Outstanding quality, economic efficiency and social responsibility: The Gemeinnützige Werkstätten und Wohnstätten (GWW) have been a reliable partner of Mercedes-Benz for many years. Currently, at GWW contracts secure the employment of more than 200 people with disabilities.
The Gemeinnützige Werkstätten und Wohnstätten GmbH (GWW): Nine locations in the districts of Böblingen and Calw in Germany. At the Magstadt plant, there are 65 people with disabilities or mental illness working for Mercedes-Benz Cars or its suppliers. The work provides both variety and specialization in a particular task area and takes into consideration the different abilities and performance potentials. From simple to highly complex work. Stefan Geyer, Director at Mercedes-Benz Cars Procurement & Supplier Quality: “The cooperation with GWW shows how entrepreneurial interests can be economically and qualitatively reconciled with the requirements of people with disabilities. This is confirmed by the work being carried out, ranging from the sorting of wiring harness pockets, the assembly of the Indirect Charge Air Cooler up to scopes for electric vehicles.”
Michael Bauer, Head of Production at the Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen plant and Site Manager: “GWW has been supplying us with outstanding quality for 47 years and is precisely coordinated with the cycles and sequences of our Mercedes-Benz production. One can see how much commitment and motivation the employees bring to their work, in order to deliver components correctly and just-in-sequence directly to the assembly line.”
Complex assembly of the Indirect Charge Air Cooler for the E and S-Class
The Indirect Charge Air Cooler is a detachable part on the engine and is supplied to the Mercedes-Benz plant in Sindelfingen. Three variants of the cooler are pre-assembled and checked at GWW in Magstadt. The challenge is that only precisely fabricated coolers can later be installed trouble-free in vehicles. There are eight GWW employees involved. They assemble several thousand coolers per month, which are then delivered just-in-sequence.
Andrea Stratmann, Chief Executive of GWW: “People affected by a disability need supportive care and need-based assistance to lead as much as possible a self-determined and equal life in society. Orders from our customers like Mercedes-Benz are crucial. And, of course, many of our employees are also proud to make a contribution to a vehicle with the star.”
The cooperation between Mercedes-Benz and GWW has existed since 1973. Starting with little leather key pouches, the partnership continued to develop across many model series and components up to scopes for electric vehicles. Companies like GWW do not have special status as suppliers but are selected and evaluated in line with the same criteria as all other Mercedes-Benz suppliers – and they regularly stand out with their high quality, reliability and competitiveness.
Note: This articles was originally published on December 03, 2019 on the previous Daimler Supplier Magazine Online platform.