Dieses Konzept sieht vor, regionale Produktionsstandorte näher an die Absatzmärkte zu verlagern. Fahrzeuge und Komponenten werden dort hergestellt, wo sie verkauft und genutzt werden. Dies minimiert Transportwege, verbessert die Liefertreue und stärkt die Kundennähe. Gleichzeitig optimiert es die Resilienz der Lieferkette, da regionale Standorte schneller auf lokale Marktanforderungen reagieren können. Wie geht Festo als einer der wichtigsten globalen Automobilzulieferer für die Automatisierungstechnik damit um?
Wir haben unseren Produktspezialisten Johannes Berwanger zum Interview gebeten.
Im Kern geht es darum, die Produktion so anzupassen, dass Fahrzeuge und Komponenten direkt an die Bedürfnisse der regionalen Märkte angepasst werden.
Beispielsweise entstehen in Europa Werke für kompakte und energieeffiziente Modelle, während in den USA SUVs gefertigt werden, die den dortigen Verbraucherpräferenzen entsprechen. Solche regionalen Produktionen bieten Vorteile:
Ein weiterer Aspekt ist die Variantenfertigung, bei der individuelle Anpassungen an gesetzliche Vorgaben oder klimatische Bedingungen erfolgen – ein wesentlicher Faktor für die moderne Automobilproduktion. Doch wie setzt Festo das um?
Relocating to regional production sites has numerous advantages.
"The 'local for local' concept is a key building block for achieving sustainability goals in the automotive industry. By shortening transport routes and thus reducing CO₂ emissions, we are helping to significantly reduce our customers' environmental footprints," says Johannes Berwanger.
"The political framework is also developing in this direction. In the US, for example, we see the CHIPS Act as a clear incentive to strengthen local production. Our expertise allows us to support our customers in successfully making this change.
The advantages of local production are enormous. Shorter supply chains are a faster and more reliable way for enable our customers to bring their products to market.This is a competitive advantage, especially in the automotive industry, where time is an important factor. By producing locally, it is also possible to react quickly to changing customer requirements or seasonal fluctuations. Thanks to our knowledge of variant production, we can help our customers to optimise utilisation of system capacity. Festo products, which are also available in a wide range of variants, help to make this a reality.
The production of different variants has been a core part of the Festo product range for years and is a key factor for our customers. The ability to freely configure solutions is extremely important too, as it allows our customers to meet their specific needs, whether these arelegal and market-specific specifications or technical requirements. However, combining this flexibility with maximum efficiency remains a constant challenge. This is precisely where our strength lies. We not only offer the technical solutions, but also the experience and commitment to successfully implement them for the benefit of our customers."
The "local for local"' principle is much more than a short-term reaction to current crises. It represents a strategic step that will significantly improve the efficiency, flexibility and sustainability of automotive production. At a time when consumers expect customised products and short delivery times, this approach provides the basis for long-term success.
The future of vehicle construction is local – close to the customer, resource-saving and flexible. Companiesthat commit to this strategy not only secure competitive advantages, but also actively contribute to the transformation of the industry.