Monographie Bonn-Rhein-Sieg

AUTOMOTIVE AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING – SUCCESS STORIES WITH TRADITION AND FUTURE
With the two major automobile manufacturers, Ford in
Cologne, and Daimler-Chrysler in Düsseldorf, Rhineland is
one of the most important locations nationwide for the
automotive sector. However, the large number of small and
medium-sized suppliers is just as important as these global
players. On both sides of the Rhine River, from Bad Honnef
right up to the federal state capital, almost everything that
is needed for manufacturing and equipping vehicles is
produced.
The gloves are off
Within this field of tension between success, clear targets
and price pressure, the Rhenish supplier companies are in
need of support. With the purpose of promoting the
dialogue between the supplier companies and manufac -
turers, the Chambers of Industry and Commerce Aachen,
Bonn/Rhein-Sieg, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Mittlerer Niederrhein
and Wuppertal-Solingen-Remscheid have founded the
“Automotive Rheinland” (Automotive Rhineland) drive. The
goal of this initiative is to ensure increased transparency and
support with finding solutions to current problems, in -
cluding image advertising.
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There is increasing global competition among automobile
manufacturers, with product cycles that are becoming
shorter all the time and a decline in the depth of manu -
facturing. These factors and increasing international quality
standards are having an impact on subcontracting relationships.
More and more, the subcontracting companies’
leeway is being restricted. This is due to the fact that they
are increasingly integrated into the vehicle manufacturers’
competitively-calculated value-added chains. This, in turn,
increases the cost pressure exerted on them. Most recent
events have demonstrated how explosive this field of
tension, in which subcontractors have to survive and supply
their products, is. However, this sector is booming despite
this, and there are constant new inventions that are being
installed.
This also explains why, apart from the automobile industry,
mechanical engineering also takes on a leading role in the
Bonn/Rhein-Sieg region. Both industries are characterised
by a clear export-oriented focus. This, in turn, leads to the
creation of new jobs and – as a result – a significant boost
for regional business development.
Networks for innovation
In addition to this, in particular with its FORUM Innovation,
the Chamber of Industry and Commerce supports manufacturing
companies that are search of solutions to inno -
vative questions. In this regard, Dr Rainer Neuerbourg, expert
for Innovation and technology at the Chamber of Industry
and Commerce Bonn/Rhein-Sieg: “This is achieved, for
instance, by mediating competent partners from the cor -
porate network; by developing solutions within the context
of workshops as well as the exchange of experience
between companies and scientific institutions in the region.
The partnerships that arise from these contacts and co -
operation represent the driving power for innovation in the
corporate and scientific sector. By means of this, not only is
innovation management improved in the company itself,
but the innovative power in the entire region is also
strengthened.”
And – as already described in detail in the contribution
regarding the intensification of vocational training and
further education – the Chamber of Industry and Com-
Continued on page 81