OREANDA-NEWS. The managers of United Automotive Technologies that had merged with the auto giant in February paid a three-day visit to KAMAZ.

The delegation headed by Sergey Fedchenko, Director General of the Holding, included almost twenty top managers of enterprises owned by United Automotive Technologies: Gennady Bocharov, Director General of SAAZ Complect; Aleksey Kamentsev, Director General of DAAZ Shtamp; Irek Safiullin, Director General of Avtosvet; and others. The purpose of the visit is to study KAMAZ's successful experience and conduct negotiations on providing consultancy services.

Today, the managers of OAT are to solve a number of tasks as quickly as possible. KAMAZ will lend serious extensive support in all areas of operational activity, starting from financial management and finishing with issues of quality assurance, development of purchases, sales and production. Thus, for example, for the latest years KAMAZ has greatly changed a purchasing system: it imposes uniform requirements on all suppliers. And the new subsidiary is no exception.

The canvassed issues include the implementation of the Production System. The use of lean principles in production processes and development of labour productivity were studied by the guests at the Factory of Processes located at KAMAZ's engine plant. On the final day of their stay at the auto giant, the delegates saw how lean production methods and tools are applied at production shops. Besides, in the course of the working visit, general directors of KAMAZ and OAT Sergey Kogogin and Sergey Fedchenko negotiated prospective cooperation.

The guests took a great interest in the company's experience in the sphere of lean production and other areas. "We've got positive impressions. The employees are ready to work hard," Sergey Fedchenko commented on the results of the visit. "KAMAZ is the well-known leader of truck production. To join KAMAZ Group is for us somewhat of motivation and a driver for development." OAT's top manager also expressed confidence that the development of activities using the example of KAMAZ will promote an increase in process efficiency and help achieve new goals set jointly with the auto giant.

Together with KAMAZ's experts OAT developed its Development Strategy till 2025 focused on an increase in labour productivity, diversification of an order portfolio and other areas. They are to enter the segment of international producers still keeping their old relations with AvtoVAZ and UAZ. Besides, it's planned to integrate all processes of OAT Group into a single system of KAMAZ's corporate management.

According to Fedchenko, to focus on the development of certain product ranges is no less important. Primarily, efforts will be oriented on the lineup of lights, suspension members, and stamp-welded units. "Our team of managers, experts and workers embrace all current changes," stressed Sergey Fedchenko. "We are under the wing of the shareholder of global renown." There is a clear vision of further development."

United Automotive Technologies Joint-Stock Company is the largest holding of automotive components manufacturers on the territory of Russia. Its enterprises are located in five regions: in Samara, Penza, Ulyanovsk, Ryazan and Vladimir Oblasts. More than 10 thousand people are employed at 12 production enterprises. According to the results of 2017, the annual turnover made RUB 18 bn. OAT's portfolio numbers over four thosand various components of several product lineups. The main activities are production of suspension members, struts, gas struts, lights, stamped parts and units of various colouring.