Taste for invention

TAsTE FOR iNVeNTiON

Supplement of

CONTeNtS DiGiTiSATiON AND CONNEctiVitY

04 SMART MAiNTENANCE EDiTORiAl This ŠKODA Mobil Supplement offers clear proof that at ŠKODA AUTO we still have a taste for invention. For more than 120 years, this company has been using its entrepreneurial spirit and combining it with a passion for cars. Our colleagues’ skilfulness and inventiveness continue to drive us forward. The nature of the challenges keeps changing over the decades, but there are still new issues to tackle. Today everything is moving faster than ever before; as a result, we need to come up with innovative solutions at an ever greater pace. In the next few years, electromobility, digitisation of transport and connectivity will bring greater changes to the automotive industry than anything we have seen in the past few decades. In the July ŠKODA Mobil Supplement, “Ride into the Future”, we described how the automotive world is changing. This time around, we would like to present to you a few examples of innovation at ŠKODA AUTO: things we have achieved in the Technical Development, Production and Human Resources Management departments, as well as in other fields of our activities. Innovations in individual mobility have been our driving force since the company was founded. To realise the full potential of the ŠKODA brand, we need all your ideas and suggestions.

Our future starts now – be a part of it!

Marek Jancák PF – HEAD OF THE PERFORMANCE

06 ROAD TO KODiAQ

07 COMMUNiCATiNG SUV

NeW AGE OF 08 THE CONNEctiVitY

CAR fUlL OF 10 AAPPliCATiONS FOR A COMFORTABlE feeL iN THE CAR

WHilE 11 ONliNE DRiViNG ActUAL DRiViNG VS iN A lABORATORY

AND INNOVATION CULTURE PROJECT

TAsTE FOR iNVeNTiON SUPPLEMENT OF ŠKODA MOBIL Editor in chief: Tomáš Novotný Graphic design and production: Boomerang Communication Content contributors: Simona Havlíková, Martin Šidlák, Michal Žďárský, Silvie Plavecká Published: 30.9.2016

iNNOVATiON iN PRODUctiON, lOGisTiCS AND QUAlitY

MAiNTeNANCE 12 SMART ReDUCeS DOWNTiME

14 GAPGUN THE HelPeR iNVeNTORY CHECKS WiTH A SCANNeR

A KeY AGE 15 fROM TO A CHiP 16 THE OF 3D PRiNTiNG SOlARPOWeReD

OPTiCAL 17 iNTelliGeNT TOOlS 18 UNiQUE TOMOGRAPHS 19 CHECKS ROBOTiSATiON OF GRiNDiNG

ViRTUAL TRAiNiNG

ROBOTiC ARM

iNNOVATiON iN HUMAN ReSOURCE MANAGeMeNT

HUMAN 24 MOBilE ReSOURCeS MANAGeMeNT

20 iNNOVATiON ACADeMY

HUMAN 22 MOBilE ReSOURCeS MANAGeMeNT

PEOPlE 25 DYNAMiC WiTH GOOD iDeAS

FORMS OF DRiViNG FORCE 26 NeW lANGUAGE TeACHiNG 27 OF iNNOVATiON

ŠKODA DiGiTAL lABORATORY

It helps to find and test new ideas.

The ŠKODA Digital Laboratory deals with unconventional business ideas and innovative digital business models. It aims to improve the health of the company and secure its market position for years to come. The Digital Laboratory combines all three pillars of this supplement: Digitisation and Connectivity, Innovation in Production, Logistics and Quality, as well as in Human Resources Management.

It cooperates with external partners, universities, incubators and start-ups.

It pioneers a new company culture with a flat hierarchy and relationships beyond the immediate team.

It develops prototypes of digital services and business models.

DiGiTiSATiON AND CONNEctiVitY

SMART MAiNTENANCE WHEN PART OF AN ASSEMBLY LINE BREAKS DOWN, IT IS A PROBLEM. EVERYTHING NEEDS TO STOP, AND THE FAILURE HAS TO BE FOUND AND FIXED. WHAT IF WE COULD PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING? THAT IS THE GOAL OF SMART MAINTENANCE, ALSO CALLED PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE, WHICH MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO DETECT FAILURES BEFORE THEY OCCUR THANKS TO THE DIGITISATION OF PRODUCTION AND THE COLLECTION OF THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF DATA AND ANALYSES. SMART MAINTENANCE IS BEING PILOTED IN THE BODY SHOP AT THE KVASINY PLANT. IF THE PROJECT SUCCEEDS, FURTHER IMPLEMENTATION WILL FOLLOW SOON. Smart Maintenance is a modern approach to maintenance based on the gathering and monitoring of all available data; it helps prevent potential failures or detect them before they occur. To do so, Smart Maintenance uses predictive analyses to analyse a wide range of different data. Predictive analyses will gradually replace the current system, which only allows for responses to failures after they occur. Thanks to processing and analysing huge amounts of data in a single database, predictive analyses will decrease failure rates and resulting downtime. The first step in implementing Smart Maintenance was to digitise individual shops, which meant creating a record in the central database for each machine, including the related processes, failure logs, requirements, pictures of failures, information on errors, repairs and the downtime duration of failures.

MOBILE MAINTENANCE The mobile maintenance application serves to access the necessary information more quickly. Outputs of most SAP processes can be displayed in a graphical format directly on PDAs, tablets and PCs. This possibility has enabled better access to the relevant data and shortened repair time. “We used to record failures manually into logs; switching to the mobile application has simplified and speeded up the whole process. Today a maintenance man can identify the malfunctioning machine and detect the failure using a PDA, record the failure into the system, assign it a solution and enter the result of the repair. As everything happens online, the head of the maintenance team can keep track of the failure and the repair in real time. The mobile solution is the cornerstone of the prepared predictive maintenance system”, says Libor Kryšpín from the FIB/4 department. More information about specific Smart Maintenance solutions is available in the article on pages 12 and 13.

04

TAsTE FOR iNVeNTiON

2020 E XP EC TAT IO N S

PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE WILL LEAD TO THE USE OF INTELLIGENT COMPONENTS THAT CAN MONITOR THEMSELVES. THEIR INTRODUCTION IS NOT FAR DOWN THE ROAD – THEY COULD BECOME A STANDARD PART OF PRODUCTION WITHIN FIVE YEARS.

1 DIGITISATION

2

Information

MOBILE SOLUTIONS

3 BIG DATA

4

Predictive models

Database

INTELLIGENT COMPONENTS

Predictive analyses use a diverse range of inputs from the machines themselves, from the available databases and from the new mobile solution that has replaced the formerly slower and less organised collection of data.

Mobile solutions

The beauty of Smart Maintenance is that we want to know something that is yet to happen. Thanks to analysing big data in real time, we can better manage the maintenance of production equipment and fix problems and failures before they even occur.

Jiří Parma FIB/4 – SAP INTERNAL PROJECTS

ANAlYSiNG BiG DATA

iNTelliGeNT COMPONeNtS

Big data is a new term with many different definitions. It describes data sets that are so big that they cannot be collected, managed and processed using standard software tools. ŠKODA AUTO works with huge amounts of data relating to maintenance that need to be processed and analysed properly.

The digitisation and implementation of mobile solutions is already underway at ŠKODA AUTO. But that is not the only innovation in maintenance to come. The next step will be to introduce intelligent components. These are machines that can diagnose themselves; processing a wide range of input and statistical data, they can detect a potential failure and promptly report it to maintenance.

SMART SOLUTIONS SINCE 1895

TAsTE FOR iNVeNTiON

05

DiGiTiSATiON AND CONNEctiVitY

ROAD TO KODiAQ FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, A NEW MODEL IS PRESENTED TO DEALERS AND SERVICE ADVISERS IN AN INTERNET PRESENTATION. COMPLETE INFORMATION ABOUT KODIAQ IS AVAILABLE IN ADVANCE IN AN ATTRACTIVE, SIMPLE AND USER-FRIENDLY FORMAT. THIS IS ALSO THE FIRST TIME THE COMPANY COMMUNICATES WITH THE DEALERS DIRECTLY IN COOPERATION WITH THE IMPORTERS.

INFORMATION FOR DEALERS The new portal, which targets dealership employees in particular, was launched on 15 June and currently has more than 13,000 registered users. The portal was created in record time and now operates successfully in 33 countries and language versions. The content of the portal, which aims to train sales staff, is published in batches. Currently, nine chapters are available; each consists of several sub-chapters. As a whole, the portal will acquaint dealers and service advisers with different topics – from the product itself to the business model to connectivity, which is an important feature of KODIAQ. A total of 20 chapters will be published in diverse formats, including articles, videos, animations and several motivational quizzes.

8

W EEK S FROM THE INITIAL IDEA TO LAUNCHING THE FULLY FUNCTIONAL PROJECT, ROAD TO KODIAQ

06

TAsTE FOR iNVeNTiON

COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW Dealers and service advisers will get a comprehensive overview of the new model’s target group, technical features and design. It will also include advice on how to attract customers to dealerships.

The Road to KODIAQ prepares dealers for questions from clients who are already interested in the model; it also gives them background information for the standard product training planned for the spring of 2017. To this end, the portal also offers a series of e-learning courses.

The aim of Road to KODIAQ is to prepare the sales network for the launch of the brand-new ŠKODA KODIAQ in a new segment: A+SUV. The most demanding thing about the project was its complexity (it has brought together practically all the departments), the timing of its launch and gradual publication of the content.

Josef Nastoupil INT. SALES TRAINING & QUALITY IN SALES

The portal includes interesting quizzes and competitions. Let’s try one out! Combine the parts of the texts. Can you put together the parts on the right and the left side to produce true statements?

THE KODIAQ’S STANDARD PETROL ENGINE

12 MM

THE KODIAQ’S MOST POWERFUL DIESEL ENGINE

1.4 TSI/ 110 KW

THE DIFFERENCE IN BACKGROUND CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE KODIAQ AND THE YETI

475 MM

THE DIFFERENCE IN LENGTH BETWEEN THE KODIAQ AND THE YETI

2.0 TDI/140 KW

COMMUNiCATiNG THE SUV ŠKODA KODIAQ IS THE FIRST FULLY CONNECTED CAR PRODUCED BY ŠKODA AUTO. THE CONNECTED CAR PROJECT WAS LAUNCHED WITH THIS MODEL IN MIND TO RESPOND TO THE DEMANDS OF CUSTOMERS WHO ARE INCREASINGLY OPTING FOR SERVICES BASED ON CONNECTIVITY. THIS NOVELTY IS EXPECTED TO FEATURE IN SUBSEQUENT MODELS, TOO.

CONNECTED WORLD Every day more than 1,000 applications are developed, more than 2 billion people communicate with friends using social networks, and 2.3 billion people look up information online. Every second, 2.5 million emails are sent. KODIAQ enters this age in which it could not succeed without an Internet connection. That is why it is equipped with ŠKODA Connect, which offers Infotainment Online services (including navigation and real-time information) and Connected Car services (enabling remote access and proactive assistance services).

PORTAL AND APPLICATIONS There are many benefits to having your car connected to the Internet. Thanks to ŠKODA Connect, you can communicate with your car and access a number of services remotely from home. For example, you can plan every detail of your journey and send the itinerary to the car or choose a preferred service partner.

As a result, your chosen service partner can be informed in advance about potential service needs and make the necessary preparations. Communication with the car is done through a mobile application, where you can find a com-

plete overview of the Connected Car services, monitor the car’s current condition or give it instructions, thus making your life easier.

HOW DOES IT WORK? KODIAQ can connect to the Internet thanks to a SIM card, which is an integral part of every car. To offer the Infotainment Online services, it connects to the Internet through your smartphone using your data services. If you want to check your car’s condition, you send a request to the Backend, which is the system’s brain. It sends a text message to the switched-off control unit instructing it to start operating and send you the information, which is then displayed in the application. But Infotainment Online has still more to offer: Your car’s current GPS location and a notification if the car leaves the delimited area or exceeds the set speed limit etc.

12

It was not easy to carry out such a complex project in quite a short time, more so considering we first needed to build a team to work on it. Many of the systems use the VW Group’s technologies.

It was a challenge, however, to integrate the new features with the existing ŠKODA AUTO systems to make them work flawlessly together and to enable the drivers to use all the available services.

Petr Bobek FIE/2 – SYSTEMS MOD/MMB – CONNECTED CAR

SMART SOLUTIONS SINCE 1895

P E RC E N T OF CARS WORLDWIDE ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET

TAsTE FOR iNVeNTiON

07

DiGiTiSATiON AND CONNEctiVitY

THE NeW AGE OF CONNEctiVitY THE LATEST STUDIES ESTIMATE THAT BY 2020 ALMOST ALL OF THE ADULT WORLD POPULATION WILL BE INTERCONNECTED. EVEN TODAY IT IS COMPLETELY NATURAL TO BE ONLINE ALL THE TIME, AND MANY PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO GIVE UP THIS CONVENIENCE EVEN WHILE DRIVING. AS A RESULT, A GROWING NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS CONSIDER CONNECTIVITY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS WHEN CHOOSING A CAR. IN RESPONSE TO THIS TREND, MANUFACTURERS ARE PUTTING GREATER EMPHASIS ON DEVELOPING SERVICES BASED ON CONNECTIVITY. THEY NOT ONLY COMPETE AMONG THEMSELVES BUT ALSO WITH TECHNOLOGICAL AND SOFTWARE COMPANIES SUCH AS GOOGLE AND APPLE. ŠKODA AUTO HAS NOT BEEN IDLE AND HAS INTRODUCED ŠKODA CONNECT, WHICH OFFERS A FULLY CONNECTED CAR.

08

TAsTE FOR iNVeNTiON

ŠKODA Connect gives a modern dimension to navigation, maintenance and driving thanks to mobile online services. The first fully connected ŠKODA car will be the KODIAQ, but other models will follow soon. By the fourth quarter of 2017, all the ŠKODA models (except CITIGO) will be fully connected.

CONsTANTlY ONliNE Turning a car into a connected car is not rocket science – you just connect it to a smartphone or use a different type of Internet connection supported by the car. ŠKODA AUTO’s connectivity solution, called ŠKODA Connect, includes two categories of services. The first is Infotainment Online, which provides real-time information; the second is Connected Car, which offers remote access and assistance services.

iNFORMATiON iN ReAL TiME Infotainment Online boasts a number of useful functions. You can use Online Traffic Information, which displays real-time information about the traffic on the chosen route, as well as the wellknown Google Earth™, Google Street View™ and many others. You can upload a route prepared in advance, check the weather forecast for your destination on the multimedia system’s screen, find out about fuel prices on your route and check how many parking spaces are available at your favourite shopping centre.

Aleš Chyba VAS/3 – CONNECTED CAR MOD/MBB

eASilY CONTROllABlE CAR Connected Car brings with it endless possibilities. One of the most important functions is Emergency Call (eCall). In case of a serious accident, the car is able to call for help on its own and inform the emergency services about the number of people on board, the extent of the damage, the drive direction and most importantly its exact location. Remote access is another useful feature – using your smartphone, you can check whether the doors are open or closed, for example. You can remotely access the car systems anytime from anywhere to check the current fuel level, go through the statistics on your last journey or make the car blink and honk if you cannot find it in the parking lot. Another benefit of the online services is that the car will inform you in time about a necessary service visit and alert the service partner, who can offer you a suitable appointment well in advance.

90

P E RC E N T BY 2020, 90 PERCENT OF THE NEW CARS SOLD WILL BE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET

SMART SOLUTIONS SINCE 1895

TAsTE FOR iNVeNTiON

09

DiGiTiSATiON AND CONNEctiVitY

A car full of applications A growing number of customers want their car to include an infotainment system that works similarly to a smartphone.

They want to be able to easily connect the two devices and use practical and entertainment applications without limitations. That opens up many opportunities to modernise the applications created by ŠKODA AUTO’s Technical Development department. We have already launched a number of applications tailor-made for cars: ŠKODA Service helps to call an assistance service or find the closest deal-

er, the LittleDriver game teaches the little ones about safe driving, and the Move & Fun application offers smart extensions to the radio and dashboard functions in CITIGO cars. The ŠKODA Connect application makes its first appearance in the ŠKODA KODIAQ, enabling drivers to access and control newly designed additional services. For example, it can notify you on your smartphone that your car has exceeded the speed limit or left the designated area and enables you to transfer routes you plan at home to the navigation system in the car. The new version of SmartLink, as upgraded for the KODIAQ, includes not only the standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink but also the SmartGate function. As a result, you can use a single application for navigation, playing music, checking messages and displaying the latest driving information on the infotainment screen.

250 000

We are one of the best car manufacturers regarding connectivity and online services. As the barriers to connecting the world of smartphones with cars are disappearing, the question of connectivity is becoming much more important. That is why we follow the latest technological trends and constantly come up with new and smarter applications.

David Žid EEC/4 – CONNECTIVITY

USER S

HAVE DOWNLOADED ŠKODA APPLICATIONS FROM GOOGLE PLAY AND THE APPLE APP STORE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR CARS

FOR A COMFORTABlE feeL iN THE CAR

Wireless charging and Internet connection are the cornerstones of connectivity in cars. Thanks to these innovations, ŠKODA cars will be ready to implement the SmartLink wireless technologies. ŠKODA AUTO has developed the first one in cooperation with RealVNC: wireless MirrorLink was introduced at the MWC 2016 fair in Barcelona.

Michal Maruška EEC/1 – CONNECTED CAR

10

TAsTE FOR iNVeNTiON

Thanks to the optional addition of an LTE module, the car can offer passengers a high-speed Internet connection.

Using a Wi-Fi hotspot, the passengers can connect their mobile devices and surf the web, watch videos or send e-mails. The first ŠKODA model boasting this feature was last year’s SUPERB; it will also feature in the new KODIAQ. This spring saw a new addition to the portfolio of SUPERB and OCTAVIA optional equipment: Phonebox offers Qi wireless phone charging and wireless connection to the antenna. The Qi system uses inductive power transfer to charge the phone; the power transmitter and the receiver communicate with each other to ensure optimum charging, while the phone remains fully functional. A number of smartphones support the Qi standard already, including phones by Google, Blackberry, LG,

Nokia, Microsoft, Samsung and Sony.

The wireless charging of iPhones is possible with a special phone case.

3

M O DE L S CURRENTLY SUPPORT WIRELESS CHARGING TECHNOLOGY: KODIAQ, SUPERB AND OCTAVIA

ONliNE WHilE DRiViNG The digitisation of ŠKODA cars actually dates back as far as the year 2000, when both models that were in production at the time, FABIA and OCTAVIA, started to support

25

SER VI CES ARE OFFERED BY THE ŠKODA CONNECT SYSTEM IN THE KODIAQ. TEN OF THEM ADD TO THE EXISTING FUNCTIONS, 15 ARE BRAND-NEW.

the CAN-Bus standard. But the true game changer comes now. The car network will access the Internet using a mobile network, and ŠKODA cars will join the Internet of Things.

This opens up numerous opportunities for technological, product and commercial innovations; tapping into this potential, ŠKODA AUTO will soon start offering its own software solutions.

The new online mobile services and functions will enable drivers to access information online while they are driving. They will also allow drivers to connect with their car remotely and obtain complete information about the car’s condition and use. Service partners will be able to access information about the car’s “health” (if allowed by the owner) and conveniently schedule service visits or software upgrades, if necessary.

Remote monitoring has huge potential: For example, anonymous telematic data can be used to improve a car’s functions, monitor traffic, analyse failures quickly etc.

The project of online mobile services has only just started. It has been introduced for the first time in the KODIAQ under the product name ŠKODA Connect, offering two basic packages: Infotainment Online and Connected Car. In the coming years, we plan to expand our portfolio of services because otherwise our cars would not be able to compete. To be ready for this challenge, we still have a long way to go to introduce brand-new processes and build new competences in all the units of ŠKODA AUTO.

Martin Sodomka EEC/1 – CONNECTED CAR

ActUAL DRiViNG VS. iN A lABORATORY

We create such conditions for testing cars’ electronics in the laboratory to make the control units think they are in an actual car, even though they only run in a test environment.

Petr Stuchlík EEI/1 – TEST MANAGEMENT AND INTEGRATION TESTS

Control units ensure that all digital applications and other systems in a car work and communicate correctly. Today cars contain dozens of control units; to test them before they are used in actual cars, the Technical Development department uses innovative simulation technology.

Testing cars’ electronic systems include two sets of integration tests.

The first set of tests is carried out in a laboratory, where the systems’ functionality and safety are tested; the second set of tests is carried out in actual cars. The first set of tests is done in ŠKODA AUTO’s Electric-/Electronics Test Centre; the methods are so advanced that the system does not “realise” that it is not operating in an actual car. That is achieved by using state-of-the-art testing stations called Breadboard and Hardware in the Loop, which simulate actual driving conditions.

40 U N IT S

CURRENT MODELS OF CARS CONTAIN 40 CONTROL UNITS

SMART SOLUTIONS SINCE 1895

TAsTE FOR iNVeNTiON

11

iNNOVATiON iN PRODUctiON, lOGisTiCS AND QUAlitY

SMART MAiNTeNANCE ReDUCeS DOWNTiME MODERNISING PRODUCTION IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE INNOVATION PROCESS. HERE ARE SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS DEVISED BY MAINTENANCE COORDINATORS IN PAINT SHOPS, PRESS SHOPS AND BODY SHOPS THAT WERE RECENTLY INTRODUCED.

ViBROMONiTORiNG: TiMelY DiAGNOsTiCS Bearings are not a new invention. They reduce friction between the moving parts of a device. Today, however, they have to meet increasing technical demands, particularly in terms of rotation speed, maximum load and resistance to external environmental factors.Any bearing can get jammed, and even a small one can stop a big machine. That is why the technological field called vibrodiagnostics has been focusing for many years on the timely detection of bearings at the end of their service life and the expansion of diagnostics from high-speed bearings to low-speed, mostly rotational, bearings. With regard to another type (linear bearings), vibromonitoring is at the stage of laboratory testing. In all new body shops, there are several machines called framers, which include frames weighing 5 tonnes each moving on eight linear bearings 7 metres above the ground. The load the bearings need to carry is immense, which makes failures more likely. If a bearing gets jammed 7 metres above the ground, the production has to stop, and there is a risk of up to five days of downtime. The maintenance team led by coordinator Josef Šenk is currently preparing to start using vibrodiagnostics of linear bearings in practice. With the help of other devices for easier manipulation, timely information and professional work, he wants to reduce the five-day downtime to a preventive weekend intervention.

ONLINE VIBROMONITORING OF LINEAR BEARINGS IS CARRIED OUT IN THE UPPER PART OF THE FRAMER

MONiTORiNG fiBRE OPTiC NeTWORKS Robots, sensors, detectors and other devices exchange information about their position, condition, safety etc. With hundreds of robots and clamps and thousands of sensors in the production plants, the amount of transferred data is hard to imagine. Owing to increased automation, it is no longer possible to transfer data using metal cables. They are being replaced by fibre optic cables, which are well suited for the fast and reliable transfer of huge amounts of data. Unfortunately, both plastic and glass fibre optic cables have their Achilles heel, too: ageing and deterioration, which cause transfer delays and subsequent failures resulting in long downtime.Following the principles of predictive maintenance, which aims to prevent failures, it is possible to detect cables at the end of their service life by measuring their remaining information transmission capacity. Thanks to this automatic diagnostic, we can find out what would break down, for example, next week.

Our current predictive maintenance systems can test both cables and other components of the fibre optic network. The innovation lies in gathering and processing the data and getting the results automatically in a user-friendly format.

90

M IN U T ES DURATION OF SEMI-AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING BEFORE INNOVATION

A FRAMER – A DEVICE DESIGNED TO ATTAIN THE MAXIMUM GEOMETRICAL PRECISION, AS WELL AS THE HIGHEST REPEATABILITY OF BODY MANUFACTURING

12

TAsTE FOR iNVENTiON

5

M IN U T ES DURATION OF DATA PROCESSING AFTER INNOVATION

25

PER CEN T FASTER OPERATIONAL MAINTENANCE THANKS TO THE SMART CONVEYOR SYSTEM

20

PER CEN T INCREASE IN THE RELIABILITY OF RACKS THANKS TO THE SMART CONVEYOR SYSTEM

SMART CONVeYORS iN 2016: A ReAlitY Car body conveyor systems work like a bicycle chain: If a single link breaks, you need to stop and replace the broken link before you can continue riding. The same can befall an assembly line. A single malfunctioning body rack can stop the whole conveyor. How does one find the rack that is broken when everything is at a standstill? Every rack has been equipped with an RFID chip and a number of sensitive sensors that enable the autonomous monitoring and reporting of the rack’s condition. As a result, the whole system has become smarter. For example, the sensors monitor the wear and tear of the rollers and the carbons, as well as propulsion, insulation, electricity consumption etc. Each time a rack passes through a checkpoint, the data is compared with a database of previously measured data, and if a downward trend is detected, the rack is automatically redirected away from the main line to a separate branch for maintenance. But that is not all the RFID diagnostics can offer. The gathered data are stored in an electronic database that offers detailed information on the operation, past repairs and calibration of every single rack. By connecting the database to SAP, we can easily find out how many spare parts we have in stock and whether more need to be ordered. The solution also enables easy monitoring of the costs of individual racks repairs. Until recently, the repairs were carried out preventively based on lengthy visual checks done over the weekend. The maintenance team of Assembly Shop MB I expects to upgrade all the conveyors by the end of 2016. The implementation of this innovative idea clearly shows that the world is on the brink of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, characterised by autonomy, digitisation and communication.

The key principles of the process of production digitisation are described on pages 4 and 5.

Anything around us can be innovated – we just need to think creatively. It doesn’t hurt!

Finding a way to reduce downtime or handle an unforeseen failure requires the maintenance teams to be able to improvise from time to time. Creativity plays an indispensable role in innovation and sometimes even in carrying out preventive measures. Let’s use creative thinking to prevent failures instead of fixing them.

Pavel Richter PF1 – CAR PRODUCTION MB I

SMART SOLUTIONS SINCE 1895

TAsTE FOR iNVENTiON

13

iNNOVATiON iN PRODUctiON, lOGisTiCS AND QUAlitY

GAPGUN THE HelPeR A car consists of roughly 4,700 parts that fit together perfectly. They include big parts, such as the bonnet, fenders and other parts of the body, as well as small items in the engine or the car’s interior. Today, when attention to detail

20x

TIMES

FASTER

INCREASING THE SPEED OF MEASUREMENTS BY USING GAPGUN INSTEAD OF MANUAL TECHNIQUES

is so important and customers demand the best quality, even the smallest irregularity is undesirable. That is why each car undergoes several checks by the Assembly Shop staff and quality auditors.

Helping them in this task is GapGun, a hand-held laser device for measuring joints, surface contact points, angle profiles and rims. Using the device makes the process 20 times faster than taking measurements with manual gauges. It also makes it possible to assess two different materials at a time, such as plastic and glass. After the measurement, GapGun generates a cross-section of the measured surface, displays the status on the screen (using a green or a red signal) and provides detailed information about the results. The fully portable device offers flexibility and the possibility to monitor a specific part of the car at several stages of the assembly process. The gathered data is processed, archived and used as a benchmark in case of future adjustments. Thanks to this innovation, we keep up with ever accelerating global technological developments.

The legacy of the company’s founders, Mr. Laurin and Mr. Klement, is: Only the best we can do is good enough for our customers. In 2016, we can proudly say we honour this legacy with laser-sharp accuracy.

Pavel Richter PF1 – CAR PRODUCTION MB I

iNVeNTORY CHECKS WiTH A SCANNeR

Using scanners makes inventory checks easier and faster, cuts overhead costs and is more eco-friendly. Workers do not have to laboriously arrange inventory slips in numerical order anymore, they have immediate access to the latest data on inventoried parts, and the number of documents printed for every part drops from three to one.

Ivana Hroudová PF1-I/3 – LOGISTICS TECHNICAL SERVICE MB I

14

TAsTE FOR iNVENTiON

Using scanners for inventory checks of unfinished production shows that clever innovation that saves time and reduces paperwork does not have to involve the latest technological gadgets.

The joint project of Logistics Planning, In-House and Operative Logistics, Controlling and IT was awarded the 2015 Logistics Innovation Prize within ŠKODA AUTO. Until recently, inventory checks were very demanding in terms of organisation. Much of it was done manually: entering inventory slips data into a computer, checking the correctness of the data, arranging the slips in numerical order and looking for missing slips; besides, each slip had to be filled in and signed by a worker three times. This year, scanners will be used to take stock of unfinished production.

Instead of the lengthy and complicated filling out of documents, workers will scan the bar codes on simplified inventory slips and enter the quantity of the material into the system; the data will

be transferred electronically into SAP and processed. Last year, this innovative project was piloted in the supermarket in the M13 building.

25

P E RC E N T REDUCTION IN INVENTORY CHECKS’ OVERHEAD COSTS THANKS TO PRINTING FEWER DOCUMENTS

fROM A KeY TO A CHiP If you want to operate a press line, you require authorisation. Until recently, authorisation was provided by security keys; now we use EKS chips.

Each chip has a unique serial number

9

LEV ELS

that clearly identifies the person operating the machine. EKS chips are currently used at the recently renovated L31 and L33 transfer presses in the M15 building. They will also be implemented at the new PXLII press line and the conveyors and the faggoting machines in the M4 building. We plan to continue implementing the system on other machines in the press shops in the future: for example, the GRS1 and GRS2 press lines after their renovation is completed in approximately two years’ time. The authorisation system using EKS chips is designed to provide anyone with clearly defined access to any line in the press shops.

It means that the same person can operate any line using the same chip and can have different access rights to different lines. The access rights data are stored on the machines’ hard disks, which makes it easy to upgrade workers’ access rights after they undergo training. Euchner developed the EKS chips system.

SOlARPOWeReD

Tomáš Kubica PLO – OPERATIVE LOGISTICS

Jan Kocurek PFO-P/22 – TECHNICAL SERVICE PRESS SHOPS MAINTENANCE

THE EKS CHIPS SYSTEM OFFERS NINE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ACCESS RIGHTS

This is the first project of its kind – the moving equipment uses the trailers’ surface to power the electric engine. While the idea may seem simple, the development team had to tackle a number of technical challenges, for which they get my thanks. Based on the evaluation of the pilot project, we will decide on the future use of solar solutions in logistics.

The advantage of chips over keys is that you can upload different access rights to different machines on a single chip. It is also easy to change the access rights of particular workers depending on their completed training. In case of loss, the chip can easily be blocked the same way you block a payment card. It prevents it from being misused.

10

P E RC E N T

Electricity savings are the main goal of innovation in logistics tested by the production plant in Mladá Boleslav. It is a part of a long-term project called GreenLogistics, which draws on the company-wide strategy GreenFuture. Two trailers joined together, each equipped with a 6.2 x 2.5 m solar panel, transport material between production buildings and charge the batteries of the electric truck that pulls them. The truck is currently undergoing pilot testing, and banners on the trailers announce loud and clear that it is powered by green energy: “I use solar energy” and “The sun fuels my engine”.

SMART SOLUTIONS SINCE 1895

ENERGY SAVINGS PER YEAR THANKS TO USING SOLAR SOLUTIONS

TAsTE FOR iNVENTiON

15

iNNOVATiON iN PRODUctiON, lOGisTiCS AND QUAlitY

THE AGE OF 3D PRINTING 3D PRINTING HAS BEEN BOOMING IN MANY SECTORS, INCLUDING THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY, WHERE IT IS USED IN COMPONENT PRODUCTION. LATELY, 3D PRINTING HAS BEEN PILOTED IN PRODUCING FULLY FUNCTIONING CAR MODELS. THE POSSIBILITIES OF USING 3D PRINTING ARE DEMONSTRATED BY THE TOOL SHOP IN MLADÁ BOLESLAV, THE TRADITIONAL LINK BETWEEN THEORETICAL DEVELOPMENT AND CAR MANUFACTURING. “WE USE SAND, METAL AND PLASTICS FOR 3D PRINTING”, SAYS PETR SVOBODA.

3D MeTAL PRiNT The 3D printing of metal has been successfully used in the production of parts of pressure moulds for injecting aluminium castings. 3D Metal Print is used to make parts with cooling channels of complicated shapes, which can be difficult to produce with conventional methods. Thanks to 3D printing, we can print a cooling channel that bends at a right angle or curves in a spiral. Using printed parts improves the quality of the final castings and shortens the production cycle.

10

3D printing of parts has found its place in the manufacturing of tools, and the Tool Shop has been using it to its full advantage.

Petr Svoboda PSW-F/1 – CASTING TOOL PRODUCTION

355 M E T RES

THE LENGTH OF THE BIGGEST CASTING PRODUCED USING 3D SAND PRINT

MI CR OM ETR ES THE SIZE OF THE METAL PARTICLE USED

BY THE INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY OF 3D METAL PRINT THE CORE OF THE PRESSURE CASTING MOULD FOR AN ENGINE BLOCK WITH A HELIX-SHAPED COOLING CHANNEL MADE BY 3D METAL PRINT

3D SAND PRiNT The modern printing method is used for the direct production of sand moulds used to cast parts of pressing and welding equipment. Until recently, we first had to make a burnable polystyrene model of the casting and envelop it in the sand form mixture. Now we can print the sand mould directly. It has shortened production time considerably and increased the neatness and accuracy of the castings. It has also reduced the weight of the crude casting and shortened the time for its subsequent processing. “The biggest casting produced this way measured 3.55 metres and weighed 2.350 kilogrammes”, says Petr Svoboda.

16

TAsTE FOR iNVENTiON

3D PlAsT PRiNT The Tool Shop uses the technology to make prototypes before producing the final moulding, welding and foundry tools. It is very useful in making fittings for measuring and welding equipment, shortening their production time.

It is also used for printing 3D parts used to test welding equipment (for example, for front doors) before working with original castings. This method has cut the production time of pre-series cars by two weeks.

Intelligent tools Cars’ attractive design features require the constant development of methodologies to ensure the required quality, economy and necessary productivity. These methodologies use the very nature of the modern servo-operated press lines. To meet all the requirements, progressive approaches are implemented at all stages of production and in the construction of the pressing equipment. Moreover, we also want to come up with innovations to reduce downtime that decreases the efficiency and productivity of production. All brands in the group are looking for new approaches in this area; the joint effort is led by the Audi Tool Shop.

puts are used to change the settings of the pressing equipment. All the processes are automated thanks to pre-programmed software, and all modifications can be monitored or changed using a connected tablet. The whole process requires the users in various areas of the Tool Shop operation to have expert knowledge of pressing and engineering planning.

At ŠKODA AUTO, the pilot intelligent tools project focuses on the pressing equipment for the rear part of the surface door of new Audi Q3. It is a joint project of the group carried out in cooperation with Audi.

The cooperation focuses on the development of “intelligent tools” that can react to changing conditions during pressing (such as temperature, pressure, friction, material tolerance etc.) and adapt the pressing equipment accordingly during operation without needing to stop the line. The approach lies in fitting the equipment with new components, including sensors (tensometers and laser sensors) that monitor and analyse the input data; the out-

The main benefit of intelligent tools is not only their ability to react quickly to changing conditions but also the increase in productivity and production efficiency they bring without the need to manually adjust the equipment during pressing. Intelligent tools optimally use the potential of modern pressing lines, ensure the quality and dimension stability of individual parts and reduce the costs related to defective products.

Jiří Dědek PSW-P/31 – METHODOLOGY PLANNING

ROBOTiSATiON OF GRiNDiNG

To robotise the fitting process and eliminate non-ergonomic work (arms above one’s head) by using a robot are the main objectives of the automatic spotting project that our employees are working on, just like other tool shops in the VW Group. It should create financial savings and make the production of press tools faster.

Jakub Selucký PSW-S/2 – ORDERS PLANNING

With the automatic spotting project, the Tool Shop has joined the Fourth Industrial Revolution. “It is a process of adapting the shape of the upper part of the pressing machine to the bottom part to make the gap between them correspond exactly to the required shape of the pressed sheet metal. It is like a dental procedure, when the dentist tries to grind opposing filled molars using their impressions. But in our case we are talking about dies measuring 2.5 x 4.5 metres”, says Jakub Selucký and adds: “It is a very time-consuming process that is also physically and financially demanding. It has to take place under a try-out press, where experienced toolmakers have to work in an ergonomically difficult position with their arms raised above their heads, often for several consecutive hours.”

AND MANAGEMENT

The aim of the project is to delegate the hardest work to a robot, which would carry the grinding machine. This brings

with it the need for higher staff qualifications including competences from many areas. That is why Marek Smýkal, the Tool Shop manager, initiated the creation of a work team comprising people with years-long practical experience with grinding under the press who will work with state-of-the-art computer simulations of CNC grinding and robotic machining.

Toolmaker Michal Rubáš says: “In the robot supplier’s training centre, we received both theoretical and practical training. Everything was easily manageable.” You can check how Michal Rubáš has mastered the new skills in the prototypic robotic grinding cell in the V17 building. “Technical development and innovative environment require us to combine activities, equipment and professions in ways we have not done before”, says Marek Volf, the head of technology in the Press Tool Manufacture department.

TAsTE FOR iNVENTiON

17

iNNOVATiON iN PRODUctiON, lOGisTiCS AND QUAlitY

UNiQUE TOMOGRAPHS In the C14 measurement centre, quality auditors use two computed tomography (CT) scanners that are calibrated to carry out measurements. As a result, they not only detect possible defects but also analyse the scanned images and compare them in great detail with the CAD data. This is a unique approach within the group. How does it work? The examined object is fastened on a rotary table between the detector

and the X-ray source. During one rotation, the detector takes more than 800 2D images, which the computer uses to calculate 3D data. To put it simply, the CT creates a digital copy of the examined object – of both its surface and internal structure. This allows for an analysis of parts, as well as whole sets, without the need to disassemble or destroy them.

The analyses performed most frequently by ŠKODA’s CT scanners include measurements of internal and external dimensions, comparison with the CAD data (the model), checking for internal material defects, looking for defective parts, and reverse engineering. The scanners are most frequently used by Car Production, Component Production, Technical Development, Quality and Motorsport.

0

PA RT S NO PARTS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED DURING CT ANALYSES

Both the CT scanners are operated by four people working in two shifts. In case of more time-consuming measurements, they work the night shift, too. The employees are protected from the harmful effects of X-rays by the cabin’s thick lead sheathing, which weighs several dozen tonnes.

Měření a porovnávání dílů s CAD daty počítačovou tomografií je u nás v rámci koncernu VW na nejvyšší úrovni. Tuto technologii vnímám jako nejsilnější „zbraň“ při provádění analýz dílů. Naší vizí do budoucna je mít možnost nedestruktivně analyzovat nejen větší díly (např. boční dveře), ale i pevnosti spojů, jako jsou svarové body, lepidla atd.

Ladislav Motyčka GQF-3/4 – ANALÝZA HOTOVÉHO VOZU

ViRTUAL TRAiNiNG

Virtual training acquaints employees with the quality checks procedures for a new model or with the most frequent defects.

In the future, we will also use virtual glasses enabling 3D training. The main benefit of the training is that it saves time during the launch of a new model or equipment, as the training is done with the available data even before the launch.

Mikuláš Koukolský GQZ – QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

18

TAsTE FOR iNVENTiON

Virtual training will complement the training of employees directly at the assembly line, where training opportunities are limited due to time and space constraints. Moreover, some mistakes occur rarely in reality, but virtually you can simulate them anytime and in any way. As a result, employees undergoing training will not have to wait at the assembly line for a particular defect or a vehicle part to occur. Whenever a new model or equipment is launched, the employees need to be ready for the new requirements. The training can now be largely done virtually using a training device. For example, this applies to the employees of KB8 (Check Point 8).

The training device will be available this autumn. The supplier is currently preparing the data and the virtual model. Similar virtual trainings are already in use for certain maintenance and assembly activities in Kvasiny.

TH

8

C H EC K

P O IN T

IS THE POINT OF THE FINAL QUALITY CHECK, WHERE QUALITY AUDITORS PERFORM A COMPLETE QUALITY CHECK OF CARS WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON DEFECTS, COMPLETENESS, FITTING AND OVERALL QUALITY

OPTiCAL CHECKS For the first time, an industrial robot and an optical system are cooperating to check the quality of the surface of pressed parts and weldments. This solution is a perfect quality management tool in the production of sheet metal parts, characterised by high precision and short measurement and assessment cycles. It is yet another ŠKODA Strategy 2025 project, which will be followed up by an optical measurement of welded doors and bonnets directly in production, automation of

4

MI NUTES OPTICAL CHECKS SHORTEN THE TIME OF EVALUATING SAMPLES FROM 30 TO 4 MINUTES

measurement centres and analyses of completed cars using a cooperative robot.

From the second half of next year, the surface of pressed parts and weldments will be checked by an optical sensor mounted on a robot in an independent cell. At present, the quality of pressed parts is checked visually and manually with a grinding stone. The whole process takes about 30 minutes. Using optical sensors shortens the time considerably: It takes only 4 minutes for the part to pass under the sensors. The pressed part is scanned, compared with a digital reference sample, and its quality is assessed.

This type of sensor and evaluation process was recently approved as a group standard. Moreover, at ŠKODA AUTO the cell is fitted with a rotary table allowing for optical checks of the whole bonnet with metalwork, which makes it a unique tool to analyse audit changes from pressed parts to weldments. Space has already been allocated for the device next to the PXL 1 press line, and implementation at other assembly lines will follow.

angle with a flash coming through a light grid.

The reflection of the grid is recorded by a special digital camera, and the obtained data are processed by software, which is able to detect data non-homogeneity from 0.01 mm.

Martin Vejvoda GQF-3/1 – INVESTMENT, PLANNING, PROJECTS, MEASURING STRATEGY

ROBOTiC ARM

We want to be at the top of the group in quality control innovations.

We also have a great ambition to build an expert testing centre for the whole group, which would offer our expert knowledge and help with financial gain.

Petr Štický GQ3 – PL MIDSIZE QUALITY MANAGEMENT

The employees of Quality Management – Product Technology are testing a cooperative robot with feeling in its “fingertips” that tests the lifespan of buttons, touch screens and other elements. The robotic arm can easily fit in a car, and its longterm use in testing can provide important data that can help the Quality Management and Technical Development make informed decisions, for example on the type of grease or the backlash of buttons.

“We are proud of how we manage to fine-tune the haptics of parts, which is very intuitive and offers the right response when pressing a button. The greatest success so far has been the gradual optimisation of the SUPERB’s electronic parking brake: Thanks to precise measurements, we managed to fine-tune the haptics and acoustics without increasing the part’s price”, says David Vávra from Quality Management and adds: “We are expecting a visit from ex-

perts from VW and Audi who are interested in our experience. In the future, we want to increase the number of parts we are able to test, including control programme settings.”

SMART SOLUTIONS SINCE 1895

TAsTE FOR iNVENTiON

19

iNNOVATiON iN HUMAN ReSOURCeS MANAGeMeNT

iNNOVATiON ACADeMY INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES ARE NOT ENOUGH – WE NEED PROPERLY QUALIFIED AND MOTIVATED PEOPLE TO USE THEM. THAT IS WHY ŠKODA AUTO LAUNCHED THE INNOVATION ACADEMY TRAINING CAMPAIGN THIS YEAR. ON A ROAD SHOW, SELECTED TECHNOLOGIES WERE INTRODUCED TO EMPLOYEES IN MLADÁ BOLESLAV, KVASINY AND VRCHLABÍ.

The aim of the campaign was to introduce all employees to the world of new technologies, the visions of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, as well as the planned company innovations, such as Digital Factory, Smart Maintenance etc. The campaign started by launching the www.akademie-inovaci.cz portal, which introduced the main innovation topics. In addition to the online presentation, the Innovation Academy team went on a road show to provide all the employees with hands-on experience with the selected technologies. “Digitisation and innovations are becoming a part of all the social and industrial areas. Thanks to the Innovation Academy, our employees will be better prepared for this trend”, said Miroslav Mráz, Specialist – blended learning, SE/3 – New Media / Expert Training.

DRONeS

20 TO P I CS

THE PRESENTATION ON INNOVATIONS THAT CAN SHAPE THE COMPANY’S FUTURE IS DIVIDED INTO CHAPTERS WITH A CLEAR AND USERFRIENDLY VISUAL STYLE

The Phantom 4 and Inspire 1 quadcopters were presented during the road show – they are professional platforms for aerial photography and videography. The drones and cameras can be operated by a touch-screen smart device with the iOS or Android operation system and a mobile application. The drones can be used in Logistics for stocktaking, in transporting light components, in environmental activities, in monitoring heat leakage from buildings using thermal imaging cameras or in ensuring the plants’ security.

4

3D PRiNTeRS The campaign featured a demonstration of 3D printing using the popular Rebel 3D printer, which can easily be assembled at home. Chess pieces, pistons and car models were printed using special software that controls the printing of individual ABS plastic layers.

61

273 044

OF INNOVATION ACADEMY USERS HAVE COMPLETED ALL THE QUIZZES

ON THE PORTAL

PER CEN T

20

M O N T H S THE DURATION OF THE FIRST STAGE OF THE CAMPAIGN, WHICH AIMS TO INTRODUCE ALL EMPLOYEES TO NEW DIGITISATION TRENDS AND TECHNOLOGIES

TAsTE FOR iNVeNTiON

H IT S

170 P RIZ ES

RELATED TO DIGITISATION WERE AWARDED TO CONTEST WINNERS DURING THE ROAD SHOW, MAKING THE INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLD OF INNOVATIONS EVEN MORE PLEASANT

Z-SPACE Using special glasses and a gyroscopic system, you could literally immerse yourself in a fully HD, 3D customised environment and look at objects or manipulate them as if they were real. This experience enhances the understanding of complex physical objects in areas such as human anatomy or mechanical engineering.

THE CeiT ViRTUAL ReAlitY The employees had a chance to walk through the virtual space of an actual production building using a controller and Oculus 3D glasses. The graphical interface that can literally draw you in has a much greater training effect and saves money, space and energy at the same time.

8 527

To be able to produce more comprehensive vehicles in a competitive environment of all car producers, we have to be able to implement Industry 4.0 ideas. We have already taken the first steps in this direction. Connecting Big Data, technologies and algorithms enables us to develop new services both within our company and for our customers. We are already considering the idea of having all the machines and devices in Production upload data to an internal system. This would allow responsible employees timely access to information and ensure the operability of all ŠKODA AUTO’s production sections. We also plan to use digital technologies to increase labour productivity in Logistics. We expect new tasks to emerge that we are not yet aware of; maybe we will produce more cars, different types of cars or more complex cars, while the number of employees will most likely remain the same.

Oliver Karich FIB – SYSTEM INTEGRATION ORDER MGMT, PRODUCT

SMART SOLUTIONS SINCE 1895

QU I Z Z ES

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF QUIZZES TAKEN BY THE PARTICIPANTS

TAsTE FOR iNVeNTiON

21

iNNOVATiON iN HUMAN ReSOURCeS MANAGeMeNT

MOBilE HUMAN ReSOURCeS MANAGeMeNT STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGIES AND INNOVATIONS FACILITATE THE RAPID DEVELOPMENTS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY, AND DIGITISATION IS AFFECTING ALL FIELDS. SIMILAR TRENDS HAVE EMERGED IN HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT, WHICH FACES CRITICAL DECISIONS REGARDING A SWITCH-OVER TO MORE FLEXIBLE, INTUITIVE AND SIMPLER SOLUTIONS.

The Personnel Care Operative department has the difficult task of connecting the field of HR with the world of IT, following ŠKODA’s Strategy 2025. The main strategic objectives are the digitisation of HR processes, new system solutions, innovation and client orientation. Simplifying all processes by using modern technologies is the only means of giving the HR department more time and space to be in touch with its clients, namely the employees and management.

PEOPLE ANALYTICS Today companies have large amounts of data about their workers. The data has to be treated carefully, sorted properly and stored appropriately. Only then can they be used to facilitate smooth operation of the whole company. A descriptive analysis of the employee data can reveal, among others, how many people stayed at home because of illness. A predictive analysis using new procedures, big data and other internal and external inputs can predict the future development of the sickness rate.

The concept of People Analytics goes one step further, though, using additional information to identify problems and suggest possible solutions.

As such, it helps the company make informed decisions based on relevant employee data. “Predictive systems can help us identify problems before they even arise and respond flexibly to upcoming events. This can help the company save money and use human resources to the full potential, ensuring smooth operations even under adverse conditions”, says Pavel Halamíček about the benefits of the approach.

22

TAsTE FOR iNVeNTiON

CleARlY AND QUiCKlY Dashboards can be the gateway to various real-time statistical data. Dashboards are interactive reports offering predictions of future trends. They are developed by the Personnel Care Operative department, which is responsible for providing the management and the team leaders with relevant information in a timely manner and user-friendly format. Three basic dashboards are currently under development and will be made available in the near future. They deal with remuneration, fluctuation and sickness rates. “It has been very difficult to combine all the requirements and incorporate them into ŠKODA AUTO’s systems. It is our priority to launch the three dashboards as soon as possible, but at the same time we are working on other tools we want to introduce”, says Pavel Halamíček.

eNHANCeD eMPlOYeE PORTAL The current trends will be also reflected in the enhancements of the Employee Portal. The Personnel Care Operative department is analysing the possibilities of redesigning the portal to offer new technologies, modern search tools, interactive task overviews and an improved user environment. Another objective is to create a B2E Home version enabling remote access to the portal from any mobile device.

The new version of the portal could be launched within the next year or two; the launch will be accompanied by a strong campaign to acquaint employees with the new features of their communication tool.

160 000 5 300 V IS IT S

WEEKLY AVERAGE VISIT RATE OF THE PORTAL

A C T IO N S IN 3 MINUTES

eMPlOYeE SelF-SeRViCE MODeRN WORlD OF WORK The management needs a clearly structured and user-friendly environment, too. That is why we are considering introducing a new HR system. ŠKODA AUTO currently uses SAP with a number of additional modules, including HR. Following current trends in the field, we are switching to new cloud-based tools. “Together with our colleagues in IT, we are currently choosing the best possible solutions. There is a number of big players on the market, and we are studying their approaches. Taking the plunge and introducing a new tool will be quite demanding but will also mean great progress. We look for effectiveness, simplicity, intuitiveness, flexibility in responding to incoming requests and accessibility through mobile platforms”, says Pavel Halamíček about the challenges and benefits of an innovative approach. At the end of the process, the employees and the team leaders will get a modern and user-friendly world of work that will offer easier and faster access to information.

Do you need to change your postal address in the system? All you have to do is access the Employee Portal and make the changes in the relevant application.

Another example of employee self-service is employee charity collections: In the relevant section of the Employee Portal, just choose the organisation you want to support and the amount and confirm. We expect to see more such functions and applications in the future.

Our job is to decide on a strategy and partners. We have to take into account the developments in IT in order to unite current trends and modern technologies and enable the HR department to use all possibilities to manage human resources effectively.

Pavel Halamíček SB – PERSONNEL CARE OPERATIVE

MANAGeR SelF-SeRViCE The management and team leaders will also be gradually enabled to deal with many complicated matters in a simpler way without involving the HR department. We are developing a new online management environment that will provide access to all the necessary information about employee performance, creating new positions and their descriptions and remuneration and granting access rights.

SMART SOLUTIONS SINCE 1895

TAsTE FOR iNVeNTiON

23

iNNOVATiON iN HUMAN ReSOURCeS MANAGeMeNT

RECRUiTiNG iNTUiTiVelY AND ONliNE MODERN TECHNOLOGIES HAVE GROWN TO PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN THE RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES. IN THE AGE OF SMARTPHONES AND TABLETS, A GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE USING THEM TO FIND JOBS. THAT IS WHY THE RECRUITMENT AND HR MARKETING DEPARTMENT IS COOPERATING WITH TOP IT EXPERTS TO CREATE A NEW CAREER PORTAL AND MODERNISE THE REGISTRATION SYSTEM FOR APPLICANTS. The new portal will be responsive, adaptable to any device, including mobile phones and tablets, and have more attractive graphics. The registration system will communicate with social networks, for example a LinkedIn profile. New vacancies will be advertised using more interesting graphic features, as well as links to websites and videos, in order to make registration more user-friendly and introduce applicants to the company culture from the very beginning. The portal’s English-language version is also in development.

APPLICANT-FRIENDLY The staff of the recruitment centre will not experience much difference in working with the new system. But it will make a giant difference to applicants registering through the online form at www.skoda-kariera.cz or browsing the website. ŠKODA AUTO plans to launch the new career portal in November this year.

We need to abandon the lengthy and unintuitive registration process that is common to career websites. We have to make it as short as possible with a faster, more intuitive and user-friendly alternative that will smoothly guide the applicant interested in a position through all the steps of the registration.

Moreover, applicants can share their positive experience with their friends, and they might become our new employees in the future.

Petr Grof STR/2 – RECRUITMENT CENTRE

24

200 VA C A N C I ES

12 000

MONTHLY AVERAGE OF JOBS OFFERED ON THE WWW.SKODA-KARIERA.CZ

EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN WORKING FOR ŠKODA AUTO IN THE FIRST EIGHT MONTHS OF 2016

TAsTE FOR iNVeNTiON

A P P L IC A N T S

Dynamic people with good ideas INNOVATION IS THE MAIN MOTTO OF THE RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED IN SPRING THIS YEAR. ALL THE CAMPAIGN MATERIALS REVOLVE AROUND THE CENTRAL QUESTION, “WHICH INNOVATION WILL YOU BE BEHIND?” THEY ALSO USE MOTIVES FROM THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY.

3 200 EMPLOY EES

WILL HAVE STARTED WORKING IN ŠKODA AUTO IN THE FIRST TEN MONTHS OF 2016

These are not pictures of car parts but images of intricately assembled bodies of models decorated with body painting.

Each image comes with a story from actual employees and teams in ŠKODA AUTO that have managed to come up with a brand-new idea or modernise existing products or processes. The campaign is very unconventional and aims to show applicants and others that creative and dynamic people with great ideas are behind all the company’s beautiful products.

VIDEO INTERVIEWS Video interviews are another innovation in the recruitment process. They save applicants travel costs and offer greater flexibility. Applicants do not have to reserve half a day for an interview, take

time off their current work and often travel long distances to Mladá Boleslav. Using the Video Recruit application, an HR officer prepares a set of questions relevant to the position and sends a link to the applicant for accessing it online in the application. There the applicant finds the HR officer’s introduction and a prepared set of questions, each with a time limit for answering. After the applicant answers all the questions (there is no possibility to pause the interview or correct the answers), the recording of the interview is sent back to the HR officer. The recording can be archived or shared with several company managers, which increases the applicant’s chance of obtaining a suitable position and makes the recruitment process more efficient.

This year we are recruiting hundreds of people. All candidates who apply through the www.skoda-kariera.cz portal are processed by the recruitment team. Video interviews will be used more and more often in the future, given their efficiency and other benefits, but by no means will they replace personal interviews. In the next step, suitable candidates will continue to be invited to ŠKODA AUTO for a personal interview or to the assessment centre.

Petra Meliška STR – RECRUITMENT AND HR MARKETING

SMART SOLUTIONS SINCE 1895

TAsTE FOR iNVeNTiON

25

iNNOVATiON iN HUMAN ReSOURCeS MANAGeMeNT

NeW FORMS OF lANGUAGE TeACHiNG IN 2016, ŠKODA AUTO’S EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN OFFERED NEW POSSIBILITIES TO HONE THEIR LANGUAGE SKILLS. E-LEARNING HAS BEEN A STANDARD PART OF GERMAN AND ENGLISH COURSES FOR SOME TIME NOW, BUT ADDING LIVE ONLINE LESSONS WITH NATIVE SPEAKERS HAS BROUGHT THIS FORM OF TEACHING TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.

FLEXIBILITY FIRST One of the great advantages of this solution is flexibility: You can participate in lessons using any device with an Internet connection (desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones) both inside and outside the ŠKODA AUTO network. The system is very user-friendly and intuitive. Moreover, with a one-year licence you can take an unlimited number of live online lessons, so you can adjust the intensity of your studies to your needs. ŠKODA is the first of the VW Group’s brands to offer the employees comprehensive blended language learning solutions that combine online self-study with face-to-face classes. “In June, this innovative solution earned the ŠKODA Academy the 2016 Education Award. It is handed out once every two years by the VW Group Academy to outstanding projects in further education that can serve as best-practice examples to the whole group”, explains Jan Jágr.

SPECIALISED LANGUAGE COURSES The Language Training is preparing a pilot project of specialised language courses tailored to employees’ job descriptions. They could help the employees enhance specific skills in foreign languages, such as communication over the phone or public speaking, or develop specialised vocabulary relevant to their positions (marketing, logistics, automotive industry etc.). The courses will directly contribute to improving the quality and efficiency of each employee’s performance. In the autumn, the first few modules will be organised in the form of intensive one-day courses. More information and registration instructions will be made available at the website of the Language Training department. The course portfolio is expected to grow in 2017 to cover all the main topics in both German and English. “We believe the new forms of teaching will meet the employees’ needs and help them improve their language skills further”, says Jan Jágr.

The current portfolio of self-study options for improving active and passive language knowledge has been enriched by a practice calendar with a number of conversation topics for each day. You can book a class with a relevant topic that fits your schedule and enter a virtual classroom. The lessons are taught by native speakers and attended by other students from all over the world.

Jan Jágr SE/3 – NEW MEDIA

2 669 PA RT I C I PA N T S

THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN LANGUAGE CLASSES IN 2016 EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN LEARNING GERMAN (1,512), ENGLISH (1,034), CZECH (55), RUSSIAN (48), SPANISH (13), CHINESE (6) AND FRENCH (1).

26

TAsTE FOR iNVeNTiON

Driving force of innovation ŠKODA AUTO COOPERATES WITH SECONDARY SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, BENEFITING FROM AND CONSTANTLY DEVELOPING THEIR POTENTIAL. THE KEY TO FINDING NEW TALENTS ALREADY DURING THEIR STUDIES IS TO CONNECT SCHOOL EDUCATION WITH PRODUCTION. THAT IS WHY EVERY YEAR THE COMPANY OFFERS 800 PROFESSIONAL INTERNSHIPS TO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, 30 POSITIONS IN THE TRAINEE PROGRAMME TO TALENTED GRADUATES AND SEVERAL POSITIONS TO DOCTORAL GRADUATES IN TECHNICAL FIELDS.

COOPERATION WITH SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES Trainee programmes are not the only means of cooperating with schools and universities. Specialised units of the company give commissions for mostly technical work directly to universities. For example, the Brno University of Technology (VUT) currently works on research and development in realistic rendering and experiments with 3D data in web browsers. ŠKODA AUTO supports hands-on education financially and by donating used machines, equipment, parts and entire cars. Such projects facilitate the transfer of knowhow between the company and universities.

Every year, the company participates in approximately 30 job fairs and organises dozens of lectures, excursions and seminars tailored to specific groups of students. Thanks to its multifaceted cooperation with schools and graduates, ŠKODA AUTO retains the title of No 1 employer in the Czech Republic.

56

SCH O O L S A N D UN I V E RS IT IES

We are very happy that cooperation with schools has become a natural part of the specialised units’ operations. The role of the HR Marketing department is to coordinate and promote cooperation, but it is the expertise and specialised knowhow of our top experts that students are most interested in. Any specialised team can approach us with new ideas on how to involve students in what we do.

Iva Prokopová STR/1 – HR MARKETING

SMART SOLUTIONS SINCE 1895

THE COMPANY COOPERATES WITH 47 CZECH SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES AND NINE UNIVERSITIES ABROAD

TAsTE FOR iNVeNTiON

27