swamy Kotagiri, Chief Dr. Klaus Zehender Dr. Klaus Zehender, Head of Member of the Divisional Board Technology O cer of Magna Procurement & Supplier Quality at Mercedes-Benz Cars responsible for International talks about how Procurement & Supplier Quality Mercedes-Benz Cars tells Simon Duval the supplier can help OEMs Smith about changes in the OEM’s meet the challenges of Bentayga global sourcing and manufacturing A look as the fi rst of tomorrow’s legislations, and January 2016 Bentley’s super-SUV rolls o the line strategies. customer demands. LIGHTWEIGHTING NEW ASTRA ˜ HUNGARY REGIONAL REPORT ˜ Bentley Bentayga - super-SUV Lightweighting30 - 22 with superior suppliers composite solutions and We went to Bentley’s Crewe, UK facility to see the fi rst Bentaygas supply chain realities roll o the line and talked to David Cost, complexity, an uncertain supply Hudson, Manufacturing Project chain and quality worries are just Leader - Bentayga about how supplier some of the issues preventing more collaboration was essential for the new widespread use of composites and vehicle’s success. plastics in automotive. New Astra Automotive glass - lead-free - to the stars? and lightweight 38 On-glass46 electrical connection is one of the last applications for lead solder in automobiles; one company is working hard to change this, and is also applying lightweight solutions to automotive glazing, as we fi nd out. CES 2016 - the connected The seventh-generation Opel/Vauxhall Astra is vital to car continues to develop GM’s success in Europe. We look at the development The connected car has once again stolen the limelight50 at this year’s programme, visit the Ellesmere Port plant and talk to Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, featuring a range of intelligent, Mike Thomas, Assistant Plant Manager. autonomous, electric and e cient