Ze světa / desk-surfing
Practical Experience Exchange at Audi
Milan Lebeda took part in the Group’s Desk Surfing project, focusing on optimising control unit logistics in pre-series production at the Audi plant in Brussels.
Audi produces the highly advanced Q8 e-tron electric car in Brussels.
From the world
One of the most important elements in today’s cars is the control units, and the new models have more and more of them. Securing these parts is, therefore, crucial during pre-production as well. Milan Lebeda, Pre-series project management A0 at PLV/1 – Pre-series Logistics A0, India, can confirm their importance. This year, his work took him to the Audi factory in Brussels for a working stay from March to May as part of the Group’s Desk Surfing project.
Despite Audi’s distinct model portfolio, different platforms and more advanced technology thanks to its status as a leading brand in electronics innovation, it has to source parts for its pre-production cars, just like Škoda Auto. “My task was to analyse the current state of part management at Audi and compare it with the practices at Škoda and Lamborghini. I also had to identify the weak points and propose process optimisation,” summarises Lebeda. According to him, for all brands, it is essential to understand the process – from the development of the control units to their incorporation into pre-production cars – and to ensure the correct and properly configured parts are used. In addition, there is a need to address issues with parts that are unavailable or differ from the requirements in the early stages of pre-production, where immediate solutions to the situation are often necessary.
Lebeda praises the great team he worked with in Brussels over three months and values the new perspectives he gained. “I’ve learned that the same problem can be viewed from different angles, depending on the brand’s values. And I’m glad that I could participate in the project thanks to the support of Head of PLV – Pre-series Logistics Tomáš Rais and Audi’s Head of Unit Christopher Bohnen,” said Lebeda. At Audi, drawing on his experience from Škoda Auto, he proposed a modification to the pre-series parts management system to the satisfaction of the manager there, ensuring the control units requirement is identified before entering production.
Desk Surfing
An exchange programme within the VW Group in which all brands participate. Its main purpose is to exchange information and subsequently optimise processes. The brands in the programme issue a request for experts on a particular topic who can then apply for and, if selected, undertake an internship spanning several months. Every year, dozens of Group employees participate in Desk Surfing.