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For many years companies from all over the world have been learning by comparing each other, within and outside their trade, on national and international basis. German companies also consider the increasing importance of benchmarking as a management instrument. By continuous comparison of own products, procedures and methods with those of competitors – the "best in class" - efficient procedures and methods are created and can be implemented to the own company, often also to companies out of the industry. At the International Best Factory / Service Awards 2002 last Thursday in Stuttgart the best companies of this benchmarking competition, organised by the Export Academy Baden-Württemberg/Reutlingen once a year, were honoured by the Minister for Economic Affairs in Baden-Württemberg, Walter Döring. Experts directed by Prof. Rolf Pfeiffer had assessed and compared anonymous data of about 50 companies and had nominated nine companies for the award.

The ceremony on the premises of the Allianz Versicherungs AG Stuttgart was a forum for entrepreneurs and decision-makers who wanted to look behind the scenes of successful companies. In workshops and by detailed presentations of the winning companies the guests were offered novel ideas about new trends, possibilities of improvements, cost savings and best practices.

The winners of the IFBA / IBSA competition 2002 are:

Best company in the sector mechanical engineering/automobile industry/electrical engineering/electronic:

Küster Automotive Door Systems GmbH, Ehringshausen

Managing Directors: Jochen Burk, Carmelo Gutiérrez

• • General information:
  269 employees, sales 59.6 Mio Euro
  Products: Window regulators and door modules for the automobile industry
  Foundation 75 years ago, today part of the Küster-Group
• • The following issues have been part of the committee´s reasons for the award:
  Inspite of five national and 20 international competitors and production in five countries abroad the company stands up for Germany as a production site.
  Motivation of the employees is the task of a rather young management.
  Innovation has top priority and is an important part of corporate philosophy.
  The company´s slogan is: "Ideas in doors".
  All assembly lines are totally controlled by integrated measurement of all significant quality points.