Issue 6 (February 2008)

Editorial

News

A Chip Travels around the World

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), headquartered in the USA, is one of the world’s most important manufacturers of microprocessors and graphics processors. Development and production is spread across three continents. This made the task facing Porsche Consulting a great challenge: Working together with AMD, the Porsche consultants are helping synchronize the company’s processes from the USA to Europe and on to Asia, with the goal of significantly reducing the time it takes to manufacture AMD’s products from the initial idea through to delivery to the customer.

With a Heart for Children

With complete dedication, great sensitivity, and a wealth of medical expertise, doctors and nursing staff are battling for the lives of very young patients at the Clinic for Con - genital Heart Defects at the North Rhine- West phalia Heart and Diabetes Center. Porsche Consulting is providing even greater process stability here, where optimism and cheerfulness are part of the successful treatment.

Everything in Flow

Within industry, the ominous DIN A4 sheet, which is usually full to bursting, has for many years been regarded as the benchmark for lean production: value stream mapping is used for simple visualization of seemingly complex production procedures and therefore forms the basis for optimizing the manufacturing process. However, the overwhelming success of the method has long since persuaded Porsche Consulting to transfer value stream mapping effectively to other corporate divisions and sectors.

Clicking into Place

The pioneering spirit in action—as part of their work for the German Start-Up Prize, the consultants at Porsche Consulting don’t actually coach companies whose structures need to be modified and optimized. It’s more a case of meeting the basic needs of young companies by transfer of knowledge and exchange of experience.

Suppliers Also Need a Helping Hand

Sebastian Fischer, head of supplier management at Porsche, has contacts with around 700 suppliers. He spoke to Caracho about the rating, development and right choice of suppliers and the role of Porsche Consulting.

The Hotline to Good Advice

Do the principles of lean management also work in the charitable and social sector? Consultants from Porsche Consulting risked a field trial in the voluntary sector. While they optimized the processes used for the “No Worries Number” helpline, they also learned a lot about what really preoccupies children and young people.

Lean Construction

As the general contractor in large-scale construction projects, HOCHTIEF Construction AG models itself on the automotive industry and is workinghard to optimize workflows. Porsche Consulting is showing the construction experts the way to greater process stability.

Rapidly on Course

Following a number of bad experiences, Otto Wöhr GmbH, a manufacturer of space-saving car parking systems based in Friolzheim in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, no longer believed in the advice offered byconsultants. But the company then agreed to KAIZEN basic training with Porsche Consulting. For more than a year now, the employees in production have been enjoying the new processes which have led to a significant improvement in delivery deadlines being met.