BMW’s Exterior Components division, Technologie Exterieur Komponenten (TEK), located in Leipzig, has been honored with the eighteenth Lean Production Award for its remarkable strides in transforming its production systems. The prestigious award, presented by Agamus Consult and Automobil Produktion magazine, recognizes TEK’s consistent pursuit of its TEK 2028 vision, which emphasizes efficiency and innovation through lean principles and cutting-edge digital technologies.
TEK, which operates within BMW’s Purchasing and Supplier Network division, manufactures over a million injection-molded plastic exterior components annually, including bumpers, sills, and spoilers. These parts are supplied not only to the Leipzig plant but also to BMW’s Dingolfing and Regensburg facilities.
The jury commended TEK for its bold transition toward large-scale just-in-sequence (JIS) production for BMW Group plants, driven by a combination of lean production principles and advanced digital applications. Digital tools in data analytics, assembly planning, quality assurance, predictive maintenance, and virtual factory planning have been instrumental in optimizing production efficiency.
Christoph Theiselmann, head of TEK, expressed his pride in the team’s achievement: “This award is a tremendous recognition of the progress we’ve made in our journey of transformation. I’m incredibly proud of our employees’ dedication and teamwork. As we continue forward, enhancing innovation and efficiency will remain our primary focus.”
The TEK division will be officially celebrated during the Lean Production Award ceremony in Palmela, Portugal, on November 26-27, 2024, further solidifying its role as a leader in manufacturing excellence within the automotive industry.
