Standardization while maintaining brand diversity

Automobile manufacturers already dared in the past to cooperate resulting in different vehicles, though built with a high number of identical parts, following the so-called “common parts strategy“. Furthermore, cooperation exists where a manufacturer carries out the construction of a vehicle on behalf of another. The required parts to be assembled are delivered if they cannot be produced on-site. These forms of cooperation might be a first step towards industry 4.0. If an association of manufacturers in the segment of electro mobility would refocus on the joint development of batteries and motors for all their electric fleet vehicles, this would surely be an interesting approach for an intelligent factory – fully in line with industry 4.0. A standardized „inner life“ of the vehicle where additional functions can be added as needed would complement the complete package. If the vehicle could fulfil the dreams of mobility of the customer as well, it was the perfect product - with one little drawback: which brand would the vehicle bear?

Since already the production of a vehicle in line with the requirements of a variety of (solvent) persons is a big challenge, the problem to maintain a margin that is not only cost-covering but also profitable is added seamlessly.

When maintaining the individuality of a brand and still wanting to make a profit, the most important adjusting screw will become more crucial: to produce as exactly as possible according to the requirements and on best terms fulfilling the required quality. This is even more facilitated by manufacturing processes that are as seamlessly integrated as those of the IT that supports the production. A standardization of the used systems, an intelligent data repository and an appropriate testing system are not less useful than the use of production lines and skilled workers, the efficient storage of parts as well as their targeted transport and a constant quality control.

How many applications do control your production? And how many service providers do you employ for maintenance and development of your IT?

What can ChallengeIT do for you?

Service management

If you want to get an impression of a high-tech manufacturing company, you should take a closer look at the IT service. The sustainability of a company depends more and more on its efficiency and quality. To evaluate the efficiency of an IT organization, services supplied internally as well as external services must be specifiable, and their appropriate application must be evaluable. 

If your IT does for example not have a standardized change management and needs to constantly react to innovations implemented „yesterday“ with new changes to keep a production line as far as possible active, if the elimination of errors in systems and applications consumes the time that you would need to plan „tomorrow“ sensibly and if service providers promise appropriate services but do not provide them as planned and agreed upon, we can provide remedy. We have the appropriate tools and experience to define services, differentiate their qualities, merge them into a service, record them into an SLA, evaluate it financially and, if required, take responsibility for the content in negotiations. We cover the implementation of a standardized and appropriate change management including a company-wide change policy, definition of change classes, appropriate lead times and approval levels as well as a reactive/proactive problem management including escalation task forces and the preparation of an action plan.

We provide these services classically in the areas: service strategy, service design, service transition – obviously including the consideration of a continuous improvement process.

We are looking forward to your message!

What is your advantage?

Service management

• By creating process descriptions and policies, you have a basis for all management activities (including related monitoring, reporting, and employee training)
• The realization of a consistent and easy-to-understand process landscape allows you to manage the exchange of services transparently and efficiently 
• You increase the transparency of handling your business processes: Both internally generated and externally sourced services become more tangible, measurable and plannable for you
• You optimize your processes across all areas, which enables you to successfully assert yourself even under ever-increasing competitive conditions
• Through a continuous improvement process, you can optimize the quality of your customer service and achieve long-term change
• You are optimally prepared for and are optimally represented in negotiations with service providers