Logistics & Production

We make sure that everything runs smoothly. And keeps running smoothly.

We keep the show on the road with an eye to business efficiency, attention to detail and knowledge of international production sites and processes – worldwide

Welcome!

The Volkswagen brand’s production network comprises 50 manufacturing facilities worldwide, where over 90,000 employees produce more than 6 million vehicles in 14 countries each year. And in 70 different model variants. We make sure of it.

Our motto is: One for all

In the area of production and logistics, managing the production sites and the global network of services is a highly complex task, one that presents all our employees with a major common challenge. Commitment on the part of each individual is therefore essential and contributes to shared success as a whole and to the achievement of corporate targets.

This also includes our environmental vision “goTOzero”. Volkswagen is the first company in the world that will use two overseas car transport cargo ships with liquefied natural gas (LNG) from 2020. A further milestone on the path towards climate-neutral production and logistics.

Volkswagen Brand Planning

Volkswagen Brand Planning designs the process from strategic planning of the vehicles and systems through to implementation at the manufacturing facilities for the automotive future. Project management is performed by our planners for vehicle projects, from product positioning and the design and development process through to the implementation and ramp-up phase.

Right from the development phase, our technology managers ensure a forward-looking product design and equality of concept between e-mobility and conventional drives. We plan production processes worldwide for efficient and electrified production. In addition, we look after the procurement of production equipment for the pressing shops, the body shop, the paint shop and assembly. We are also responsible for the in-house logistics processes. With our planners for conventional and electric drives, connectivity and automation technology, we design the control and data technology for a networked factory of the future. Worldwide.

Our systems integration planners and product designers work with integrated value streams and simulation techniques to create sustainable concepts for production-ready manufacturing technologies and factory concepts, which are then used around the world at our sites.

Even after vehicles have been launched, we integrate changes to series production into the factories and departments. That’s because we ensure that Volkswagen brings innovative products to the road – from strategic planning to the series production phase

Production Control and Volkswagen Brand Logistics

The Production Control and Logistics division supports the relevant decision-making processes with production- and logistics-related KPIs. It acts as the interface between Production and other divisions, agreeing necessary measures with them and ensuring integrated control by involving all business processes. In addition, the division coordinates and manages topics concerning how work is organised, such as expertise and skills management, productivity and quality management as well as cross-factory specialist topics and projects (production system/best practice/ergonomics). International Supply Management plans, controls and optimises the processes for supplying the production sites in Russia and overseas – from start-up through mass production to the end of manufacturing of a vehicle. All attention focuses in this respect on ensuring that the supply meets the quality and deadline requirements. Depending on the degree of disassembly and localisation, a different percentage of the overall vehicle will be supplied intercontinentally via an SKD/MKD/CKD supply.

Volkswagen Brand Toolmaking

Craft and information technology complement one another mutually in the area of toolmaking. We are characterised by short product cycles and optimum flexibility thanks to decentralised control of tool manufacturing and the use of a cyber-physical production system. Automatic design and digital twin are just two of the focal areas we are currently working on as toolmakers to realise smart systems. Thanks to virtual integration, we can ready systems for new products during ongoing operation practically without interruption for example.

Volkswagen Brand Pilot Hall

Volkswagen Brand Pilot Hall is the link between Development and Production. During the production process, the focus is on analysing and optimising the product concept right up to introduction into production. We are using virtual techniques increasingly for this alongside the familiar physical analysis methods. In addition, the Volkswagen Brand Pilot Hall also ensures knowledge sharing and the standardisation of proven methods in the global pilot hall network. This is important in order to establish and ensure high-quality start-ups as a routine process at the vehicle production sites.