[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW Manufacturing Announces Construction of New Training Center.

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Groundbreaking Held During Internal Ceremony with SC Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.

New 67,000 Square Foot Building Will Open in Summer of 2022.

Spartanburg, S.C. (February 22, 2021)… Officials of BMW Manufacturing, along with South Carolina Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt, broke ground today for a new $20 million, 67,000 square-foot training center on the BMW campus. The investment is a continuation of BMW’s 2017 commitment to invest $200 million over five years into workforce training. When completed in the summer of 2022, the building will feature multiple classrooms for both professional development and technical training, an outdoor amphitheater, and a unique concept of outdoor meeting and workspace that includes wireless capabilities.

“The most important investment for BMW is our people. Our associates are the key to BMW’s success,” said Knudt Flor, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing. “The rapid pace of digitalization, electrification, artificial intelligence, and autonomous driving is transforming the automotive industry. Advancing the skills of our workforce is a priority for BMW. This training center will offer a learning environment that promotes creativity, fosters innovation, and improves technical training skills.”

“We applaud BMW for their continued investment in our state’s biggest asset – our workforce,” said South Carolina Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt. “Since 1992, BMW has shown their steadfast commitment to not only South Carolina, but to our people as well. This new training center will ensure BMW technicians are highly trained and skilled in the latest automotive technologies and are prepared for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”

The new training center will be built across from the existing Campus Training Center (CTC). The idea is to connect recruiting, hiring, training and innovation all in one location.

“Our recruiting and training concept is very stimulating and interesting,” said Christine Petrasch, vice president of Human Resources for BMW Manufacturing. “We want to create a ‘college campus’ atmosphere around the new building with pathways and meeting places. As newly hired associates walk out of the CTC, they see the new training center in front of them and behind that, they see the BMW plant where they will work. It will be very inspiring.”

The training center will also be home to BMW’s well-known apprenticeship program – BMW Scholars.

“The technical training areas will have a flexible classroom design to adapt to multiple learning environments,” said Paul Sinanian, manager for Talent Management and Training. “Training robots identical to those inside the BMW plant will be placed on moveable pallets so they can be relocated depending on the learning situation. Classrooms will be equipped with the utilities and IT networking needed for teaching robotics, electrical, mechanical, engine and automotive training.”

The new training center will replace the current BMW Training and Development Center (TDC) on Brockman-McClimon Road, which has been in operation for more than 27 years. The TDC started as temporary office space for the first BMW associates in 1993. The following year, the first production associates used the building to assemble BMW 3 Series vehicles for training. For more than two decades, the TDC has been used for both technical and professional training.

BMW Manufacturing currently produces about 1,500 vehicles each day, exporting more than two-thirds of its models to 125 global markets. The model portfolio includes five top-selling BMW X models, four Motorsport X models and two plug-in hybrid electric X models. The factory has a production capacity of up to 450,000 vehicles and employs more than 11,000 people.

[Ftpohyeah]

Very cool!

[cfm56d7b]

One of the best recent news I've read. People still design and build cars, even if assembled by robots - also maintained by experienced mechanics.

This reminds of a well known humorous conversation between fictional CFO and CEO.

CFO: What if we train them and they leave?
CEO: What if we don't, and they stay?!

[DCG]

It would be nice if BMW NA included new Design Teams, Engineers, and Creatives in that so called additional "work force".

[The Libertine]

Always good when Companies invest in their employees- I applaud BMW for the effort and initiative.

[elimark1]

German automaker BMW has a strong manufacturing presence in the U.S. with its sprawling Spartanburg, South Carolina assembly factory. The facility is BMW's largest global plant by volume and builds the X-Series lineup of SUVs right here in the U.S. for export around the world.

But as BMW focuses on building more highly advanced vehicles, including electric and self-driving vehicles, the automaker needs a highly skilled workforce, so the automaker is building a new training center.

On Monday, BMW announced plans for a new 67,000 square foot training facility that will train future employees for high tech roles at BMW's Spartanburg factory. Officials of BMW Manufacturing, along with South Carolina Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt, broke ground today on a new $20 million training center on the BMW campus.

The investment is a continuation of BMW's 2017 commitment to invest $200 million over five years into workforce training.

When the new facility is completed in the summer of 2022, it will feature multiple classrooms for both professional development and technical training, an outdoor amphitheater, and a unique concept of outdoor meeting and workspace that includes wireless capabilities.

BMW's Spartanburg assembly plant provides a massive boost to the local economy and the German automaker is a major employer in the Spartanburg region. 1 out of every 10 jobs in the region is related to autos and parts.

In 2019, BMW was named as the largest exporter by value of new vehicles built in the U.S., its fifth consecutive year. In 2020, the Spartanburg plant has a record year and exported 218,820 vehicles with a value of more than $8.9 billion. BMW's U.S. exports are more than that of U.S. automakers General Motors and Ford Motor Co.

The factory has a production capacity of up to 450,000 vehicles and employs more than 11,000 people.

BMW currently builds all of its X-Series SUV models in Spartanburg. These models include the X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7 SUVs along with two plug-in hybrid electric X models. The plant also built the BMW Z4 Roadster from 2002 to 2008.

[GOLFFRR]

thats awesome.

[DenverSteve]

It looks great but maybe they can add a warehouse where they can store chips, boards, controllers and specialty parts to avoid the next supply-chain issues.......

[Nlo96]

Cool

[charlie_m]

Originally Posted by DenverSteve

It looks great but maybe they can add a warehouse where they can store chips, boards, controllers and specialty parts to avoid the next supply-chain issues.......

BMW is the epitome of JIT (just in time) manufacturing, with usually only 2-5 hours of inventory on hand, so not likely to happen on site. But they are likely pushing suppliers to hold larger inventories.

[DenverSteve]

Originally Posted by charlie_m

BMW is the epitome of JIT (just in time) manufacturing, with usually only 2-5 hours of inventory on hand, so not likely to happen on site. But they are likely pushing suppliers to hold larger inventories.

Just-in-time was/is good in theory. However, it only works when your suppliers are willing to float your stock. As we see currently, when the supply-chain coughs, everything down-chain chokes.