Robert Bosch
 
Robert Bosch employs over 250,000 people world-wide, 4,500 in the UK. It is a leading name in the field of automotive, industrial, consumer goods and building technology.

To remain successful in these highly competitive sectors, the company is committed to a business philosophy, which is focused on maximising quality, cutting costs and ensuring delivery.

The company is 92% owned by the Robert Bosch Foundation with the Bosch family owning the remainder.

This means that the company’s assets are administered for public benefit purposes and funds received from the profits of the company are donated to charitable causes in areas of health care, international understanding, social welfare, education, the natural sciences, arts and culture.

Production at the company’s alternator plant, just outside Cardiff, began in January 1991, and the 40 millionth alternator was produced by the end of 2002. The plant employs about 1000 people two thirds of whom are directly involved in the manufacturing process; and the remainder are employed in support activities, not just for Cardiff, but for Bosch alternator production around the world.

Consequently, the Cardiff plant is the lead manufacturing plant for Bosch alternator production world-wide.

The plant supplies the majority of European car manufacturers and holds numerous customer awards as well as TS16949 and Investors In People accreditation.

Teamwork is at the heart of Bosch’s manufacturing philosophy, which is underpinned by continual improvement activities involving the whole workforce.

The main driver behind these developments has been the company’s close involvement with the global automotive industry. In order to do business with the leading manufacturers, suppliers like Bosch have found it necessary to adopt their philosophies of continuous improvement, quality and teamwork.

However, because of its size, Bosch is also committed to remaining one step ahead of client demands. To this end it is pioneering the implementation of concepts such as lean manufacturing, 5S philosophy and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM).

The company has introduced TPM over the past five years and is well on the way to its successful implementation. TPM is a philosophy of continuous improvement which links the ‘man to the machine’ and hence builds a close relationship between the workforce, maintenance and productivity; showing how good asset care and up-keep of equipment results in higher productivity.

Similarly, the 5S Philosophy focuses on effective work place organisation and standardised work procedures.

Based upon these building blocks, the company is currently implementing the Bosch Production System ‘BPS’ which has continuous improvement at the heart of its infrastructure.

According to Dave Roberts, TPM co-ordinator at Bosch, visitors will gain an appreciation for the whole-integrated picture of manufacturing at the Cardiff plant and the organisation. “Our whole focus is to maintain our position as a lean, efficient, cost effective and customer-oriented manufacturer,” he said. “Our customers in the automotive industry are among the most demanding in the world and through our commitment to customer orientation we have to focus on their requirements and stay ahead. Therefore, by focusing on the demands placed upon the supply chain, we are ensuring that we remain at the forefront of our sector, employing manufacturing techniques and best practice that is the equal of anything seen anywhere in the world.”