Advanced Manufacturing Excellence in Spain Brings a Host of Awards for IVECO
IVECO, the commercial vehicle’s brand of CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE: CNHI / MI: CNHI), has been recognized by three distinct bodies and rewarded for its advanced and sustainable manufacturing practices at its plants in Spain.
IVECO’s plant in Madrid, Spain, which today produces the heavy-duty S-WAY truck, was awarded the title of “Ecological Excellence in Truck Production” at the 2019 Lean and Green Management Awards. Conferred by the European initiative Lean & Green, it reaffirms the facility’s commitment to excellence, continuous improvement and the development of sustainable processes and products. Furthermore, the location’s integration of innovative solutions and Industry 4.0 methodologies, alongside the digitalization process were also praised. The role of employees was recognized, with the jury lauding the large number of low cost automation solutions to ensure intrinsic safety, quality and efficiency. Plant Manager, Manuel Mansilla, explained that “achieving a high level of excellence in production is based on a firm commitment from our people and teams, and they are the key to our continuous improvement with the great work they do every day.”
IVECO’s sister plant in Valladolid, Spain, which manufactures cabs for Daily vans and the those for heavy-duty trucks, was the recipient of the very first National Connected Industry 4.0 Award, granted by the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, which recognizes those production plants that stand out for their commitment to an innovative and connected transformation of the industry. The plant secured the award thanks to its long term vision for a comprehensive itinerary of industrial digitalization, its innovative and original approach towards digitization, its highly engaged workforce alongside the implementation methodology and concrete results obtained. Jaime Revilla, President and CEO of IVECO Spain received the award and stressed the role that, “the young, highly competent and motivated team, have managed to take the Valladolid plant and IVECO, to the top of the commercial vehicle industry in Spain and Europe”. Some key developments which were crucial in the location’s success were the extension of artificial and augmented reality, which, when combined with access to real-time data, has enabled the largest leap forward in terms of quality assurance. The use of exoskeletons and robots, reducing the physical strain on production line employees, were also commended.
The Valladolid facility was also the recipient of the AGAMUS award in the vehicle manufacturer (OEM) category. This award, conferred by the German international management consultant AGAMUS, recognized the plant as a world leading point of reference in terms of Industry 4.0 and as one of the major automotive factories in Spain. The location’s use of big data, augmented reality as well as 3D printing were again recognized. The jury also prized the Company’s open approach to innovation and creativity as well as an unswerving commitment to reducing losses and enhancing the overall efficiency of production