Porsche presents new production and logistics system in its Leipzig plant

At the same time Porsche has managed to almost entirely do away with expensive storage areas by installing a logistics concept that is an innovation in the industry. 'I know of no other factory anywhere in the world in which the principles of lean production have been as consistently implemented as here in Leipzig,' said Michael Macht, Board member responsible for production and logistics at Porsche, speaking today to journalists at the Leipzig plant.

To make production as efficient as possible, substantial building work was necessary at the factory premises in Leipzig, which cover 300 hectares. Porsche invested around EUR 150 million in a new 25,000 m² assembly hall, a logistics center, a pilot and analysis center, and a training facility.

'A new logistics concept has now been developed for the Panamera production - one which ensures incisive improvements. An exact schedule and plan of procedures in which all suppliers are incorporated makes it possible to deliver parts at high frequency and just one hour before they are further processed on the production line. This means that expensive storage areas are virtually unnecessary. As the suppliers are mostly companies from Germany the German share of the value creation of the Panamera is a good 70 per cent. Macht: 'Entirely in the spirit of the company, the Panamera thus also stands for the seal of quality "Made in Germany".'

Almost all the engines for both models are brought to Leipzig by truck from the Porsche plant in Zuffenhausen. The partially equipped Cayenne bodies come by rail from Bratislava, the Panamera bodyshells by rail from the Volkswagen plant in Hanover. In Leipzig the interior of the Panamera is first assembled on a singular line. Once both bodies have reached the same status in the manufacturing process they run on one line until completion. And this despite countless individualization options for both models.

To save the company Porsche had restructured the production in its main plant along Japanese production lines as early as the beginning of the 1990s and thus put itself back on the road to success. Between 2003 and 2006, a limited edition of 1,270 units of the super sports car Carrera GT was also produced by hand in the Leipzig plant.

And at the beginning of this year, the 250,000th SUV sports vehicle rolled off the production line. With the V6 Diesel the Cayenne model is now offered in seven versions. The company excels here with a highly modern customer center, a drive-in and testing section, and a six-kilometer-long offroad track. In the company's own biotope, 70 aurochs and a herd of wild horses enjoy a peaceful existence as 'caretakers of the landscape.'

The Panamera is defining a whole new concept in the luxury class. For its market introduction on September 12 in Germany, the Gran Turismo will initially be launched in 3 variations that will be equipped with a 400-hp V8 induction engine or with a V8 biturbo engine with 500 hp. Porsche is planning to sell yearly an average of around 20,000 units of the Panamera over the entire lifecycle.