- Audi has awarded the prevention prizes to employees who made convincing suggestions in areas such as health care, ergonomics and integration. The three best teams in each of five prize categories received awards and a special shared prize was awarded to three teams. The prizes were given by Prof. Dr. Hubert Waltl, Board of Management Member for Production, Thomas Sigi, Board of Management Member for Human Resources, Norbert Rank, Chairman of the Neckarsulm Works Council, and other representatives of AUDI AG. Teams from various departments participated.
The prize in the “Health” category was won by a team from Neckarsulm for a program designed to encourage employees to adopt a preventive approach to their mental health. It included information events on the subjects of sleep and shift work, stress management and self management. Those events provided employees from the press shop in Neckarsulm with valuable tips on preventing mental illnesses. This supplemented the existing advice given by AUDI AG on the subject of mental stress and illness at work.
The winners in the “Integration” category were a group from Technical Infrastructure Service with the idea of increasing the number of workplaces for persons with impaired abilities. Their goal is to create more jobs for employees with health issues so that they can again participate in a value‑adding working life and receive respect and appreciation.
The prize in the “Knowledge” category went to the Neckarsulm Training Center. The project team developed a holistic training concept allowing employees to learn routines that are specially tailored to their workplaces as well as being safe and healthy. These routines are adapted to the various areas of production, and allow permanent reductions in the physical strength applied while working.
The prize in the “Ergonomics” category was won by a team from Work Science Methods for the design and development of the so‑called “Chairless Chair.” This exoskeleton is worn on the pelvis and legs and allows employees to sit in various working heights. It thus improves posture and reduces strain on the legs. The “Chairless Chair” is now in the trial phase and series application is already planned in various areas of production.
In the “Process” category, the team from the Huracán production line from Lamborghini convinced the jury with the idea of an emergency‑release cable. When employees have to repeatedly open the engine hood while adjusting body components at the front of the car, they adopt an ergonomically unfavorable posture. This can be avoided by releasing the hood lock electrically via a foot switch installed in the floor. It also means that less strength has to be applied.
The special prize was a trophy awarded jointly to three teams that made films for giving instructions to apprentices. In a clear manner appropriate for the target group, the films deal with topics of health and safety at work: following the five safety rules for using electrical equipment, working with forklift trucks in production areas, and ergonomics in the apprentice workshops.