Reliable project handling – wherever it’s needed
As a result of the surge in international activity in the automotive industry there is also a real need for efficient structures on the suppliers’ side. The maxim of the System and Business Centers at Dürr is one of “global concepts – local solutions” and the Centers work together closely within a global network from the project design stage right through to plant commissioning. The network includes 24 locations where production and pre-assembly are carried out.
Worldwide Dürr is located in 21 countries. The System Centers at Plymouth (USA) and Stuttgart (Germany) lead and support the local Business Centers in project handling and execution so that uniform quality standards are maintained all over the world. In practical terms this means that the System Centers, for example, build project handling teams and define what parts of the project will be executed locally. Local availability of suitably qualified resources forms the basis for the latter. The professional selection and support of local sub-contractors by the Business Centers has proved worthwhile in this process. This dual approach is the key to successfully meeting the immense challenge of implementing complete systems that are efficient and of a high technical standard worldwide.
Manufacturing facilities in Mexico, Poland and China that belong to the Paint and Assembly Systems business unit are further pillars of support in localization. At these locations Dürr manufactures ovens, conveyor equipment and other system components and thus contributes to lowering both transport times and costs. A range of specific machines and plant components are also assembled by Dürr at nine other locations in Germany, USA, Austria and Italy.
Dürr controls and guides project handling via an internationally practiced project management system. The system’s core element is a user-friendly, interactive web tool known as Project Information Management or PIM. It allows all the parties involved in a project to exchange database supported information worldwide. It includes management of reports and task lists, change management, information management, site management and punch list tracking relating to defects and outstanding items. The use of this structured Dürr project management system on plant modification projects ensures that production downtime is kept to a minimum; in connection with green field projects it reduces the time required for installation and accelerates production start-up.
Once a plant has successfully been commissioned, Dürr Service locations and Business Centers are there to provide competent support on all service and operation matters.