Each supplier partner occupies a different section of the plant, where it takes full responsibility for not only finishing components and parts, but also mounting complete assemblies. Each supplier also has its own offices and staff and is full accountable for quality control of its specific production step. All partners meet every morning to discuss the day's production plan. Because all employees work closely together, they easily can consult each other on the spot. To avoid potential conflicts between staff members of different partners, all employees are treated equally - they receive the same wages, fringe benefits, and medical care.
Masters are experts who follow the production line from load station to final checkpoint.
They interact closely with all partners and take full responsibility for producing a certain number of vehicles. Its close partnership with suppliers has made VW more flexible in problem solving and customizing products on demand. Also, VW has reduced overall costs by 15 to 25 percent. Suppliers benefit as well with improved products. According to experts, VW's manufacturer supplier partnership represents a trend that's likely to become a standard not only in the auto industry, but at other manufacturers as well.