On day 5, we had the opportunity to visit Audi. It was my favorite tour we had taken so far. We were able to see how the body of the car started completely empty, as a frame, which was built upon as it moved down the supply chain. It was super interesting to learn that every car is customized, beyond just the paint color. Customization starts at step one. For example, depending on the country the car is destined for, it has to meet that country’s vehicle requirements. Also, depending on its destination, the driver’s side might change from left to right, or vice versa. Like MAN and Continental, the factory was incredibly clean. The Audi factory reminded me of the MAN factory because the product moves along a supply chain, being added to, adjusted, and checked. They both also manufacture large parts and therefore require heavy machinery and sometimes human assistance to move these parts around. Unlike Continental, which produces smaller parts, MAN and Audi both need a lot of space for transportation.

The guest talk with Patrick Will was super interesting, and we were lucky he came in, considering he is on paternity leave. One thing he said that really stuck out to me is that one of the hardest challenges he faces is the constantly changing political climate. For example, he talked about how it takes weeks, months, or even years to reach decisions about engines, products, etc., and then the next day he might wake up and read news about a changed law regarding emissions, for instance, which would necessitate a new decision.