GETRAG FORD Transmissions

The Client

GETRAG FORD Transmissions was founded in 2001 as a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and transmission specialist GETRAG. The company develops and produces manual, automated manual and dual clutch transmissions.

The company has a turnover of approximately 1.17 Billion Euros, produces over 2.18 million transmissions and has over 4,700 employees. The customers of GETRAG FORD Transmissions are Ford, Jaguar, Mazda, Volvo, Land Rover, Otosan, Chrysler, Mitsubishi, Changan and Dodge.

The headquarters and product development teams, including the division's prototype centre and testing, are located in Germany. There is an additional product development team in Sweden and the company has production sites in Germany, England, France and now Slovakia.

GETRAG FORD Transmissions is a member of the GETRAG Corporate Group. GETRAG FORD Transmissions, GETRAG Group, GETRAG Americas and GETRAG Asia Pacific combine their strength under this umbrella and the brand name GETRAG.

The Challenge

GETRAG FORD Transmissions Logistics department had been assigned the task to establish a fully functioning Logistics Service Centre (LSC) located within a Supplier Park in Kechnec, Eastern Slovakia to support the demands of the already established GETRAG FORD Transmissions Slovakia s.r.o production plant.

The challenge faced by the client was how to manage and align complex business relationships across multiple locations in order to deliver the desired business benefits which include the:

• Administration and cultivation of complex interactions of project stakeholders internal and external to the program requiring a consistent and steadfast approach
• Purchase of a Land Plot to serve as a basis for the LSC from the Slovak Government and Kechnec Municipality
• Development of Land and Infrastructure objectives to meet LSC's demands
• Development of a Supplier Park concept Master Plan to enable the formation of new business partnerships - with external Suppliers and Local Municipality
• Construction of a Logistics Warehouse (15,000m2) adjacent to the GETRAG FORD Transmissions Slovakia s.r.o production plant that meets the functional requirements of the logistics department

Other key challenges included:

• Implementation of a revised SAP Warehouse management system to deliver further efficiencies in logistics material handling
• Transition of the current logistics service including assets, infrastructure, and personnel into the new facility without disruption to the material flow
• Assurance that there is a fully functioning LSC within 15 months of Project
• Approval to support the day to day logistics business of GETRAG FORD Transmissions Slovakia s.r.o. production plant

The Pcubed Solution

Pcubed was chosen to take leadership based on their successful experience delivering a PMO solution on behalf of GETRAG Corporate Group. Pcubed's challenge entailed delivering and maintaining an effective PMO structure. Pcubed's PMO service adds significant value and continuous improvement to the client by achieving the following:

• Coaching and Leadership to ensure correct skill sets and processes were implemented at the project start
• Governance process set-up around appropriate levels in the LSC project to ensure the correct authority is in place to make informed decisions
• Implementation of structured and controlled LSC project governance meetings and reporting metrics that drive actions and decisions
• PMO Management and direct support for the program and project management structure
• Continuous review and agreement of clear objectives, and ensuring that all parties understand them
• Maintaining and improving practical processes to achieve the objectives and support the working methods of the team
• Maintaining the reporting processes and metrics to support the business aspects of the LSC project ensuring the principle of visibility brings insight and control
• Pro-actively planning and prioritising activities for the complete project

Key elements of the solution included:

• The deployment of Pcubed PMO permitted the client to recognise, understand and value the control mechanisms required for successful program delivery
• Proactive PMO offered direct support to the Logistics Executive Sponsor, Project Leadership to manage their expectations in delivering the defined business objectives and goals
• Robust program Governance delivered management ownership, disciplined control and prioritization of issue resolution
• Providing and achieving the correct level of visibility to the program stakeholders, on how the project is delivering the business benefits and supporting the decisions required for successful benefits delivery
• The Pcubed PMO solution provides robust and consistent control techniques allowing 360° feedback of the project status. This then enables the project stakeholders to make informed intelligent decisions faster