March 8, 2011
VW/Skoda is a Sino-German partnership that manufactures both lines of cars in the same factory. Market research, design and quality are important factors for this factory and location. This was a simple tour…however one could see sustainability and cost concerns designed into the cars. These cars do not have frames…thus we literally saw a roll of sheet steel bent and folded into a VW… an origami Passat!! (and yes, I know origami is Japanese).
Michelin has to accept and meet strict government regulation on its operations. Many of the operations were acquired Chinese facilities and Michelin must invest heavily to update and clean up these facilities to meet the regulation. China is using Western companies to lead everyone else to improve their performance according to our gracious hosts. Additionally Michelin is heavily promoting their energy saving line of tires in China and across the globe. A major hurdle for Michelin is that for almost 80% of the people with cars right now, this is their first car and they may have never changed a tire. Maintenance, total cost of ownership and disposal are important factors for the people to learn and Michelin is taking steps to educate consumers. Michelin is promoting their regroove-able / recap-able tire for big trucks and other fleet vehicles. The shell is designed for a 1,000,000 km life. Currently the spent “caps” are sold in China rather than put to an immediate end use. Michelin has a very good metric for measuring total manufacturing impact that consists of several metrics.
Day: VW/Skoda plant tour, Michelin-China
Evening: market, cafeteria, purchased Chinese lock, found our way back to hotel
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