Annual Report 2001 - Bohler Uddeholm materializing visions

The maintenance and distribution of
knowledge is one of the greatest challenges
for the management of multinational enterprises,
and therefore for the BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM
Group as well. The answer to an ever-increasing
flood of data is not limited to information
technology, but rather focuses on networks of
knowledge between individual employees from
different functional areas and countries. Knowledge
management should support the development
and transfer of knowledge between
member companies and divisions of the Group,
and make resources available to use this common
knowledge.
The BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM knowledge management
project has identified three areas of
strategic relevance for competition on the marketplace:
• the ability to solve material-related
problems
• long-term relationships with customers,
suppliers and employees
• finely-tuned reactions to changes
on global and local markets.
The decentralized international structure
of the BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM Group requires knowledge
management to concentrate and link
available but ”scattered“ expertise, making it
more easily available for value added processes.
These activities should take place within
interaction and communication structures
that provide access to a knowledge pool for
the Group staff, and permit the development
and use of this common know-how.
Knowledge Management
The foundation of knowledge management
at BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM is based on a networking
of individual knowledge bearers into
Group project teams. The organizational framework
for this is formed by a knowledge-based
network, which covers various areas by experts
and resources (hardware, software, data,
budget).
The creation of knowledge networks at
BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM started in the research and
development sector in 1998, and now extends
into other functional areas. As an example:
in 2001 the Automotive Future Trends Group
(AFTG) was founded, and includes not only
R&D experts but also specialists from production,
marketing and sales.
This will allow the Group to recognise
new trends in the automotive industry at an
early stage and react quickly to changing market
needs. BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM AG assumes the
role of coordinator in these projects, and analyses
the fulfilment of objectives by applying
specific indicators and evaluating qualitative
results.
The Company’s goal over the coming
years is to introduce knowledge management
forums throughout the Group to identify and
evaluate future trends in the key customer segments
of the aircraft and energy industries.
Conclusions reached by these groups will form
the basis for strategic goals and measures to
expand our range of products and services.
BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM Annual Report 2001 39