The SME principle as a model

Granted: The Ford and Salzgitter AG groups are by no means medium-sized companies. And yet their relationships at the working level show how, in large and large companies, medium-sized structures contribute to fast cooperation at eye level - even across national borders.

Dr. Stefan Mütze from Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung GmbH and Rainer Diesner from the Technical Customer Advisory Service at Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH provide an example of this. Together, they work as a team to support the customer Ford at various locations in Europe.
One of their creeds is: "Personal contact is irreplaceable, because it is always the people who work together.

Just how various the cooperation between steel suppliers and automobile manufacturers is, was demonstrated at a workshop held at the Ford plant in Craiova, Romania, at the end of last year. The aim of the event was to identify potential for component and process optimization in the production of the body of the new Ford Puma. The Puma is a small crossover SUV model based on the Fiesta.

It was developed completely in Germany for the first time and has been rolling off the production line at Ford's Craiova plant since the end of 2019.
A team consisting of experts from three Group companies (Salzgitter Flachstahl, Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung and Salzgitter Automotive Engineering) worked together with experts from the Ford Motor Company to develop more than 70 proposals. This made an enormous contribution to the optimum use of materials and the reduction of manufacturing costs already in the first phase of vehicle start-up.

Colleagues from Salzgitter and Ford discussed topics relating to manufacturing methods and tooling technology at eye level. Together, they generated new ideas and contributed the latest product innovations of the Salzgitter Group. "This went into great depth from a professional perspective and was an exciting process," recalls Rainer Diesner.
The feedback from Ford was quick and positive: particular emphasis was placed on the participation of experts from a wide range of fields such as tool and forming technology, materials and surface technology, engineering/simulation and production.

"What also distinguishes us," reports Dr. Stefan Mütze, "is our comparatively fast reaction when problems or inquiries arise. It is understood that we then travel quickly to the customers to clarify the matter on site and help to solve the matter. It is important to actively offer help - no matter whether it is in the early stages of redesigning a car or in day-to-day business, in case it jerks or gets stuck.