Company Background

BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft) was founded in 1916 and has been publicly traded since 1969. The company produces, and markets, a varied range of higher end sporty cars and motorcycles. BMW has also manufactured the first passenger car running on hydrogen ready for common use, although the production figures are limited by the lack of a respective filling station net. In addition to cars and motorcycles, BMW operates an aircraft engine division under the brand name of Rolls Royce.
The company has worldwide subsidiaries and manufacturing plants in Germany, Austria, the UK, the USA, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The company also operates its own financing company, which offers financing for vehicles. Automobiles accounted for 78% of 2000 revenues; vehicle finance leasing, 18%; motorcycles, 3% and other, 1%.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com:8100/legacy/college/kotabe/0471230626/text_cases/bmw.doc

Supply chain management key to success at BMW

BMW has announced plans to revamp its supply chain lifecycles through the implementation of a new service management system.Speaking to Computing magazine, Bennie Vorster, the company’s vice president of IT solutions and technology standards, said that supply chain management was among the group’s top priorities.“Warehouse spaces to handle supply are becoming smaller and firms must deal with issues related to customers’ requirements for more choice and flexibility,” Vorster said.“So complexities related to the increasing demand for ‘just in time’ delivery processes must be met by efficient supply chain management systems."Vorster said that BMW would be cutting down on the ordering of parts before the production phase in order to increase efficiency.“We don’t order parts long before the production time to keep in our warehouses in case a customer orders a car of any particular specification,” he said.


Procurement Technology

Technical advances have been moving at such a rate that running a company of any size without using a range of electronic processes is increasingly untenable.The whole procurement arena has been transformed by electronic computer-based technology and, in particular, the internet. In every area of procurement, from requesting information to tendering to evaluation of data, contract compliance and performance management, effective use of technology is now imperative for organisations wishing to remain competitive.The technology marketplace and the range of solutions for every challenge, no matter how big or small, is huge.
Even the most tech-savvy procurement leader needs expert, authoritative information to stay informed.E-auctions, for example, is a field in which the technology and the thinking behind it are developing all the time. Procurement managers need to be aware of the latest developments in order to make the right decisions for their organisations.

http://www.procurementleaders.com/learninggroups/technology/technology-news/bmw-supply-chain-management/

BMW LOGO

About us. Founded in Munich, the company began in the early 1910s as an aircraft manufacturer. BMW's current logo, designed to represent white propeller blades against a blue sky, reflects these origins; its blue-and-white color scheme also references Bavaria's blue-and-white checkered flag.