mtu employees receive “Sly Fox” prize for good ideas

• The professional association Metall Nord Süd (BGM) has awarded its “Sly Fox” prize for especially clever suggestions for improve-ments in the field of safety at work
• mtu saves nearly €2 million in 2007

Friedrichshafen, December 4, 2007. As is often the case in life, it is important to be just a bit better: a bit faster, a bit more robust, or a bit more elegant. This is true in football, and it is true at work. And at work there is not just one “sly fox”, but several, like at the Tognum company mtu. “I am rather overwhelmed by the prize,” stated “Sly Fox” prizewinner and mtu employee Stefan Geng with pleasure. As the overall winner, he also receives a bonus of €300. The professional association Metall Nord Süd (BGMS) has awarded the “Sly Fox” prizes for particularly intelligent suggestions for improvements in the field of safety at work since the year 2000.

And what improvements will Stefan Geng’s idea bring about? Until recently, his colleagues in the department for the production of cylinder liners at Plant 2 lifted a weight of 18 kilograms 65 times per shift. This work is now performed by a crane, which puts significantly less strain on the employees’ spines. So this proposal makes an active contribution to better health.

In his speech, mtu’s Human Resources Director Günter Bittelmeyer praised the 20 prizewinners for their outstanding creativity. And Karl-Heinz Wulle, Head of Ideas Management at mtu, stated: “We are proud that we received approximately 3,800 proposals in 2007 – resulting in savings of nearly €2 million.” More than 40% of the suggestions submitted have been implemented. So far, mtu has paid out bonuses in a total value of €455,000 to its employees.

Franz-Dieter Thoma of the professional association Metall Nord Süd believes that the award of these prizes once again confirms that quality suggestions need a certain freedom and a company that provides that situation. He expressed strong praise of mtu: “Not only is the reduced accident rate at mtu positive, but also the active and creative involvement of the staff in these excellent ideas. And they certainly help to keep mtu that little bit ahead of its competitors.”


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mtu

Together with Detroit Diesel, mtu is the core brand of Tognum.

MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH supplies diesel engines and complete drive systems for ships, heavy land and rail vehicles, industrial applications and decentralized power generation plants. Covering diesel engines from 20 kW to 9,100 kW and gas turbines, the range of products is one of the most modern and wide-ranging in the sector. And to control and monitor its engines and drive plants, the company develops and manufactures its own custom-tailored electronic systems.

Sales of the Tognum Group amounted to EUR 2.5 billion in 2006. Today, the Group employs more than 7,800 personnel worldwide. It maintains a global sales and distribution network including 16 subsidiaries, more than 130 distribution partners and 1,100 authorized dealers.