Porsche 2007 Annual Report Download - page 85

For the first time, this system puts dealers in a po-
sition to be able to give customers a reliable de-
livery date for the vehicle ordered in accordance
with their individual wishes during the sales consul-
tation itself. This takes into account all necessary
production and transport times, and each deadline
is guaranteed. This is not only of considerable
benefit to the customer, who knows exactly when
they will receive their new vehicle regardless of
whether delivery is to be made in the US, China or
Brazil, but also allows much more accurate pro-
duction planning, thus enhancing productivity.
More efficient production in new facilities
In addition to the considerable expenses incurred
for the production of the Panamera in Leipzig, Por-
sche also spent significant amounts on the Zuffen-
hausen plant. The new multifunctional hall with a
total 11,000 square meters of useable floor space
on two floors has been up and running since the
beginning of 2008. The upper level houses the
consignment of parts for engine construction. The
parts are supplied to engine assembly via a bridge
using a driverless transport system. The relocation
of logistics to the new hall created space in the
engine plant for an additional assembly line for Pan-
amera components. Work was completed on time
and the construction of the first engines proceeded
as planned.
The lower level of the multifunctional hall incorporat-
ed pilot series production in the year under review
which had previously been accommodated in another
plant. Now almost all prototypes are assembled
here, so that lessons learned from production can
be swiftly incorporated in the development of
new vehicles.
The extension of the vehicle assembly line in Zuffen-
hausen was completed during the works vacation
in the summer of 2008, and the new assembly
stations were integrated in the production sequence
from August. This also serves to improve vehicle
quality. It was necessary to space out assembly by
extending the line to cater for increased vehicle
complexity. Following the redesign, a maximum of
two employees now work on any vehicle at the same
time. Not only do they have more space, but also
more peace and quiet to concentrate on their work.
For this project, too, Porsche examined every work-
station in cooperation with Darmstadt Technical
University with a view to optimum ergonomic design.
Work began on a new paint shop in fiscal 2007/ 08
at the former premises of Dürr AG, which Porsche
acquired in the spring of 2007. Construction work
is scheduled for completion in 2011 at a cost of
around 200 million Euro. This will be a state-of-the-
art facility and meet all legal requirements. The
facility will have the capacity to paint 170 vehicles
per day in two shifts, with three shifts also possible.
For a transitional period, the facility will work in
parallel with the existing paint shop. The new facil-
ity guarantees jobs in Stuttgart and creates the
conditions for keeping the construction of luxury
vehicles like the 911 in Zuffenhausen.
Central spare parts warehouse is operational
The first 40,000 square meter wing of the new
central spare parts warehouse in Sachsenheim
near Ludwigsburg was commissioned in April 2008.
The building, constructed at a cost of 28 million
Euro, offers a pleasant, light and airy working en-
vironment that meets the latest environmental
standards. Once the new warehouse had become
fully operational, Porsche withdrew from five sites
that the Company had leased in the Stuttgart area.
The current spare parts warehouses in Ludwigsburg
and Waiblingen will also be abandoned once the
second stage of construction in Sachsenheim has
been completed. In total, Porsche intends to in-
vest more than 100 million Euro in the site to create
a central warehouse with floorspace of around
110,000 square meters, in which around 80,000
items are stored for current and historical models.
This will lead to the phased creation of 300 jobs.
In addition to geographical proximity to suppliers, of
which many are based in Baden-Württemberg, a strong
argument for the location of the new central ware-
house was its access to international transport routes.
In the future, all parts from a simple seal to a com-
plete engine will be distributed from Sachsenheim to
dealers and workshops in more than 100 countries.
82 Production
Porsche commissioned
its new central spare
parts warehouse
in Sachsenheim near
Ludwigsburg.
To our shareholders
The Company
The new Panamera
Financials