Short version:

The trucks produced at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth have never been in such demand. One of the main reasons for such high order volumes is the proverbial quality and reliability of the plant’s products. In addition, the new Actros by Mercedes-Benz is a technical and visual masterpiece, setting completely new standards for long-haul truck design. The Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth is the world’s largest truck assembly plant, with a total staff of around 11,000 employees. Every second truck registered in Germany is a Mercedes-Benz from Wörth.

Managing complexity is a top priority, because each and every vehicle is built exactly to the customer’s specifications. There are a total of over 500 cab variants for Actros, Axor and Atego trucks, and more than 2400 optional equipment versions. There are seven basic cab types for the new Actros alone.

The plant sources components from nearly 1000 different supplier locations, over 700 of which are in Germany. There are approximately 200 suppliers from other European countries, plus about 20 more in non-EU countries. Roughly one half of component supply operations are “just in time” (i.e. the right quantity at the right time in the right place) or “just in sequence” (where the items also have to be provided in the correct order). On average, 540 trucks deliver a total of 5300 tonnes of products to the Wörth plant each day.

Delivery of the seats for the new Actros is a “just in sequence” operation, for example. They roll straight off the semitrailer on a roller conveyer and directly onto the assembly line, in exactly the right order, the whole process being run from a pushbutton control. This sophisticated control technology successfully eliminates any possibility of assembly and sequence errors.

Quality is a matter of planning, design, production and monitoring. The Wörth plant’s ability to meet these requirements is confirmed by certifications to DIN and ISO standards, which are repeated and validated at regular intervals. Daimler has also created two sets of comprehensive guidelines defining its quality management requirements and procedures. The overarching system is the Truck Operating System (TOS), and the second set of guidelines is the Commercial Vehicle Development System (CVDS). This covers the creation of a truck from the start of the initial project right through to start of production, including the input of all the functional aspects involved: development, quality management, purchasing, production and supplier management. The system is based on the knowledge and experience continually being built up by Daimler Trucks project and line experts, and is constantly updated.

A total of more than two billion euros have been invested in the development of the new Actros and making the required production changes.

The cab-building process begins with the production in the various manufacturing centres and robot parks of all the required components: the substructure, roof, side panelling and support skeleton structures. The manufacturing centres are equipped with fully automated induction-controlled conveyor systems to transport the parts to the required locations. The check to ensure that all parts are correctly positioned before the welding process begins is a computerised process, carried out in a “check station”. Each cell is able to process any of the many and varied cab designs from the wide product range, in any sequence. This system provides a high level of precision plus unmatched flexibility.

Another highlight is the use of “inline measurement” technology. This refers to the deployment of robot-guided measurement sensors to test specified key functional characteristics on all the cabs, as a form of transparent in-process control. Measurement technicians check whether the values meet the strict tolerance specifications, and look for the presence of anomalies in measurement parameters, such as trends, jumps or changes in mean values. If so, prompt action can be taken to prevent any need for reworking.

The proverbial quality of the paintwork of the new Mercedes-Benz Actros has been backed by capital investments of more than 100 million euro since 2005. Along with the fully automated priming operation, priority has also been given to automation of the subsequent filler and top coat lines.

The basis for the long-term anti-corrosion protection of the new Actros is the structure consisting entirely of galvanised panels. The first step in the cab-painting process, following several stages of cleaning and degreasing, is cataphoretic dip priming. This involves the electrochemical depositing of a paint layer on all internal and external surfaces. This anti-corrosion protection is then supplemented with PVC sealing of the panel flanges and joints. A total of almost 400 different cab colours are available, some of them customer-specific. The range for the chassis comprises 160 paint colours. But there are also a number of plastic parts to be painted in the vehicle colour. The effective management of all these colour combinations represents an outstanding achievement in painting technology.

Reliability, flexibility and precision provide the basis for outstanding quality in the parts production shop. A team of approximately 420 highly motivated employees in the stamping shop, welding department, skilled trades group and tube-bending shop process around 2600 tonnes of sheet metal and coil material and 350 kilometres of tube each month. The result is an average of 4.7 million parts per month. The spectrum ranges from prototype parts to fixtures for mounted parts, tubes for exhaust systems, compressed air and hydraulic lines, structural parts and steel and chrome nickel tank fastening straps. Around 8300 different parts are produced in all.

Sensors are an integral part of trucks today, for the engine management system, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning system, stability control assist, active brake assist with independent emergency braking for moving and stationary obstacles in front of the vehicle, rain and light sensors, and tyre pressure control and roll control systems, and even the fifth wheel has a sensor to communicate whether it is closed or not. All these systems have to meet extremely high reliability standards.

The electrical/electronics centre (E/E centre) is a new organisational entity set up at the Wörth plant, as a mechanism for daily close cooperation and consultation with the Development department.

Comprehensive training courses have been provided for a total of 200 employees to introduce them to the new systems environment of the Actros. Every new Actros truck also has to undergo a series of new test programmes and devices on completion of the construction process.

After being filled with operating liquids, the vehicles are put through their paces on chassis dynamometer devices, in a menu-based testing process covering all driving functions, including assist systems. The test data are documented in a checklist, saved and archived for up to 20 years. Meanwhile, other vehicles are being tested in real traffic situations on a 50-kilometre section of road, including poor road conditions.

Over the last one-and-a-half years, Daimler has invested 26 million euros in the construction of an automated small parts warehouse, over a surface area of over 6600 square metres. The new warehouse provides the basis for a whole new logistics concept, giving Mercedes-Benz the flexibility needed to produce the new Actros on the same assembly lines alongside other current model series. Other benefits include major improvements in component availability, with resulting enhancements in production process reliability.

The useful floor area of 10,000 square metres is spread over two floors. The system is supplied with twelve versatile automatic shelf loaders, operating at a height of 15 metres. There are a total of 150,000 bin positions for small standardised bins with a maximum load weight of 20 kilograms. The facility is run by a staff of 70 employees, in a two-shift operation.

Hourly delivery runs around the site take the required small parts directly to the employees on the production line, following carefully designed routes. The TOS and Lean Management systems were of great assistance in planning the routes, and major progress has also been made towards a forklift-free factory environment. By reducing the physical stress on employees and forklift traffic volumes, this innovation also makes a valuable contribution to occupational safety and health.

The Wörth plant also has a new development and testing centre (EVZ) for the new generations of trucks, used to generate top-quality products. Within the 550,000-square-metre centre, Daimler has been able to simulate 90 percent of road section profiles worldwide. This includes typical long-haul and urban distribution routes, sections with potholes and bumps, corrugated “washboard” road surfaces (reminiscent of the sand patterns created by winds in the desert) and the terrain on construction sites. In a matter of minutes, the test engineers can run their test vehicles on South Korean roads, off-road tracks in Africa and a European motorway. All lessons learned from tests run in the EVZ are fed back into development and production processes, to take the quality level one step higher again.

Long version:

• Early start to assembly in series production conditions

• Scheduled sequence of tests for reliable quality outcomes

• Innovative production with leading-edge technology

• Maximum precision and unmatched flexibility

The trucks produced at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth have never been in such demand. One of the main reasons for such high order volumes is the proverbial quality and reliability of the plant’s products. In addition, the new Actros by Mercedes-Benz is a technical and visual masterpiece, setting completely new standards for long-haul truck design.

The Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth is the world’s largest truck assembly plant, with a total staff of around 11,000 employees. Every second truck registered in Germany is a Mercedes-Benz from Wörth, and the plant also supplies trucks to 150 countries around the world. A total of around 5400 employees work in the Production department, in one of the world’s largest automotive factory buildings, at 1.0 kilometres long and 50 metres wide. A unique feature of the production operation at Wörth is the manufacture of three different model series – the Actros, Axor and Atego – all on the same line.

The Production department started manufacturing the new Actros cab back in July 2006, producing the first cabs for hydropulse testing for poor road conditions. Even at this early stage, valuable information was gathered for the jointing, machinery and production concepts. The cab designers and production schedulers were able to use this information to create a production-friendly cab design and fully automated machinery. The result is a stunning-looking cab, meeting the highest geometrical and visual standards.

In spring 2009, more than two years before start of production, the first Actros prototype vehicles were already rolling off the production line on their own axles. Work has continued ever since on further optimising the flows and processes, and providing the required skills training for the production team. This was the first time in the history of the Wörth plant that a new truck had been assembled under series production conditions so early in the piece. This meant any problems could also be picked up early and eliminated before SOP, which is one of the key elements of the CVDS (Commercial Vehicle Development System) developed by Daimler Trucks.

The Commercial Vehicle Development System covers the creation of a commercial vehicles truck from the start of the initial project right through to start of production, including the input of all the functional aspects involved: development, quality management, purchasing, production and supplier management. The system is based on the knowledge and experience continually being built up by Daimler Trucks project and line experts, and is constantly updated. The Actros is the first Mercedes-Benz truck for which the development was consistently based on the “quality gate” philosophy described in the CVDS. This means, for example, that start of production can take place only with 100-percent customer-compatible components. The project continuation criteria defined in the twelve quality gates are all focused on the production of a mature product, right from the start.

It was critical to integrate external suppliers and build robust supplier processes at an early stage in the development process for the new vehicle. This process too is described and specified in detail in the CVDS. Under the leadership of the Purchasing department, interdisciplinary teams assessed potential suppliers using a standardised process, including the criteria of commercial competitiveness and stability, quality requirements, delivery reliability, and environmental and health protection considerations.

These criteria provide a sound foundation for partnership relationships with suppliers over many years.

Reliable quality assurance is provided by regular testing in four “quality feedback loops”. As the first stage in the process, individual employees test their own work, carried out under their own responsibility, and confirm that the manufacturing steps have been correctly completed. Secondly, for some specifically designated steps in the manufacturing process, the vehicles are then tested at quality gates defined within the various departments. This is followed by testing at the external interfaces of each department, primarily to detect the department’s error performance. The fourth and final stage is the product audit, which involves random testing of defined product parameters, such as measurements, against the relevant specifications.

And of course the Mercedes-Benz plant at Wörth is certified under the most rigorous international quality management standard, ISO/TS 16949 and DIN/ISO 9001.

The Truck Operating System is the Daimler Trucks overarching holistic production system. It is based on the “lean management” philosophy that is now a familiar part of the automotive sector. The purpose of TOS is the development and continuous improvement of lean processes. The key to the system lies in the holistic approach: TOS is applied not just in production, but also in all operating departments. The fundamental objective is to create a new culture of adding value, a positive attitude towards avoiding errors and any superfluous processes.

Precision outcomes can be achieved only with a skilled and highly motivated workforce. Most of the staff hold a trade proficiency certificate or other equivalent qualification. This should come as no surprise, given the demanding nature of the work at a truck production plant today. The cycle time can be anything from 2.5 minutes to nine minutes, depending on the assembly line, as compared with passenger car production operations, where 60 seconds is regarded as a long time. This means that the input expected from each employee is very extensive, across a wide variety of different vehicles. The production lines have to cope with any combination of Actros, Axor and Atego trucks, as the need arises.

The groups within the production organisation organise their own work, even including leave scheduling decisions. They arrange the multi-shift duty roster, and are also expected to formulate clear targets and outcomes reports. Current production status information is provided to each production group on large noticeboards.

The plant is dedicated to delivering perfect production quality. Each vehicle is built exactly to the customer’s specifications. There are a total of just over 500 cab variants for Actros, Axor and Atego trucks, and more than 2400 optional equipment versions. There are seven basic cab types for the new Actros alone.

The plant sources components from nearly 1000 different supplier locations, over 700 of which are in Germany. There are approximately 200 suppliers from other European countries, plus about 20 more in non-EU countries. Roughly one half of component supply operations are “just in time” (i.e. the right quantity at the right time in the right place) or “just in sequence” (where the items also have to be provided in the correct order). On average, 540 trucks deliver a total of 5300 tonnes of products to the Wörth plant each day.

Delivery of the seats for the new Actros is a “just in sequence” operation, for example. They roll straight off the semitrailer on a roller conveyer and directly onto the assembly line, in exactly the right order, the whole process being run from a pushbutton control. This sophisticated control technology successfully eliminates any possibility of assembly and sequence errors.

The cab production operation in the body shop is a highly automated process. The cab is built in parallel with the vehicle frame. The new-look cab design in the latest Actros, now not so much a cab as a “living space”, in the flat-floor variants provides more headroom and unrestricted freedom of movement for the occupants. This level of automation makes it possible to manufacture a wide range of different cabs to the highest quality standards. The required panels come from the Mercedes-Benz pressing plant in Kuppenheim or specialist suppliers. Some smaller pressed or punched parts are made on-site in Wörth.

The cab-building process begins with the production in the various manufacturing centres and robot parks of all the required components: the substructure, roof, side panelling and support skeleton structures. The manufacturing centres are equipped with fully automated, induction-controlled conveyor systems to transport the parts to the required locations. The check to ensure that all parts are correctly positioned before the welding process begins is a computerised process, carried out in a “check station”. Generally speaking, all the heavy work is now carried out by industrial robots. Rather than performing strenuous and monotonous procedures, employees are freed up to concentrate on more responsible tasks such as monitoring and managing plant and machinery.

Each cell is able to process any of the many and varied cab designs from the wide product range, in any sequence. This system provides a high level of precision plus unmatched flexibility. This has been the subject of many accolades for the Wörth plant from international specialists.

Driverless vehicles, operated by an intelligent system via the plant control level, transport the component holders into the parallel welding cells, with automatic loading of the numerous welding and robot program variants. The use of medium-frequency resistance welding technology for spot welding with adaptive control allows the continuous adjustment of process parameters. Weld quality and process stability is continuously monitored by the integrated quality assurance module. Time-consuming and labour-intensive inert gas welding processes have been reduced to a minimum.

The use of advanced techniques for inert gas welding such as cold metal transfer (CMT) has brought significant benefits for some components, such as less weld distortion and fewer splashes.

Another highlight is the use of “inline measurement” technology. This refers to the deployment of robot-guided measurement sensors to test specified key functional characteristics on all the cabs, as a form of transparent in-process control. Measurement technicians check whether the values meet the strict tolerance specifications, and look for the presence of anomalies in measurement parameters, such as trends, jumps or changes in mean values. If so, prompt action will be required to prevent any need for reworking. The measurement specialists working in the new measurement centre carry out measurements on any complex problem areas using a new multi-axis coordinate measurement machine. There is a close collaboration between measurement technicians, machine builders and production group leaders. The principle is to anticipate any possible errors before they happen. This allows proactive quality assurance, rather than the reactive processes used in the past. The Geometry feedback loop has the task of ensuring that every cab leaving the body shop is of characteristic Mercedes quality. For factory process flows, this is our guarantee of maximum stability and minimum reworking, and the benefit for the customer lies in the assurance that the add-on parts and interior will be a perfect fit for the truck.

The proverbial quality of the paintwork of the new Mercedes-Benz Actros has been backed by capital investments of more than 100 million euros since 2005.

Along with the fully automated priming operation, priority has also been given to automation of the subsequent filler and top coat lines.

The basis for the long-term anti-corrosion protection of the new Actros is the structure consisting entirely of galvanised panels. The first step in the cab painting process, following several stages of cleaning and degreasing, is cataphoretic dip priming. This involves the electrochemical depositing of a paint layer on all internal and external surfaces. This anti-corrosion concept is then supplemented with PVC sealing of the panel flanges and joints.

The subsequent fully automated filler layer, carried out as a robotic painting operation on both the interior and exterior, provides a stone chipping protective intermediate primer to preserve the durability of the Actros bodywork even under the toughest driving conditions, including poor quality road surfaces and severe winter conditions.

A total of almost 400 different cab colours are available, some of them customer-specific. The range for the chassis comprises 160 paint colours. But there are also a number of plastic parts to be painted in the vehicle colour. The effective management of all these colour combinations represents an outstanding achievement in painting technology.

Three automated final coat application lines are provided, to ensure that every new Actros arrives “just in time”, painted in the customer’s requested colour, in the painting buffer store area of the cab interior finishing department. The final coat lines are making increased use of cleanroom technologies with special filtration systems. Cleaning robots carrying rotating suction brushes are placed at the line entry points to remove any dust or dirt clinging to the bodywork before the painting operation as such begins. This eliminates any dirt enclosures in the paint and ensures a long-lasting glossy finish on the finished bodywork.

After a thorough check on all surfaces, the cavities are then sprayed with a wax preservative material, as the last stage of a complex process to ensure comprehensive protection and a durable sheen.

True to the “Trucks you can trust” motto, the reworking of the painting processes has put particular emphasis on meeting the customer’s quality expectations and making the new Actros the benchmark for painting quality.

The fully painted cab is now conveyed through the interior finishing shop on a 420-metre-long U-profile assembly line consisting of skillet platforms. The first step at the start of the line is to remove the doors, to give the workers better access to the cab interior and also to protect the surface from scratches. The doors are fitted on a separate line with windows, mirrors, electronics and panelling, and then reunited with the cab at the end of the line. The lift tables on the end of the skillet platforms are extended to the ideal ergonomic height for the employees according to the specific assembly operation. There are four quality gates in all on the assembly line, where the operations carried out on the upstream work stations undergo 100-percent and random sample checking for complete and correct performance. If any anomalies are detected, the relevant specialists (process supporters and Q alarm staff) are on hand to find and eliminate the cause without delay. Random audit checks are also carried out on the fully equipped cabs at a separate checkpoint at the end of the line. The aim is to ensure that no defective cabs are released for the vehicle assembly operation.

Reliability, flexibility and precision provide the basis for outstanding quality in the parts production shop. A team of some 420 employees in the stamping shop, welding department, skilled trades group and tube-bending shop process around 2600 tonnes of sheet metal and coil material and 350 kilometres of tube each month. The result is an average of 4.7 million parts per month. The spectrum ranges from prototype parts to fixtures for mounted parts, tubes for exhaust systems, compressed air and hydraulic lines, structural parts and steel and chrome nickel tank fastening straps. Around 8300 different parts are produced in all.

The level of complexity reaches its peak in the just-in-time manufactured welded cockpit support, which later becomes the bearing structure for the instrument panel. The required tolerances, in the range of ±1 mm over a length of 2300 mm, are achieved with the use of state-of-the-art MAG welding technology (cold metal transfer, or CMT). Because of the significantly lower heat input than with conventional MAG systems, there is virtually no distortion in the support structure.

In the cockpit pre-assembly operation, the welded cockpit support structure made in the parts production shop is fitted with the instruments, pushbutton controls and stowage trays. The parts are fitted in the cockpit pre-assembly process, after which the complete cockpit is “parameterised”, i.e. set up with the correct vehicle-specific parameters and control programs, tying the unit absolutely to a specific customer order. After the release process, the 120-kilogram cockpit is hoisted up from the ground floor onto the conveyor belt, picked up with a special handling device, “folded” into the cab from the side and bolted into place.

The starting point in the production of every Mercedes-Benz truck is the construction of the frame, the “backbone” of the vehicle, formed from the longitudinal frame members and cross members supplied to the frame construction shop. The frame is then fitted with the springs and axles and sent on to the frame-painting shop.

The weight- and material-optimised design of the frame for the new Actros has resulted in a lower tare weight, and therefore a higher payload exerted on the road surface. This involved a complete redesign of the frame with high-performance CAD systems and complex vibration and load simulations. The frame components themselves are sourced from external suppliers. Individual specifications are provided for critical bolt connections such as the attachments of the steering bracket or steering column. The turning speed and torque of the tool are precisely defined, as is the angle between the tool and the bolt connection.

Where exactly will the engine bearing sit? Which is the right bolt? What tightening torque has been specified for the bolt? All these details have now been specified for Actros, Axor and Atego vehicles in the form of several thousand different drawings. The staff on the production lines have to refer to all this information before the assembly operation can proceed.

For the new Actros, a special project, known as EBDOK, has taken a pioneering new approach to this task. EBDOK is essentially an assembly visualisation technique, which translates the 3D CAD documentation from the Development department into clearly legible assembly information for assembly line workers, lasered directly on the longitudinal frame members. This shows the employee exactly where the component is to be positioned, what fastening, such as a bolt or rivet, is to be used, or the specified tightening torque for the bolt. Efficiency, ergonomics and quality are key factors which are all enhanced by the production process with these new technologies. The advantages are clear: speed, contact-free consultation of the information, clear legibility, no use of consumables, flexibility and high process stability.

Every intricate production step for every truck is recorded on a vehicle card, along with all the other important manufacturing details: the tightening moment down the last tenth of a Newton metre, the turning angle down to the last degree. The checklist covers the entire process, from frame construction through to the truck’s final acceptance by the factory. The checklist gradually grows into a thick wad of paper, on which each individual employee has signed off his or her specific contribution.

The ever more complex electronics systems in modern vehicles have created the need for a new testing phase in the commercial vehicles development and production process. Sensors are an integral part of trucks today, for the engine management system, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning system, stability control assist, active brake assist with independent emergency braking for moving and stationary obstacles in front of the vehicle, rain and light sensors, tyre pressure control and roll control systems, and even the fifth wheel has a sensor to communicate whether it is closed or not. All these systems have to meet extremely high reliability standards.

The electrical/electronics centre (E/E centre) is a new organisational entity set up at the Wörth plant, as a mechanism for daily close cooperation and consultation with the Development department.

Comprehensive training courses have been provided for a total of 200 employees to introduce them to the new systems environment of the Actros. Every new Actros truck also has to undergo a series of new test programmes and devices on completion of the construction process.

After being filled with operating liquids, the Meltron test is run to check the leaktightness of the brakes system. The ECOS testing apparatus is used to check out the various electronic functions according to a computer-controlled testing program. For example, is the battery current use on actuation of the windscreen wiper, the indicators or high-beam headlights or other functions in accordance with the specified target values? If not, prompt action is taken to eliminate the problem.

Finally, the Actros is filled with operating liquids and ready for use. It is put through its paces on chassis dynamometer devices, in a menu-based testing process covering all driving functions, including assist systems. The test data are documented in a checklist, saved and archived for up to 20 years.

The new quality management system (“Q-Sys”) also stores data from the body-in-white construction and interior finishing of the vehicle. If a door hinge has not been fastened with the required tightening torque, for example, Q-Sys releases the vehicle only once the defect has demonstrably been eliminated.

Meanwhile, other vehicles are being tested every day in real traffic situations on a 50-kilometre section of road, including poor road conditions. And if a problem emerges, every individual truck will be carefully scrutinised once again for that particular defect prior to delivery to the customer.

Over the last one-and-a-half years, Daimler has invested 26 million euros in the construction of an automated small parts warehouse, covering a surface area of over 6600 square metres. The new warehouse provides the basis for a whole new logistics concept, giving Mercedes-Benz the flexibility needed to produce the new Actros on the same assembly lines alongside other current model series. Other benefits include major improvements in component availability, with resulting enhancements in production process reliability.

The useful floor area of 10,000 square metres is spread over two floors. The system is supplied with twelve versatile automatic shelf loaders, operating at a height of 15 metres. There are a total of 150,000 bin positions for small standardised bins with a maximum load weight of 20 kilograms. The facility is run by a staff of 70 employees, in a two-shift operation.

Hourly delivery runs around the site take the required small parts directly to the employees on the production line, following carefully designed routes. The TOS and Lean Management systems were of great assistance in planning the routes, and major progress has also been made towards a forklift-free factory environment. By reducing the physical stress on employees and forklift traffic volumes, this innovation also makes a valuable contribution to occupational safety and health.

In 2009, the facilities at the Wörth plant were further extended with a special development and testing centre (EVZ) for the new generations of trucks, used to generate top-quality products. A total of approximately 80 million euros were invested in the centre over a construction period of just 30 months, including 35 million euros in the second construction stage, comprising the test track, building and infrastructure. Over 300 employees now work in the EVZ, which includes a workshop area and an office complex.

The surface inside the centre contains numerous road sections replicating poor road conditions, with fourteen different road surface profiles. To enable Mercedes-Benz trucks to meet the high expectations of customers all around the world, the sections in the 550,000-square-metre centre reproduce road profiles and surface types from five continents. This includes typical long-haul and urban distribution routes, sections with potholes and bumps, corrugated “washboard” road surfaces (reminiscent of the sand patterns created by winds in the desert) and the terrain on construction sites. In a matter of minutes, the test engineers can run their test vehicles on South Korean roads, off-road tracks in Africa, and a European motorway, because trucks from Wörth are also in high demand in countries where the roads are not as good as they are in Germany.

The second department within the complex is the functional testing area, including “extreme” road conditions, for example the test track with inclination gradients of up to 49 percent, or 26 degrees. These are used for the testing of brakes, assist systems and, more generally, new handling characteristics, driving comfort tests, suspension adjustment tests, general driving behaviour tests and also the fuel consumption tests that are an ever more important part of a truck’s profitability performance today. All lessons learned from tests run in the EVZ are fed back into development and production processes, to take the quality level one step higher again.