Summary

INTERNATIONAL STUDY MISSION

2-6 December 2013: Germany

In order to understand the updated technologies and manufacturing practices from German

manufacturers, Training & Consulting team of TÜV Rheinland India has organized a study mission to

Germany from 2 to 6 December 2013. This was the 7th international level programme in this series

organized by TUV Rheinland India. Earlier similar delegations have been organized to Japan, China and

Germany. This program was designed to provide an opportunity for senior level management/ young

CEOs from Indian manufacturing industry to understand and share the manufacturing process through

shop floor visits (at most innovative companies in the world like Duetz AG, airberlin technik GmbH

Hanger, Mercedes Daimler AG, Kiekert AG, ALD Vacuum Technologies, Bosch Thermotechnik GmbH

etc), seminar, interactive sessions, participating EuroMold Trade fair etc.

The 16 member study mission comprised leading industrialists and senior technical experts from 11

companies ie Bajaj Auto Limited, Bee Pee Technologies, Cairn India Ltd, Fluro Engineering Pvt Ltd,

ISGEC Heavy Engineering Limited, JNTUH College of Engineering, NTF India Pvt Ltd, Omax Autos Ltd,

Radisson Blu, Sunex Precisions Pvt Ltd and Thermax Limited).

DAY 1 (2 December 2013): The program started with a welcome session on 2 December 2013 at TUV

Rheinland Head Quarters, Cologne.

Mr Carlo Humberg, Vice President- Training and Consulting from TÜV Rheinalnd (Germany) addressed

the participants followed by a series of technical sessions by various German technical experts ie.

‘Production solutions: selected cases for process technology, production machines and production

Quality” by Mr Niels Konig, Chief Engineer and Head of Department (Measuring Technology) from

Fraunhofer Institute of Production Technology, session on ‘cost efficient production of plastic

components’ by Dr Marcus Bernards, Managing Director of DEVA-Kunststoff-Technik GmbH, session on

‘maintenance in the airline industry: Safety and Reliability” by Mr Per Smedgaard, Vice President-

Engineering from airberlin technic GmbH and session on ‘supplying to industry according to international

standards: case study from aviation industry’ by Mr Martin Sperber, Business field manager (Aviation

and Airports) from TUV Rheinland Kraftfart GmbH, Germnay

Post lunch, delegation made a visit to Deutz AG to understand the manufacturing technologies at the

production area. Mr Clelia Monschau from Duetz AG has welcomed the Indian delegates and guided

during the shop floor visit.

DAY 2 (3 December 2013): It was a great learning experience during the interactive meeting with

technical experts at airberlin technik GmbH. They have also organized a visit to aircraft maintenance

areas to understand the updated technologies in aircraft engine manufacturing.

After the technical sessions at airberlin technik GmbH, delegates have visited Mercedes Daimler AG,

Werk, Dusseldorf. Mr Uwe Munten welcomed the Indian delegation and arranged a guided shop floor

visit at their Sprinter Van body and assembly plant. Mercedes Düsseldorf plant is the biggest van

assembly plant of Daimler AG. The Sprinter NCV3 has been produced in Düsseldorf since the beginning

of 2006. At present, more than 600 Sprinters leave the plant at Düsseldorf-Derendorf each day.

DAY 3 (4 December 2013): Participants have visited Kiekert AG. They are manufacturing high-quality

automotive door latch. Kiekert has a broad and lengthy experience in the development and production of

complete latch modules. The combination of Kiekert i-technology products offers breath-taking comfort

and increased safety for the driver and passengers.

Post lunch, participants have travelled to Frankfurt to visit other companies to attend the trade fair

Day 4 (5 December 2013): ‘EuroMold is the leading event in the areas of moldmaking and tooling, design

and application development. Technical discussions with Envisiontec GmbH, EOS GmbH and

Steinbichler Optotechnik GmbH have also been organized during the trade fair visits. EuroMold is the

world-wide leading trade fair for mold making and tooling, design and application development and

presents products and services, technology and impulses for tomorrow's markets. It is a unique fair

concept that closes the gap between industrial designers, product developers, producers, suppliers, and

end-users.

After the trade fair participation, participants have visited ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH. ALD

Vacuum Technologies, Hanau, Germany, is a synonym for innovation in vacuum technologies at the

highest level. ALD is one of the leading suppliers of vacuum furnaces and vacuum processes. They are

operating in all fields of vacuum metallurgy and vacuum heat treatment with high-tech products and

services. Technical experts from ALD organized a technical discussion and on latest technologies in Heat

Treatment. Senior technical experts from ALD made various presentations on Heat Treatment Process

and Technologies.

DAY 5 (6 December 2013): A factory visit to Bosch Thermotechnik GmbH has been organized on 6th

December 2013. Bosch Thermotechnik GmbH represents the thermo technology division of the Bosch

Group. Together with its subsidiaries, the company is a leading supplier of heating products and hot water

solutions in Europe.

Bosch Thermo technology has strong international and regional brands and manufactures a diversified

product range in European, American and Asian countries.

TUV Rheinland has organized an interactive session at 2pm on 6th December 2013 at Intercity Hotel,

Frankfurt. Dr Hermann Thomann, Senior Vice President- Global Consulting has addressed the delegates

followed by presentations made by Mr Kay Heibach (TUV Rheinland) on ‘ Efficient and sustainable supply

chain management’, session on ‘data centre’ by Mr Kort-Hinrich Heumann (TUV Rheinland) and session

on’ Business opportunities in Germany’ by Dr Weisser and Mr S Chhatwal, Business legal counselors

from Rechtsanwalte.

The overall feedback from the participants is encouraging. The study mission provided an opportunity to

obtain first-hand exposure to innovative and successful Quality techniques implemented in Germany and

also provided an opportunity to learn good manufacturing practices and updated technologies.