Porsche Begins The Streamlining of VW Factories

Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking is following up on his stated intent to take great care of his "Volkswagen investment."

Porsche is VW's largest shareholder with a 27.4 percent stake, which it plans to increase to 29.9 percent.

Next year, advisor teams from Porsche Consulting, a subsidiary of the sports car manufacturer, will descend on Wolfsburg to scrutinize VW's main factory there to find ways to improve material and work flow.

Other plants are expected to follow. "As the next step," said one insider, "Wiedeking would like to have VW's Spanish factories checked. Pamplona and Martorell have a great need to catch up in the areas of labor and logistics costs."







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chewy - 12/19/2006 3:03:30 PM

-2 Boost

Isn't Pamplona the factory in Portugal. Porsche should take it easy and not try to shake things up to much in order to sell a few more Porsches.

Rupert - 12/19/2006 4:05:33 PM

0 Boost

no pamplona is a place in the north east of spain. it is where the famous running of the bulls takes place.

chewy - 12/20/2006 3:48:47 AM

-1 Boost

Duh, stupid me. I got confused as the Eos is built in Portugal in Pampela or something like that.

EL34 - 12/19/2006 3:06:23 PM

-1 Boost

Porsche is getting those factories in shape to go into the lead.

Germans are very competitive, just look at all the Olympic medals they've won during the summer and winter games.

Agent009 - 12/19/2006 3:41:29 PM

+1 Boost

Porsche learned their streamlining techniques from a technology venture with Toyota, they adapted them to the German workforce. So now they are prepping VW for battle against Toyota.

SixxFive - 12/20/2006 12:45:55 AM

+1 Boost

"Chewy" this has nothing to do with Porsche selling a few more 911's each year. Wiedeking is highly respected for turning Porsche around at the 11th hour from bankruptcy, learning the most advanced production methods from Toyota and making Porsche the most profitable automaker in the world. Considering VW's situation and management strucure in place from the 1960's, they can definitely benefit from Porsche's experience and knowledge. It's arrogant and shortsighted to think that you can't improve or learn something new - or else you become extinct.

chewy - 12/20/2006 3:49:45 AM

-1 Boost

I am just saying that Porsche better not touch the cars and brands that VW and Audi have today. Not saying there isn't room for improvement.

Heyhuub - 12/20/2006 9:48:50 AM

+1 Boost

Was thinking the same thing.

woood - 12/22/2006 9:07:23 PM

+2 Boost

Lets hope Porsche doesn't get too distracted with VW that it forgets to stay competitive with its cars and its future. VW surely has a lot of things to improve on and with big changes, human nature is not too inviting with regards to changes.