The Exterior Components division at BMW Group’s Leipzig plant, known as Technologie Exterieur Komponenten (TEK), has been honored with the Automotive Lean Production Award for Lean Digital Transformation. This accolade places the TEK among Europe’s leading production units for integrating lean production methods with digital innovations, setting new benchmarks in the automotive manufacturing industry.
The TEK division, which is part of Leipzig’s Purchasing and Supplier Network, employs 450 workers who produce over a million injection-molded plastic exterior parts annually, including bumpers, sills, and spoilers. These components are supplied not only to Plant Leipzig but also to BMW’s Dingolfing and Regensburg plants.
The award jury highlighted the TEK’s dedication to its “TEK 2028” vision, which focuses on transforming the production system from car sets to large-scale just-in-sequence (JIS) manufacturing for the BMW Group. The successful combination of lean production principles and advanced digital strategies was cited as a key reason for the TEK’s achievement.
Christoph Theiselmann, head of TEK, expressed pride in receiving the award, stating, “This recognition is a testament to the remarkable progress our team has made in our transformation journey. We remain committed to advancing innovations and enhancing efficiency as we continue to evolve.”
The jury was particularly impressed with the wide range of digital applications being implemented at TEK, including data analytics, assembly workplace planning and optimization, quality assurance, predictive maintenance, and virtual factory planning.
These initiatives represent an effective blend of leadership-driven and grassroots efforts. The eighteenth Lean Production Awards are presented by Agamus Consult and Automobil Produktion magazine. The official award ceremony is scheduled for November 26-27, 2024, in Palmela, Portugal.
