Around 600,000 diesel engines are manufactured each year at the Volkswagen plant in Polkowice, most of them 1.9 litre TDI engines. More than 1,200 workers also process various components such as camshafts, cylinder heads, crack connecting rods, cylinder crankcases and crankshafts. The environmental management system at Polkowice has been certified according to ISO 14001 since the year 2000.
Environmental protection for the region
Volkswagen Polkowice is situated in a region which has suffered greatly from environmental neglect over the course of the last few decades. The plant is therefore doing its utmost to counter these effects and protect the environment as much as possible. Handling resources sparingly and prevention of environmental damage have become key concepts in this plant. In order realise these concepts, the plant has carried out various projects in an effort to conserve energy and materials in recent years. Drinking water consumption has also been considerably reduced due to rainwater from storage reservoirs being used where suitable. An energy group has also been set up in the plant to ensure consumption of energy and materials remains low. Other measures are also planned which will enable emissions of dust and gas from test stands to be reduced by 75 percent compared to past levels by 2007.
Motivated workers mean high quality
Volkswagen intention is to work only with staff who are highly-motivated and performance-driven at its plant in Poland. This is the decisive prerequisite for meeting company targets in the areas of quality, costs and delivery reliability. For this reason, staff are offered extra social benefits and good opportunities for development. One example of this is the plant's talent support programme for shift leaders, team leaders and management staff which constitutes part of staff development. Additionally, around 100 staff receive financial support for further training or studies. In return, staff at the plant are always willing to cooperate by adjusting their work times during times of economic fluctuation, which at the same time helps to increase job security at the site in Polkowice.
Glossary