Issue 1 (November 2004)

History

Revolution the Svabian way: requested, founded, won. The pleasant interim summary of ten years of Porsche Consulting.

Going down memory lane: Three men and doers look back at the beginnings.

With a lot of PEP

Time and again, the consultants of Porsche Consulting find: In companies, the field of development in particular is in need of development. This paves the way for Target Engineering to an optimized product creation process (PEP).

Lean purchasing

Anyone can purchase, that is true. But not everyone can do it for the company. Modern supply management as the key to company success.

In the best company

At the traditional Stuttgart institution of Breuninger, everything has always been slightly different. And better. So the customers are suitably demanding. In a drive toward even greater efficiency, the retailer counted on the support of Porsche Consulting.

A proven strategy was doubled over night

Manfred Keßler (62) worked for Porsche for a total of 35 years. Over time, the engineer specialized in process, quality, and cost optimization in different areas, both in Zuffenhausen and Weissach.

Revolution the Svabian way

Porsche Consulting GmbH is probably the only consulting company that was founded upon the urging of potential customers. Since then, the consultants like to share with their clients the experiences they gathered during the sensational restructuring of the sports car manufacturer Porsche. An interim look at the ten-year anniversary.

Sandwich tactics

The fascinating culture shock is a standard part of a vacation in Japan. Educational trips to optimize work processes in one’s own company can very well upset the stomach. A travel report from the Land of the Rising Sun.

The thinking workshop

This factory is unique. Zu Lernzwecken werden LkW-Modelle produziert. For learning purposes, they produce truck models, only to take them apart and reassemble them later. In the model factory of Porsche Academy, Porsche Consulting shares its knowledge of just-in-time production and efficient and lean companies.

Ability to react

When the cost of sales accounts for 30 percent of the sales price, that is alarming, and not just from a calculation point of view. The greater risk is the customer getting short-changed.

The atmosphere is very encouraging

After her baccalaureate, Susen Sadrina (39) trained at Intercontinental to become a hotel manager and gather experience abroad. She worked in England and Jakarta, two years in advertising and, after that, 18 months in a chain restaurant company.

A tough measure for the value of work

Sebastian Fischer’s (37) transition from business student to employee of Porsche Consulting was rather seamless: The apprenticeship in accounting at Porsche was followed by his graduate thesis on business optimization processes at Porsche Consulting and ended in a permanent position.

The day of the well-wishers

Great excitement, hot rhythms, and congratulations galore: Porsche Consulting celebrated its anniversary together with 250 customers, partners, and former employees. Here are the snapshots of a successful evening.

The muscle machine from Bologna

Ducati has always known how to build a good reputation. But not necessarily financial success. Ever since the Italian motorcycle manufacturer decided to copy the Porsche model, it is back on track for success. And not just on the fastest race tracks in the world.

Consultants lead an intense life

Christian Dittmer-Peters (35) worked four years as a technical manager in the automotive supplier industry. Between 2000 and April 2003, the degreed engineer reinforced the Porsche Consulting team as a project leader and consultant in the area of lean production. Since August 2003, he has been working for Volkswagen AG in the operative project leadership of product management.

Creative destruction - careful construction

Initially, the office in Zuffenhausen was equipped with just the bare necessities. Flying was a bit pricey, a small rental car was good enough, and mostly we stayed in boarding houses. In the start-up phase of Porsche Consulting, everyone was willing to rough it and forego some comfort. Instead, we tried to get as close to the ideal as possible: Sales equals profit.

Cookies galore

Over 100 years ago, Hermann Bahlsen invented the shortbread cookie. Since then, the company has become one of the trendsetters in the industry in terms of factory-produced cookies and new technologies, and relies on the support of Porsche Consulting.

Processes designed by Porsche

The start-up years were followed by a success story that still continues after ten years. General Manager Eberhard Weiblen believes in the unique working method and thus in the great future of Porsche Consulting: An after-hours interview.

Missionary and model student

From its Black Forest base, Klaus Fischer, second generation proprietor, has made the fischer group of companies one of the global specialists in the areas of fasteners and automotive systems. His bet is on lean management and Kaizen. Without compromise.

Value added in sales - now that was new

Since August 2003, Dr. Roland Armbruster (29), Head of Management Services, has been in charge of IT, Logistics, and Inhouse Consulting at the prestigious Stuttgart-based retailer E. Breuninger & Co. After his international microeconomics studies in Oxford, Madrid, and Paris, he worked roughly four years for Porsche Consulting.

How do I reach people

Frédéric Jaugey (32) has a graduate degree in engineering and an MBA. Since January 2003, he has been working in the Strategy and Corporate Development main department, which reports directly to the chairman of the board of Porsche AG.