Program has as its own development of products and process
Marcopolo is going to invest R$ 60 million up to end of this year in its operations in Brazil and Abroad. Money is part of a Large Investment Program of R$ 330 million, started in 2008, to modernize Plants, process to the development of its own line of products.
According to Mr. Jose Rubens de La Rosa, CEO of Marcopolo, most investment is being applied at the Plants of Ana Rech and Planalto, in Caxias do Sul, and Ciferal in Rio de Janeiro. “Since 2008, three Plants have been through deep changes, acquiring new and modern equipment and shops lay-out. At the same time we can increase the capacity of production and add more quality to the bus and coach Standards, with meaningful gains to our clients.”
“Still in this year, we are going to open a new unit, specific for plastic matters, in Ana Rech and a new Painting Department at Ciferal. Plastic Plant represents an investment of R$30 million and it will be a model of nature/environment respect and preservation with new technologies regarding to plastic engineering” CEO explains it.
Coaches more and more modern and efficient
Other important focus of the Investment program of Marcopolo is the continuous improvement and development of its vehicle family (line of products). The company keeps an exclusive area dedicated to research and development with around 300 engineers and, in the last two years, it launched the most modern coach vehicle line, Generation 7, besides other city and intercity models, such as Senior Midi and Ideale, with investments higher than R$40 million.
Other important focus of the Investment program of Marcopolo is the continuous improvement and development of its vehicle family (line of products). The company keeps an exclusive area dedicated to research and development with around 300 engineers and, in the last two years, it launched the most modern coach vehicle line, Generation 7, besides other city and intercity models, such as Senior Midi and Ideale, with investments higher than R$40 million.
“In order to keep the company ahead with worldwide high technology and provide to the market vehicles that bring gains to our clients, as decreasing of operating costs and enlargement of life term, we have invested heavily in innovation, development of new material and improvement of process. Result can be proved, for instance, by gains at the fuel consumption saving – between 5% and 10% - from Generation 7 Models”, says Mr. Rosa.
Skills and qualification of workers has been one of the most important factors to contribute to gains of quality and productivity at Marcopolo. Company has just celebrate 20 years of existence of its own school of making professional students to qualified workers, school called EFPM, it has graduated more than 600 young people already. There are 6 Marcopolo Schools worldwide, EFPM is very important to provide skills and qualification to Labor. Last May, Marcopolo started a new cycle of SIMPS – Marcopolo Just in time and other organizing systems – it is a distinguished advantage of Marcopolo in productive process and flexibility.
“Bus body building activities involves a great number of qualified labors – between 900 and 1800 hours per vehicle – and it is a real competitive advantage for Marcopolo. That is why, Marcopolo has been dedicating special attention to qualification and professional skills teaching. A proof of it is our Professional and Students school that has just celebrated 20 years of Anniversary” explains Mr. Jose Rubens de la Rosa.
