Streamlining Initiatives for BMW’s Mexico Plant

AutoNews reports that there are great streamlining initiatives in store for BMW’s Mexico Manufacturing Facility. The plan is so grand that it is expected to be more streamlined than the Spartanburg plant in the future.

The BMW Spartanburg plant in South Carolina has been in operation for 22 years. But because of its large size and operations, it is not quite challenging to streamline the supply chain. That being said, BMW is planning for the new San Luis Potosi, Mexico plant to be developed as the new, state-of-the-art North American supply base.

BMW board member of production Oliver Zipse says: “We will see all the latest state of the art here.” Starting in 2019, the next-generation BMW 3 Series will be made here, together with any rear wheel drive car if needed.

The plant is capable of producing 150,000 cars every year. Expansion is also a possibility. Only the metal stamping process will be outsourced. All the other activities such as body shops, paint shops and assembly lines will be available at the Mexico plant.

This new Mexico factory will be designed in such a way that parts and supplies will come in at one end of the plant, which makes things easier, logistically, for supplies to be accessed by plant workers.

BMW is committed to ensuring that quality will remain the same. In fact, the German brand is looking to invest around $1 billion into this plant. Streamlining is indeed a lot of work and will take time to complete.