Eurostars
MANUFACTURING EXECUTIVE
Andreas Wendt
Chief General Director, Dingolfing Plant, BMW
TITLE: Chief General Director, Dingolfing Plant
COMPANY: BMW
BASED: Dingolfing, Germany
AGE: 60
NATIONALITY: German
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Wendt has been with BMW for 16 years. He took over BMW’s massive factory in Dingolfing, southern Germany, in early 2017. Prior to that he managed the automaker’s plant in Regensburg, Germany, winning numerous awards during his seven-year tenure. Prior to joining BMW, Wendt spent a decade at Robert Bosch. On October 1 he was promoted to the BMW board of management as head of purchasing and supplier network.
REASON FOR WINNING Under Wendt’s leadership, Dingolfing was named Europe’s best plant, earning a gold award from J.D. Power in its 2018 Initial Quality Study. Dingolfing had just 14 defects per 100 models produced. That is impressive considering that BMW produces a combined 1,600 units of the 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7- and 8-series at the plant every day. Dingolfing’s newest model, the 8-series coupe, went into production in July after BMW made a “low three-digit-million euro” investment in the plant.