Scania annual report 2001

Safety
Safety-mindedness has a long tradition at Scania and
for many years it has been integrated into all of the
company’s development work. Today Scania is a
pacesetter in accident-prevention vehicle technology
and is working towards international harmonisation of
road safety improvements.
In November 2001, Scania organised its second
European road safety conference, attended by officials
from the European Commission as well as other public
agencies and organisations. The purpose of the conference
was to examine road safety in a holistic way,
embracing all three main actors: drivers, vehicles and
road networks. The conference focused on how new
technology can be applied in order to improve safety
on European roads.
The intelligent truck
Electronic engineering is playing an increasingly prominent
role in the development of vehicles that are safer
on the road. Above all, electronic equipment benefits
active safety, in other words, it helps prevent accidents
from happening. With the aid of electronics, vehicle
functions can be monitored in such a way as to give
the driver more time to concentrate on traffic.
In the near future, advances in information technology
(IT) will affect other areas of road safety as
well, for example vehicle safety standards, logistics,
navigation and communication.
Perceived quality
Customer choices are also determined for reasons
other than purely quantifiable vehicle characteristics
During 2001, Scania introduced red seatbelts, which are clearly
visible from outside when in use.
and performance. Product design and identity are
becoming increasingly important. Today’s product
developers must also pay close attention to the ‘‘soft”
values inherent in the Scania brand.
Standardised working method
The concepts in the Scania Production System have
also been adapted to the work of the Technical Centre,
with one objective being to deliver test results in a
more systematic, efficient way. Streamlining the work
process will allow more time to be used for creativity.
Environmental priorities in
development work
Life-cycle thinking is the foundation of Scania’s research
and development work. The Scania Technical Centre
pursues the long-term task of developing future
generations of vehicles and engines. By weighing in
the environmental aspects at an early stage of development
work, the environmental impact of the product
can be reduced throughout its life cycle. Better fuel
consumption and reduced emissions are always in the
spotlight. Choosing the right materials and decreasing
vehicle weight without sacrificing quality, cargo capacity
and performance are other high-priority areas.
New IT systems are helping to improve road safety.
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