 BACKGROUND INFORMATION |
The Shock Absorbers Factory has been engaged in the production of the shock absorbers since 1965. Owing to many years of work on expanding the products range, increasing the output and improving the quality,
The Shock Absorbers Factory:
- Manufactured over 300 different types of shock absorbers;
- Over 3.000.000 shock absorbers per annum;
- Delivered 80 percent of its output for original installation (original parts);
- Exported 40 percent of its output;
Developing and improving its own products design and in cooperation with other worlds well-known shock absorbers manufacturers,
The Shock Absorbers Factory presently manufactures:
- Shock absorbers for passenger cars;
- Shock absorbers for buses, trucks and rail vehicles;
- Special purpose shock absorbers;
- Gas springs;
- Shock absorbers for washing machines;
- Shock absorbers for chairs and seats;
Except from above, the factory produces tools, special machines and equipment for personal needs.
At present, the company does not have individually owned trucks used for transport, the shipping agencies are used for transport, at extent of 100 percent.
The Shock Absorbers Factory disposes with experienced manpower and with laboratories for chemical, metal-graphic and mechanical testing of materials and parts, as well as for testing assemblies and finished product, in fully simulated exploitation conditions. This enables the factory to examine, define, recommend, to vehicle manufacturers and to the manufacturers of the shock absorbers with performances which:
- ensure stability of vehicles in all driving conditions, thus contributing to a safer driving;
- ensure a better comfort for the convenience of passengers;
- ensure higher speed of vehicles;
- ensure compliance with International quality standards (ISO/DIN/AFNOR).
The Shock Absorbers Factory has equipped tool-room to manufacture the tools for the factory's own needs and for the other users.
In 1989, the company employed 1.517 workers and produced near 3.3 million units (out of 4 millions installed production capacity).
| POLICY |
The elements of the company development policy are:
- Corporate image to be restored through good quality products based on highest set European Quality Standard, competitive market price, due time delivery and customer satisfaction;
- Winning back previous clients;
- Entering new markets;
- High level of employment;
- High basic rate salary;
- Developing research and development capacity;
- Developing new opportunities with leading car producers
| STAFF |
At present, after the reopening of the factory and being ready to continue the restarting of the production, the break down of the total staff of about 250 people is as follows:
Administration - 27 people
Production - 153 people
Workshop and Maintenance - 57 people
Research and Development - 23 people
There is a pool of 850 workers ready to be back the company in case of production capacity growth.
The Labour Union is affiliated (Metal Industry Union - Kosova).
The overall impression of the organization is adequate, efficient and competent.
Up until the year 1989 the company had strong relationships with the western car industry, and gained a valuable experience for these markets.
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On the 20th of June 1999, the company was back to operation. The top managers have immediately evaluated the damages as 1.8 millions DEM.
Now the company is in restarting stage: the present production capacity is 400 000 units (10 percent of its 1989 level), and the current activity is 35,000 units (8.75 percent of the present production capacity and 1.1 percent of the 1989 activity).
The company presently suffers of lack of capital, working capital and cash. Since the reestablishment, the strong marketing actions are under progress aiming at building partnerships with western car producers.
With some assistance, the management could successfully negotiate and achieve the long-term contract of productions. In practical terms the company has already completed a portfolio of potentially signed contracts of 1,800,000 units (corresponding to 90 percent of the installed production capacity - one shift).
Former business relationships could be probably re-established only if the management has the opportunity of the agreement with future international partners.
At present the company has business relations with its suppliers (well known suppliers to ensure high quality output).
Some of the major raw material (metal pipes, steel stripe, rings, sponge elements, etc) - suppliers are:
"Shumer" - Slovenia
"Jesenice" - Slovenia
"Unior" - Slovenia
"Rotris" - Switzerland
"Behs" - Austria
"Elka elastik" - Germany
"Simrit-Freudenberg" - Germany
"Brik" - UK
"P S" - Germany, etc
Factories main competitors are: "Monro", "CHS", "Koni", "Kyb", "Sabo", "Record", "SACHS", "Delphy", "Bogy", "Bilstein", "Al-Co", "Weysauto", "Decarbon", "Suspa" etc.
As well as from above companies activity is based on the agreement between the company and Peugeot, for selling the full scope of PEUGEOT vehicles for Kosovo region.
| QUALITY |
Technological documentation of The Shock Absorbers Factory Prishtina:
- Documentation of the production construction;
- Documentation of the production technology;
- Documentation of the construction of standard, special tools and equipment of construction for inner products;
- Documentation for the control of quality;
- Documentation of the warehousing the final products;
- The quality manual;
Developed quality plans are in progress that shows our intention to fulfil quality system requirements.
We are expecting to re-develop quality plans for products, processes, projects, and customer contracts.
Our quality plans list the quality objectives we intend to achieve, and the steps we intend to take to achieve these objectives.
We reconstructed our quality plan, considering the following:
- Our need to purchase new equipment and instruments, for new inspection and test tools;
- Our need to carry out special training in order to fulfill all quality system requirements;
- Our need to improve design, production, testing, inspection, installation, and servicing procedures;
- Our need to improve our quality measurement and verification procedures;
- Our need to develop any new measurement methods and instruments;
- Our need to clarify our organization's standards of acceptability;
- Our need to develop new documents, forms, reports, records and manuals; |
