Steering production launches

The production launch is always critical, says P3 consultant Rainer Aits. Numerous activities take place at the same time, there are more or less obvious dependences and many unknowns, like supplier-side difficulties, sudden quality problems or resource shortages. “With the right strategy, unexpected interferences can be factored in as well. We construct a so-called cockpit along with the customer.” This is a launch plan which bundles the most important activities, like schedule and resource planning, cost control, test runs or the craft status.

For many years, P3 has been consulting for automotive manufacturers in launch management, but during product evolution and in the definition of production strategies as well. Concentrating on added value is always the main focus, also during analysis of the ongoing production. Measures like the reduction of manufacturing and logistics costs or quality optimization are not designed on the drawing board, “instead we are moving on the shop floor. Without the dialogue with employees, goals like the lowering of ppm rates cannot be reached. Our task is to support them technically and methodically.”

Aits and his team never claim being able to pull a fitting solution for every problem right out of the hat. “We have to act creatively and methodically.” By cooperating with engineers and project managers of the OEMs, the P3 consultants reduce complexity and establish transparency by means of a structured approach. “Waste is avoided this way, because today’s customer only pays for the pure added value in a product.”