Automotive Supply Chain Management In Slovakia - Icabr.com

• Simple testing activities, experiments
• Car design a car models
Case study of 1-Tier Supplier
Example of successful automotive supplier investor (seat systems supplier) in Slovakia
is American company Johnson Controls International. 1-Tier System Supplier, Johnson
Controls International, has establishing 5 own production and assembly plants in Slovakia:
• Plant Lozorno – the main customer is Volkswagen Slovakia in Bratislava, production:
car seats assembly in correspondence with Just-in-Time system
• Plant Martin – cover seats production
• Plant Námestovo – the main customers are GM, Daimler, Kia, PSA, production:
plastic parts, door panels for interior, instrument panel assembly
• Plant Žilina – the main customer is Kia Motors Slovakia, production: assembly and
JIT deliveries of car seats and interiors: overhead system, door panels, central
consoles
• Plant Lučenec – the main customers are VW (Geel, Zwickau), Renault, Kia Motors
Slovakia, production: foam parts injection, seating parts, head rests
• Johnson Controls Bratislava Business Centre - The Business Centre provides
leadership and deliver core business process capabilities in finance, purchasing,
information technology and human resources to support all East European
Customers.
Johnson Controls built one of the biggest technology centers in the Slovak Republic for
developing automotive seats components, systems and modules. Opened in 2004 the
130,000 square feet technology center extended the engineering network to include the
Eastern European growth markets and responded to customers’ growing presence there. In
Trenčin, 500 employees design automotive components, systems and modules while using
state-of-the-art technologies and development tools. The technology center houses prototype
facilities as well as product testing capabilities and works closely with Johnson Controls
technology centers in Germany and Johnson Controls customers all over Europe.
US Company Johnson Controls successfully launched cooperation with three technical
universities in Slovakia. The first step of cooperation is based on Johnson Controls
promotion and at universities and preparation of diploma thesis for engineering students.
Johnson Controls Engineering Center is looking for the best engineering graduates. Johnson
Controls cooperate on development projects with universities mainly in seat system area. It is
next good step in company for growth in Slovakia. This type of cooperation between 1-Tier
system supplier and universities (or R&D organizations) is key element of building strong
automotive supply chain based on local talents and creating new knowledge.
Conclusions
This success story of foreign supplier evolution in Central Europe gives opportunity for
next growth after financial crisis. Slovak supply chain progress is interesting and excellent.
We can suppose that this evolution of supply chain after financial crisis can brings new
similar success stories of growing building of engineering or technology centers with huge
potential of domestic Slovak research and development environment. By the words of
prominent automotive specialist in Slovakia, Mr. Jozef Uhrík (President of Automotive
Industry Association of the Slovak Republic), we can expect this next development: “Slovakia
will always have advantage of good geographic location. We need to achieve that Slovak
production plants will become research-development-production plants. We have managed
production processes in Slovakia, but now we must do more. It relates on suppliers, because