COSTEFFECTIVE

PRODUCTION

ENERGY-SAVINGS PROGRAMME

IDENTIFIES IMPROVEMENT AREAS

IN COMPONENT AND AXLE

PRODUCTION

B

etween November 2017 and May

2018, the seventh edition of QUEST,

an energy-saving programme, took

place in halls M1 and M2, “home” to

PKA – Axle Production and PK – Component Production.

The initial analysis identified 21 energy consumption reduction measures set

to save over CZK 15 million/year in Hall

M2 and parts of Hall M1. The zero-cost

and low-cost saving potential was CZK

3.9 million, with a payback period of 10

months. While some of the measures,

such as replacing the current lighting

with a modern LED system, require thorough preparation and extensive cooperation across multiple departments, other

measures were ready for immediate implementation by the programme team,

e.g. fixing leaks in ventilation units. To

this end, selected ventilation units were

put into dynamic mode, which led to immediately eliminating the problem and

reducing the cost by CZK 3.5 million/

year. The process of mapping and standardising the operation of gate sets has

been reviewed, and the problem locations identified in this review will be repaired this summer in cooperation with

ŠKO-ENERGO. The team also dealt with

leaks of compressed air, one of the most

expensive energies. The losses are permanent, meaning it is a never-ending process. Experts identified over 50 leak locations across all sites and fixed most of

them, thus saving CZK 1.7 million/year.

Furthermore, the programme team

looked for ways to evaluate energy management operations against the highly variable quantity of produced components. In the end, they chose regular

weekly reports. “The plan is to implement

selected cost reduction measures by the

end of 2018 while monitoring energy management operations at cost centre level. In

this regard, we will hold workshops designed to raise awareness and increase responsibility for energy management operations, including at operator level”, said

Miloš Freiberg of PKT/1 – Process Technology and Metallurgy Lab, summarising

the energy-saving priorities. RED

6

ŠKODA MOBIL JULY 2018

WORK-INTENSIVE

PROCESS PAYS OFF

ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITS OF THE ŠKODA AUTO AFTERSALES

NETWORK STARTED 22 YEARS AGO

Š

KODA AUTO grants

certificates to sales

and aftersales network partners on the basis

of independent audits conducted to check compliance

with the brand’s standards.

The certification is optional, and by having the certificate, service sites demonstrate their compliance with

relevant environmental legislation, as well as the brand’s

requirements. Established

in 1996, the environmental

strategy for the ŠKODA dealerships involves waste management, disposal of chemicals, water and air protection

and car waste recycling.

What makes service partners undertake these stringent audits?

“Environmental protection is an important global trend. We take this area

very seriously in our showrooms, and we make longterm efforts to minimise

While protecting the

environment, ŠKODA

AUTO certificates also

help holders improve

their internal processes,

gain a competitive edge

and win new customers.

the environmental impact

of our operations. Satisfying the needs of our customer must not have a negative effect on the well-being

of future generations”, say

Martin Novák of Autosalon Klokočka Centrum and

Marek Batelka of NH Car.

Vít Horáček of AUTO STYL

says that the certification

process is work-intensive

and multi-faceted, but it also

provides valuable experience that comes in handy in

everyday work. Martin Košnar of Autocentrum BARTH

appreciates positive effects

in terms of improved internal processes and tidier worksites. “Our ambition

is to be in the first league

across all aspects of our

business. This environmental certificate is one of the

criteria we can use to benchmark ourselves against the

others.” Although the path

to obtaining the certificate

is not easy, all of the service partners approached

by us recommend undertaking this environmental audit and certification. As Mr.

Košnar points out, the audit pays off for any company, and service sites in particular, because they can

hardly imagine how many

environmental regulations

they may come into conflict with. The outcome of

this regular audit highlights

problems, if any, while recommending relevant corrective actions. František PelechFRANTIŠEK PELECH

Did you know

that …

… the first authorised sales and

aftersales partner, AUTO JAROV,

received the environmental

certificate known as Green Seal as

far back as 25 April 1996?