Mercedes 1999 Annual Report Download - page 48

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AUTOMOTIVE COUNCILS
4242
FOCUS ON DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION. The develop-
ment of new products is one of the core processes in the
automotive industry. Designing innovative vehicles with a high
level of safety and quality in a short time and simultaneously
ensuring the profitability of the product—that is the demanding
goal of every manufacturer.
DaimlerChrysler faces an additional challenge: harnessing its
outstanding research and technology, purchasing and hu-
man resource capabilities; linking the three automotive
divisions of the company and then utilizing the enormous
potential that results.
DaimlerChrysler has an extremely broad range of products
and brands that includes passenger cars of the Mercedes-Benz
and smart brands, passenger cars and trucks of the Chrysler,
Jeep and Dodge brands and the various trucks, vans and buses
of the Commercial Vehicles division.
The goal of the AUTOMOTIVE COUNCIL (AC) and its members
from each of the three automotive divisions is to guide, coor-
dinate and standardize activities at all stages of the product
creation process, while at the same time preserving the
identity and uniqueness of our brands. Starting points for
achieving this include an integrated engine and components
strategy, selective and targeted transfers of innovations, the
development of common standards and the optimization of
production through best-practice comparisons of the various
locations and their production philosophies.
FOCUS ON THE CUSTOMER. The second core process of the
value-added chain begins with the responsibility to the
customer and comprises the production, sales and service of
vehicles. This also includes professional support and com-
munication with customers and the entire range of after-
sales services.
Substantial synergy savings can also be realized by
coordinating the interaction of the three automotive
divisions and making joint use of the worldwide sales
network.
THE SALES AND MARKETING COUNCIL (SMC) has a task
analogous to that of the Automotive Council—making decisions
affecting all divisions with respect to the sales network, multi-
ple-brand strategy and sales and after-sales activities in
general.
The Sales and Marketing Council manages and controls the
sales process through the setting of agreed goals.
CREATING VALUE. The Automotive Council and the Sales
and Marketing Council, both Board of Management
committees, will contribute substantially to our efforts to
market more attractive products of specific brands more
quickly worldwide, further increase quality in sales and
services, and raise productivity and efficiency. This will
help us to create value, satisfy the desires of our customers in
every respect, once again turning potential into performance.
T H E C O U N C I L S
Sales and Marketing Council
Automotive Council