Knowledge management
New system expanded
The systematic transfer of knowledge at MAN focuses on the areas of market, product, process/production, employees/corporate culture and, since 2009, also execution excellence. Through the exchange of information, MAN makes knowledge available to all those who require it for their daily work, combining processes, methods and procedures within the company. This creates the conditions for an efficient optimization process.
MAN’s knowledge transfer system comprises steering committees, symposia, expert groups and project teams. Steering committees are headed by members of the Group Executive Board and comprise top-ranking executives and experts in the various subject areas. They prescribe the direction for the work of the expert groups and identify the topic for the annual symposium. New project teams are created as required for clearly defined projects and submit recommendations for further action.
As part of this knowledge transfer system, a total of 360 executives from MAN participated in symposia in 2008, while 160 experts from the company were involved in expert and project groups. The symposium »Change Communication« dealt with the subject of employees/corporate culture and was designed to encourage participants to perceive change as a positive development within the company, to communicate openly about change and to promote a feedback culture. »Winds of Change in After Sales« dealt with the market and was arranged by the expert group of the same name. It addressed the significance of after sales as a stable provider of earnings for the MAN Group. As part of the "process" segment of knowledge transfer, the symposium »Climate Change« dealt with climate change and its significance for MAN. Here, representatives from BP, GE and the TU Dresden spoke about their opinions and exchanged ideas and experiences with MAN managers. »Systems vs. Components Business« was the title of the symposium for the product segment; it considered whether the additional opportunities in the systems business justified the higher risks.