Fujitsu Siemens Computers' Augsburg facility wins Factory of the Year/GEO 2005

According to judges, Fujitsu Siemens Computers offered a compelling demonstration of how producing in Germany - despite enormous labour cost pressure from Asia - offers sustainable competitive advantages due to factors such as distance to suppliers and customers.

'Our geographic proximity enables us to satisfy customer needs fast,' explained Heribert Goeggerle, Senior Vice President Supply Operations, Fujitsu Siemens Computers. 'And we also offer custom configurations that cannot possibly be delivered as quickly to the customer from Asia.'

The jury was particularly impressed by the facility's exceptional production flexibility in respect to work schedules as well as customer and market requirements. It is the latest in a series of several awards won by the European IT giant for its commendable supply chain management, which has helped the company jack up productivity by eight percent annually over the past five years.

'In co-operation with the works council, Fujitsu Siemens Computers has fulfilled its vision of a 'breathing factory' for several years now. Depending on the inflow of orders, work times at the plant, which can produce up to 16,000 systems daily, vary between six hours a day, four days a week and eight hours a day, six days a week,' added Goeggerle.

The award is seen as a shot-in-the-arm for Fujitsu Siemens Computers' Jebel Ali assembly plant.

'This is an important milestone in adding credibility to our products, the brand and also to our recently opened UAE factory, which boasts the same technology, operating procedures, methodology and quality control as its German counterpart,'

said Stephane Rejasse, General Manager, Middle East, Fujitsu Siemens Computers.

The Jebel Ali Free Zone facility, which is managed by senior Fujitsu Siemens Computers' staff trained in Augsburg, enables Fujitsu Siemens Computers to deliver PCs anywhere in the Middle East within an average of five to eight days - nearly 50% faster than the present industry standard.