Interview with co-initiator Jens Janßen from the VW plant in Emden

After having presented you several partners of our initiative, we like to introduce our co-initiator Jens Janßen from the VW plant in Emden today. We are happy that Jens Janßen, head of the subdivision in the field "CIP and process design" at VW in Emden, has taken his time to answer our questions among Operational Excellence - just as our recent partners have done.

Around 8,000 employees are working for the Volkswagen AG at the location in Emden. The whole area stretches over 4,300,000 m². At the moment, a large transformation process is pursued in Emden, since the aim is to become one of the most modern plants within the automobile industry and a lighthouse project concerning electromobility.

Are you excited about the answers given by Jens Janßen and the upcoming impulses? Well, what are you waiting for? Enjoy the following interview!

 

Which approaches and measures concerning Operational Excellence are already implemented at your company?

Jens Janßen: Since 2007 the methods and the implementation towards a "value-creation-oriented production" are described in the concern's production system "Volkswagen Weg" and are applied worldwide.

Are there further actions planned to be undertaken in the future in this field?

Jens Janßen: The approaches are permanently extended and adopted. As a current example the use of digitalisation tools can be named.

Does your company offer advanced trainings to the topic Operational Excellence for your employees?

Jens Janßen: There are several training centers in the individual plants of the Volkswagen group. Furthermore, an overarching digital learning platform of the group academy exists for the advanced training of the employees in this field.

What are your expectations on this initiative?

Jens Janßen: A good collaboration within the region to strengthen it and to meet the specific challenges together.

To which themes do you wish to exchange thoughts and know-how?

Jens Janßen: To implementations in production and logistics.

Are there specific aspects which are extraordinarily interesting for you? (for example, for networking-meetings or best-practice trips)

Jens Janßen: The involvement of the human beings within the changes/transformations. And the following question: What are the success factors besides the implementation of methods?

Are you interested in workshops during our networking-meetings?

Jens Janßen: If there's a common interest for workshops, I am willing to organize them.

Which challenges to you see your company being confronted with in the future?

Jens Janßen: The digital transformation.

Do you see a fundamental change within your sector in the next 5 years?

Jens Janßen: I think, we are right in the middle of it... 

Thinking about the north-western region, what do you think is mostly needed by the region to challenge the ongoing as well as future changes? 

Jens Janßen: A strong network for the region to exchange knowhow and to remain interesting for employees in the future.

In this context, how do you value the potential of initiatives like ours?

Jens Janßen: Intitiatives like this one live from interacting.

It is very impelling to have a motivated co-initiator, who likes to promote the thematic field Operational Excellence in the same way as we do. To have a person at our side, with whom we can contribute to the development of the region's potential with all the enterprises and the already existing expertise. Together we can acchieve a lot! We are excited, where the journey of our initiative and especially the one of the region will go. 

If you have any questions to our interview partner or any connected points you like to dicuss, do not hesitate to contact Jens Janßen via mail jens.janssen1@volkswagen.de or via phone under  04921-86-16012.