[CULTURAL REFLECTIONS] GOING GREEN

While in all three countries on this past trip, one major observation I made was the environmental consciousness of the people.  This environmental consciousness ranged from very simple habits to initiatives through infrastructures. 

Upon landing in Munich, the first two big environmentally friendly things I noticed were recycling receptacles in public areas and the large public transportation system.  In airports, subway stations, and in the streets, one could find not only a trash and recycling receptacles, but recycling receptacles for paper, glass, plastic, and tin.  The public transportation was immediately apparent once setting forth from the airport.  Extensive S-Bahn (suburban trains), U-Bahn (subways), tram, and bus systems were all in place within Munich.  I would soon learn that most major European cities in that region also would have such systems.  Linz and Prague later both proved to me further that such systems are a part of, and indeed integral to, daily living in those cities.  One of our tour guides would later tell us that a flooded subway line in Prague nearly shut the city down for six months.  The amount of auto emissions that must be eliminated by such extensive train use is likely astronomical.  Rarely during the day would we ride any of these networks where the train was not filled with a decent amount of people.

In addition to the rail networks and availability of public transportation, it has continued to impress me just how many pedestrians and bike riders are in the cities.  As we rode through stations while on the train, we noticed huge lots full of bikes.  These were all of the people who had ridden to the train station to catch passage to another town or suburb.  In America, I would have expected to see full parking lots of cars.  I know when I was younger I would drive my car three blocks just to get to high school.  In central Europe, this would have been non-sense.  Even better than watching just how many bicyclists there were was seeing how well the city’s infrastructure supported such riders.  Not only were bike lots readily available, but so were bike paths on roads.  These were separate from pedestrian walk ways, and if you were not careful, you would quickly get run over by a bike.  At intersections, a bicycle lamp would indicate when cyclists could cross.  In downtown Cincinnati, I would have been very nervous to ride a bike.  In downtown Munich, I would have felt perfectly fine.  There was almost a complete absence of cars in many cases.  Pedestrian zones were everywhere in the downtown area.  While sitting for lunch one day, one of the guys noted that it was extremely quiet downtown.  I immediately thought, “That’s because there are no major freeways running right through the inner city like most do in the States.”  Because of that fact, the air quality downtown was also greatly improved.

Environmental consciousness extended to rural environments as well.  As we would pass through the country side, we could see many houses with solar panels mounted on as many surfaces as was convenient.  Even from the airplane window as we landed, I could see the shimmer of panels on many houses.  Windmill generators could also be seen in the distance from many areas.  The use of these alternative energy forms showed great initiative on being environmentally conscious.

I notice many smaller things in Europe as well.  There were many light sensors that turned on lights in public facilities only when there was motion in a room.  Toilets had two flush options… big and small.  The small one could be used if not as much water was necessary.  Many bottles contained labels for what was known as Pfand.  This was basically a return price for the bottle.  Grocers would often have giant recycling machines right in the store.  After purchasing a bottle of water and drinking it, one could simply return it to the store for as much as 0.30 Euros back.  The machines in the stores would actually then crush the bottles and store them to be shipped to a recycling plant.  Bathrooms rarely had paper towels; most had hand dryers.  Restaurants primarily gave out linen napkins.  Most paper trash in restaurants came from American chains which were in the region.  In grocery stores, one would use reusable bags over plastic bags.

My final major observation with the environmental consciousness came through the types of vehicles that were used.  Almost all consumer vehicles in the regions we visited were small passenger cars.  Very few trucks, SUVs, or vans were to be found.  If larger vehicles were needed, many hatchbacks seem to be the popular alternative.  Of the small cars we noticed, many were also utilizing hybrid technologies.  Even some buses and taxis used hybrid technology.

Reflecting on these conservation initiatives, one wonders why they are so much more resourceful than we are in America.  My initial thoughts were that such consciousness was borne more out of physical circumstances.  In Europe, less land means fewer resources.  This, in turn, means using the resources more conservatively.  They don’t have giant open spaces for landfills like we do in the States.  After doing some research, I found that this actually has a lot to do with Europe’s keener watch on their carbon footprint.

Not only are cars smaller in Europe, but so are houses.  With less land available, real estate becomes much pricier.  With smaller homes and apartments, less energy must be consumed to sustain inhabitants.  Not only this, but the way those houses are constructed lends well to the environment.  Many apartments that I saw had balconies.  On these balconies, and if outdoor space was available, laundry could often be seen drying.  Upon further research, I found that most households do not own their own washer and dryer.  Most do not have central air units.  Why?  The biggest reason is likely that no space exists for them.  With many buildings in Europe, they were constructed before such amenities were available.  In addition, most buildings in Europe are constructed attached to one another.  This helps conserve heat and energy as well.  This concept of pre-dating amenities applies to cities too.  Most cities in Europe grew long before the car industry even existed.  Because of this, streets are smaller, and cars must also be smaller.

In 2008, the CO2 emission in metric tons per capita in the USA was 17.5.  This is compared to 9.6, 8.1, and 11.3 in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic respectively.  We produce more than TWICE the emissions as Austria!  This is an amazing figure.  I know it makes me think twice about how often I waste energy as a US citizen. 

CO2 Emissions per capita (courtesy of Wikipedia)

In the end, it is interesting to see how circumstances in a country can affect the effect that country has on the planet.  Perhaps it is not that Europeans are necessarily more environmentally conscious (I would still say they are), but that they were born into a culture where those more environmentally friendly systems arose naturally.  Smaller houses and cars came about because of the way cities developed.  Fewer landfills arose because of the commodity of land and the proximity of cities. 

Ultimately, it is an eye opener.  As an American, it is probably good to be exposed to a culture that will make you feel guilty if you throw a plastic bottle in the trash can.  I know I felt awkward the first time I left a grocer with a plastic bag.  When everyone around you carries a reusable one, it makes more sense to switch systems.  I think eventually such things will catch on in America, but as with most major changes, these will come over time and with patience.

In the mean time, one might ask what implications this European characteristic has on profession and social interactions between European countries and in their international partners.  One clear implication is both a sense of rivalry and responsibility in instituting good corporate responsibility initiatives.  This was very clear when we visited Voestalpine in Linz, Austria.  They mention not once or twice… but several times that they were probably the cleanest steel manufacturing plant (in terms of air quality) in Europe.  They were very proud of their ability to reduce damaging emission by over 90% in the past decade.  This in turn pushes other industries in Europe to meet those standards.  It was clear from a multitude of conversations that the government has also been more thorough in regulating such corporate responsibility.  On a social level, it is clear that Europeans push each other towards more responsible environmental actions through habit.  Be it recycling or voting for certain political parties, these habits and trends permeate through each country on the continent.

The implications of these internal interactions have been seen globally as well.  In my college experience, it has not been uncommon to hear things like, “Europe is much better at recycling than we are.”  As a young American population, we are very aware that across the Atlantic, their green initiatives are becoming successful.  I think this really pushes many Americans to meet a similar expectation here in our own country.  That is the social end of it.  On a corporate level, the same thing is happening.  Because businesses have become much better at learning from each other in the past couple of decades, they are also more and more aware of the level of corporate responsibility that is typical and beneficial for a company.  In America, many of our own businesses are adopting practices that mirror those being used in Europe for environmental protection.  In this regard, the global community becomes a great tool in focusing all nations towards more positive aims.

[CULTURAL REFLECTIONS] ON FAITH AND RELIGION

One of the most fascinating culture characteristics I like to observe are those concerning faith and religion.  Different regions across the world hold widely different belief systems.  In some cases, even within the same belief system, there are some pretty big differences about what that system means across borders.

I am a member of the Roman Catholic Church.  As such, I have a great connection to the same faith that has made such a dominant presence in the central European region consisting of Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic.  The Holy Roman Empire certainly had a great presence in these countries in earlier history.  Much of this political influence is still felt today in many of their traditions.  Unfortunately, this remaining mark of religious culture does not necessarily also support a healthy modern day community of religious people.  Much to the contrary, many of these regions are seeing increasing numbers of agnostics and atheists.  The Catholic traditions of keeping rest on Sundays and celebrating all major feast days and solemnities are all upheld, but the reverence towards why those days are taken off of work is greatly lessened in today’s European society.  I noticed this distinction last year while working in Munich, Germany.  I had actually brought in a cake to celebrate Corpus Christi, for which we received a paid holiday.  Many of the guys in my department did not even know what this day meant.

Despite a growing trend of “non-religious” affiliation, the landscape in all three countries visited on this past trip was filled with the physical presence of the Catholic Church.  Nearly every Bavarian village and town had one chuch, and in Munich’s Altstadt alone, there were nearly five or six churches within a few blocks of one another.  At the height of religious fervor in the region, these churches would have been filled each weekend.  On our various city tours, we learned that many of the larger cities in the region grew simply because of the presence of a religious community.  A monastery in Munich brought its first markets and growth.  The city is actually named after the word for “monk”.  And if anyone questions where such good beer comes from in Europe, one could also look to the monks.  Linz saw incredible growth in the middle ages because of a Jesuit college founded there.  In Prague, the presence of faith was seen in its innumerable number of churches and religious figures.  Nearly every street had some form of religious picture, icon, or symbol.  Charles Bridge was lined with images of Christ and the saints.  Even pilgrimage sights, such as that of the Infant Child of Jesus, are in many European cities.  After seeing such a presence of icons, it is amazing to think that the United States gets so uptight about a simple statue holding the Ten Commandments!  There was certainly a different level of acceptance regarding these professions of faith.  In terms of outer appearance, one would say that Europe is much more religious than the United States.

Theatinerkirche in Munich

I must say that today I feel most of these items are looked upon with nostalgia in much of Europe.  The statues and churches resemble things of the past for many citizens.  While some citizens remain a part of the Church, many more do not.  I was astounded to hear from one of our tour guides that today the Czech Republic has some of the lowest numbers of religious on Earth.  In the 2011 census, it was reported that 38% percent of the country was agnostic or atheist.  Only 10% remained Roman Catholic and fewer than 3% were Protestant.  What is even more astounding is that the number of people claiming to have no religion increased by almost 20% through the 1990s (that’s TWO MILLION people!).  I could hardly believe these figures when I later looked them up!  Southern Germany, in the Bavarian region, has a much higher number of people claiming religious affiliation, but the numbers are still low.  Over 56% of the population are Catholic, while around 21% are a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria.  While these numbers appear higher, there is an even greater number who are not regularly practicing members of their church communities.

Just for some reference to the United States, here are some comparable stats.  The United States is officially a secular nation, but nearly 60% of Americans state that religion plays a very important role in their lives.  In 2007 a U.S. Religious Landscape Survey indicated that around 78% percent of adults identified themselves as Christians.  Just over 50% claimed to be protestant, while around 24% claimed to be Catholic.  Roughly 16% of Americans claimed to be agnostic or atheist (an increase of around 8% through the 1990s). 

The following map, borrowed from the 2005 Eurobarometer results, shows the percentage of people in each country who simply answered “I believe there is a God.”  This does not indicate affiliation to a church; it merely indicates the belief in God at all.

Percent who responded "I believe there is a God"

The next question, naturally, becomes, “WHY?”  In a 2005 article by US Today (found here), reasons have been attributed to “Europe’s turbulent history, an increasing separation between the church and government…and perhaps most of all, the continent’s unprecedented affluence.”  The article continues by stating that when survival and wealth are assured, many do not feel the need to turn to a God.  Recent years have been the most secure in all of Europe’s recent history.  Another reason for possible drops in numbers could be attributed to a lower birth rate in Europe.  Even more possible, I think, is the history of the political influence of religion in the past.  Between Crusades, the Inquisition, and other reformations, wounds may still be felt in Europe.  Having governments today which are no longer connected with the Church allow the people to actually decide what their faith is.  No longer restricted to profess a certain faith, many choose none at all.

Looking at Europe as a whole, however, these trends are not completely the same across the board.  In Western Europe, where more stability and economic success has occurred, the number of religious appears to be in decline.  In the East, where economic conditions are slightly less stable, there is a stronger group of faithful.  Here, we might also observe that during communist rule, many anti-religious ideologies were placed in those countries.  Now that people are again free to choose their faith, more take advantage of this.

If one thing is certain of religion in Europe, it is that it has been through a much more tumultuous past than religion in the United States.  Where we have seen religious freedom since our founding in 1776, European countries have seen governments forcing them to be Catholic, Protestant, non-religious, and everything in between.  They have been forced into wars over faith.  They have been condemned, burned, and jailed because of faith.  As a Catholic, I marvel at what saints had to endure from religious persecution in Europe.  At the same time, I marvel at some of the Church’s darker history in Europe.  In many periods, Bishops were no better than oppressive dukes and kings of the time.  I can empathize with many Europeans who want nothing to do with religion because of this unstable past.  Not knowing what the future may hold, it may be best to simply play it safe and stay out of the pews. 

I would, of course, advocate the opposite though.  If ever there was a time to take hold of faith in Europe, it should be today.  For the first time in centuries, many people are finally free to worship freely.  I think this is something to be embraced.  What will really happen in the next few decades is still a mystery, but I know I will be praying for healing of those faith communities.  After the war, many churches were rebuilt and their battle wounds have been mended.  They stand today as gorgeous testaments to a rich church history.  Now, the next step may be to heal the communities which fill them.    

Restoration of Dresden Frauenkirche

[CULTURAL REFECTIONS] A DIFFERENT PACE

So this is the first of what I will call my “cultural reflections”.  Granted, I have been reflecting all along the way; I just want to take some time to draw special attention to some cultural observations I have made on this trip.

The other day, one my fellow classmates made a simple comment to the effect of, “People move at a different pace here, don’t they?”  I would like to center on that thought for this reflection.   Pace.

What paces do different cultures set?

I do not wish to make any sweeping generalization in these reflections, so forgive me if these observations do not always hold true… or that they are even contradictory to what is written in texts.  They are simply things that I have observed. 

Starting in Munich, it was apparent that certain cultural norms indicate a more relaxed and slower paced lifestyle.  The simple presence of beer gardens was the first “new” item we experienced on our trip.  We do not have these in America, and we do not drink in public space in America (unless they are walled off by gates/fences).  In Bavaria and in Austria, this leisurely activity is very common place.  Why is that?  Well, one could go into a history of brewing in Europe and how the beer culture has always held a significant place in society.  One could also extend the conversation into a larger theme of dining and drinking. 

What is the day's special?

From the brewing halls of Munich to the small cafes in Linz, Austria, dining is primarily a social event.  It is what many Americans might consider a “slow” process.  It is interesting to watch Americans become fidgety and anxious when certain parts of the dining processes are prolonged.  It takes significant time to gain the waiter’s initial attention.  If fact, getting the table itself can be a challenge!  It then takes time to wait on the food and drinks.  The waiters will attend to tables much less frequently than American waiters, and finally, the check will not come to the table automatically or quickly.  It is always necessary to flag down a waiter in order to pay.  It is not unusual for a meal to take over an hour.  Anything less would be abnormal, unless it was at a street vendor or an American chain restaurant.  Any European I have observed will be less anxious about their time dining.  The meal will end when it ends.  Work, play, or excursions planned after the meal will still be there when the meal does eventually finish.  Live in the moment.

Enjoying lunch in an outdoor cafe

Sitting down for an extended meal with a great city view

Another example of a slower pace is observed at street lights and bus stops.  While we, as Americans, are not hesitant in j-walking or crossing streets on red lights, very few Austrians or Germans will do the same.  In transportation, we like to drive at the times we set.  With public transportation available in many European cities, the majority of locals will patiently wait to be on the train’s time and not necessarily on their own time. 

Public transportation in Europe

In the workplace, these observations continue in work hours, vacation time, and in general work weeks.  Most employees will work 35 hour work weeks.  Most do not work on Sunday (retail chains, grocers, and most businesses are closed).  Vacation time is given in large amounts.  In the Bavarian state, employees starting work will already receive nearly a month’s worth of paid vacation.  These are almost unreal concepts in the mind of an industrious American.  For me, this was a shocking concept. 

We walked through the park of Vienna on our first Sunday, and it was amazing to see people of all ages (teens to elders) just enjoying the weather.  Couples, old and young, sat and talked on park benches.  The park lawn was covered with groups on blankets.  Very few electronic devices (cell phones or iPods) were noticed.  Were these Austrians wasting time that could be productive?  No!  They were simply observing a day of legitimate rest.  What a nice concept, right?  My own Catholic faith demands such a day of “no demands”.  Although much of this region is very rich in Catholic roots, many do not practice actively.  Still, they do observe some basic tenants of their faith in their lifestyle.  I think that much of this slower pace has stemmed from earlier religious influences.  Companies may take work off for the day known as Pentecost because it is an important Catholic calendar day.  In today’s society, however, this is just a day that has traditionally always been taken off. 

Enjoying parks on a Sunday

Outside of earlier influences by the Church, I would also argue that the difference in pace has also to do with what we could call a more collectivist culture.  According to Geert Hofstede, cultures are largely influenced by certain dimensions.  One of these is the idea of an individualistic versus a collectivist culture.  While in America we strive largely for individual success and gains, in Europe, the effort is more communal or “collectivist”.  In this way, it becomes more important to have a prolonged meal with friends or a day in the park with family.  By and by, I think both cultures have much they can learn from each other.  I think we could use a little more patience in America and perhaps ease up on the accelerator pedal.  In Europe, I think they could learn from a little bit of America’s “set the bar higher” mentality.  In a growing global society, we already see some of these learning experiences occurring.  I find this to be an exciting thing moving into the future.  There is much to learn from one’s neighbor, whether they live across the street or across the ocean.  

[PROJECT] TOYOTA VS SKODA

Now that I have seen two major car manufacturing plants (BMW and Toyota), it was extremely interesting to see how a smaller subsidiary car company handled their own manufacturing facility.  In this post, I would like to share some initial thoughts on Skoda and their plant operations.

As I stated in an earlier post, Skoda was started in 1895 by mechanic Vaclav Laurin and bookseller Vaclav Klement.  They actually started under the name of Laurin and Klement by making Slavia bicycles in Mladá Boleslav near Prague.  In 1899, they began turning over motorcycles, and finally in the early 1900s, they created their first successful cars.  In 1925, as a strategic move, they teamed up with Skoda Plzen and began to produce passenger cars, along with buses, trucks, farm machinery, and aircraft engines.  After the Second World War, the company became a state enterprise and took on the name AZNP Skoda.  It wasn’t until 1989, along with the political changes in the country, that Skoda found a good foreign partner in Volkswagen.  Skoda would now be placed with VW, Audi, and Seat as the fourth of four companies in the Volkswagen Group.  A couple decades later, the Skoda brand is very competitive in its market.  Models such as the Fabia, Octavia, and Superb compete well within the small car market niche.

At the plant located in Mladá Boleslav, both the Fabia and Octavia models are produced.  Two sister plants in Vrchlabi and Kvasiny also exist in the Czech Republic where the Octavia, Roomster, Yeti, and Superb II models are all produced.  Another two production sites are in India and Russia.  Of the workers at the plant we visited, 50% belonged to a union where they paid roughly 1% of their wages for membership.  Of the plant factory workers, only 20% are female due to the work being more labor intensive.  The average company worker age was 37.  Each plant worker works an eight hour shift in one of two shifts.  Shifts run from 6am to 2pm or from 2pm to 10pm. Each shift is given three breaks.  Two five minute breaks and a longer 30 minutes break at four hours.  As a starting employee, one receives five weeks of paid vacation and various discounts on cars, services, and parts.

Body Production

Our plant tour began in the body production plant.  The plant has a capacity of 1200 cars per day, but only produces 900 due to current demand.  The first thing I noticed as I walked into the plant was a much larger number of workers.  Compared to BMW and Toyota, Skoda did not have nearly as much automation in this portion of the plant.  I was later informed that larger facilities, like those of Audi, utilize more automation.  I was also informed that outside of the level of automation, most manufacturing processes have been standardized between all Volkswagen group companies.

At Skoda, many smaller components and panels were being welded by line workers.  The parts were moved by hand into jigs where they were welded.  The main platforms for Skoda actually were shipped in from VW and they constitute the base of all Skoda cars.  After preliminary welding processes, automated robotic arms weld most of the remaining car pieces together.  In general, the lines were much more cluttered than at BMW, but comparable to Toyota’s plant.  I think Toyota’s plant had this look only because of its age.  It was constructed in the 1980s, where Skoda was likely revamped after the VW take-over.  On the actual line, the cars showed signs of being scuffed up and welding marks and burns were also prevalent.  This was surprising to see.  Most of that was cleaned up later on, but this is something I do not recall seeing at either BMW or Toyota’s plants.  At Toyota, I was asked to take off my belt simply because it was a threat to the car finishes.  I wasn’t even going to touch the cars and they had me do this.  Standards at Skoda appeared to be slightly more relaxed.  Quality checks along the body lines were also completed in body weld.  Some were completed via x-ray, while others utilized hammer and chisel to check welds or cross section cutouts to inspect the steel. 

Motor and Gearbox Assembly

The next portion of our tour was in the motor and gearbox assembly workshop.  I was unable to see this complete process at Toyota, but it did resemble that of BMW’s process.  Motors were pushed along the line as they were assembled.  Many of the parts used on the motors were actually imported from Germany.  I believe it was said that only the block and crank shafts were produced in the Czech plant.  These motors were standard stock used in all VW Group cars.  After assembly, the motors were later placed on skids ready to be taken to their corresponding car body in the other workshop.

 Here we were explained that the production lines worked with a barcode system.  Each ordered car was assigned a barcode.  Using this barcode, it could be determined which parts it needed for assembly.  We also noticed the use of what I will call “goal” boards.  Each line contained a score board that stated the day’s production goal, the current amount already produced, and the remaining units to produce for the shift.  This was to motivate workers to complete their day’s quota.  Outside of these items, MANY Toyota Production System standards were being utilized.  Kanban, Andon, Takt Time, order sequencing, Just in Time, removal of doors during assembly, and others were all integrated into the production system at Skoda’s plant.  They also utilized a system they called “Raku Raku”, which was a method used to create an easier work environment for workers ergonomically.  This was implemented through “floating” chairs that workers could sit on to move in and out of moving vehicles on the line.  These were similar to ones I saw at Toyota.  Another unique feature I saw was Skoda’s kanban technique.  Like BMW, they used pictures occasionally.  Instead of animals, however, they used colored shapes or pictures to assist in matching labels. 

Final Assembly

The last part of our tour was in the final assembly plant.  He we saw the Fabia (with a Takt time of 1:00) rolling through final assembly and inspection processes.  In terms of quality in the work processes, I did notice water marks left on the car bodies after the water/rain leak test on the line.  I wasn’t all that impressed with this.  They did, however, protect the cars well once preparing for shipping.  A white plastic was placed over the paint to protect the cars from sun and rain while they were shipped from the plant.

It was clear in this portion of the assembly process that many things looked like Toyota.  A cable was available for workers to stop the line.  Lights indicated stopping points during the line motion.  Sounds would indicate which portion of the line needed assistance.  Sometimes these were even animal sounds.  Work teams consisted of 15 members, each with a leader to assist them.  The workers wore white, while the leaders work black.

I did note a unique method of using the “supermarket” system for assembly part bins for the line.  When putting a bin of parts together, a worker would simply scan the bar code of the car whose bin was being assembled.  The “supermarket” shelves which contained needed parts for that order would light up green to indicate what the bin needed.  This system seemed to work rather effectively. 

Another interesting feature of the assembly process was lines that belonged to outside companies.  Siemens owned the production line making the front consoles.  Johnson control owned the line (in fact, an entire building) making car seats.  It was a great way to have work outsourced while still keeping it inside of the plant itself.

General Comments

In general, the plant was impressive, as were the BMW and Toyota plants.  I think the biggest two things standing out in my mind at the tour’s end were the following:  1) Skoda is basically replicating Toyota’s production process, but not executing quite as well.  2) The plant is less automated, and small things, such as scuffed up metal surfaces and weld marks, made the quality of production appear much lower.  The company was certainly producing cars at a good pace, and overall, the quality appeared to be superb.  I personally would hesitate to say it is being done at the same level as at Toyota or BMW, however.  No apparent competitive advantages appeared to be present within their manufacturing processes.  Skoda is certainly a niche car market company.  Its main competitive advantages are likely its design and functionality.  These will certainly be explored more in the final project report.

[TRAVEL LOG] SKODA AND PROGRAM WRAP-UP

Our final full day in Prague came soon.  It was hard to believe this was the “final hurrah” for the program.  Unfortunately, it started off a little down with the loss that the Bearcats had sustained that morning.  A few from our group found themselves up at 2:30 am to watch the game in the hotel lobby.  I was going to join them, but slept right through my alarm.  No Elite Eight this year, but watch out for March Madness 2013!  Best of luck to our other Ohio teams as they move forward.

At 9:00 am, we rolled out of the hotel via bus to Skoda Auto Manufacturer.  This was our final company visit of the trip.  We arrived at the visitor center and museum at around 10:00 am and started our visit with a brief overview of Skoda’s history.  They began as early as 1895 when two gentlemen by the names of Laurin and Klement decided to begin a bicycle repair shop after a poor experience of their own in another bike shop.  From there, they began to build motorcycles and eventually their one-of-a-kind automobiles.  The name changed to Skoda, later on when the Laurin and Klement brand was coupled with the Skoda name from an auto manufacturer just south of Prague.  Through World War II, this company, like many others in that region of Europe, began producing vehicles and equipment for the war.  After the war, the company was nationalized.  In 1991, the Czech state decided that they needed a good investor to take charge of the company.  That same year, they chose Volkswagen from a number of bidding car companies to take the Skoda name and help make the company an even bigger success.

Today the plant employs over 26,000 locally and is a major supporting industry in the Czech Republic. It is one of four companies that make up the German company, Volkswagen Group. In fact, according to our Czech hosting professor, this is the single largest supporter of the country’s economy.

After the video introduction, we did a brief tour of the company’s museum where we were able to see some of the older model vehicles. Our guide walked us through those years of production and then led us to the showroom where the company’s latest car models were being showcased. The company produces cars for the European market, primarily. If you’ve never heard of Skoda before, it is probably because they do not sell cars in the States.

Original Plant and Current Museum

First Bicycles by Laurin and Klement

The Skoda attempt at a "JEEP"

 The early afternoon was taken up by a tour of the plant and some of its workshops.  We were able to see welding, body assembly, motor and gearbox assembly, as well as car final assembly and inspection. Unfortunately we were not able to meet with any major company corporate managers on this visit.  Despite that, we still did learn a lot.  Since I am using this company as my project’s key focus, I will be describing some of my observation in more detail in a separate blog post.

We ate lunch that day at their cafeteria.  Luckily, there was one non-meat dish available for all of us practicing abstinence from meat during lent.  It was tough not selecting one of the other traditional meat dishes though.  The Czech food is simply amazing!  I would have paid the chefs a compliment, but I didn’t know any Czech and they didn’t know any English.  Unfortunately, I ended up breaking my dishes at the tray return instead.  I a typically a clumsy person, but this was rather embarrassing.  Cultural dilemma #341:  What to do when you break something, but don’t know how to day “Sorry!” or “I’ll pay for it!”  I attempted to pick up the pieces and showed an expression of apology.  I think it communicated well enough.

Cafeteria Meal Options

We arrived back in Prague around 3:00 pm. At this time, our Czech host, Professor Milan Maly, gave a presentation on the Prague University of Economics (where he teaches), the Czech Republic’s economy, the European Union, and the relationship between both. It was enlightening to see just how each E.U. country’s economic state was in relation to what the E.U. standards are for entering countries. Very few of the current members fit their own economic requirements! It was also interesting to hear that not all E.U. members are a part of the monetary union which uses the Euro. In this way, the Czech Republic is a member of the European Union, but does not yet use the Euro as its main form of currency. It has stayed with the Czech koruna (pronounced “crown”) and will continue to stay with this monetary unit they can gain a better idea of where the stability of the Euro is going.

It was at the end of this lecture that we officially ended the graduate seminar and program. Final thank-you’s were given to our hosts and our instructors. Again, it was hard to believe how quickly the seminar went, but it was certainly a great success. We were able see quite a bit of culture, business, and language while in Europe.

Professor Milan Maly

Prague University of Economics

After we were back at the hotel, I split with the group because of another site I wanted to see before heading back to America the next day.  Following up on a recommendation from my aunt, I went to visit the Infant Jesus of Prague located in the Church of Our Lady Victorious in “Lesser Prague”.  This statue is said to have belonged to St. Teresa of Avila in the 16^th century.  I made it there just before six o’clock and was fortunate enough to attend mass at that time in the church.  One of my favorite parts of the Catholic mass is its universality.  I did not understand Czech, but I understood what was happening in the mass.  It was a blessing to pray there.  Another great surprise was to see some younger people attending.  Normally, while in Europe, I would see primarily elderly at mass.  Seeing a decent gathering of parishioners under the age of 40 was encouraging.

Church of Our Lady Victorious

Infant Jesus of Prague

St. Nicholas Church

Later that evening, I met back up with the guys and we found dinner at a local Czech establishment.  It was funny and surprising to hear the place playing a Johnny Cash CD at the time.  The dinner went well until we had our next set of cultural experiences.  Three of us had ordered the baked fish.  This was the first time I had ever eaten what was basically a whole fish (meat still on bones).  It was quite good; however, what was supposed to be a 162 koruna fish was actually 162 koruna per 100 grams.  The bill was a bit higher than expected!  Along with a few other miscommunications with the bill, we were quick to leave after paying.  We ended the night in an American bar where we, by chance, ran into the rest of the MBA cohort celebrating their final evening in Prague.  I made it back to the hotel with a small group before 11:30pm.  We had an early flight the next day.

Final Dinner in Prague: Baked Fish

At 8:00 am on Saturday morning, those of us with an 11:30 am flight from Prague departed from the hotel.  The flight was a bit more crowded than the one we took on the way over, but it went quickly.  I always find it easier traveling back to the USA since we actually gain those five hours back.  We had a long layover in New York, but did finally land back in Cincinnati safely around 11:00 pm that night.

MBA Graduate Seminar Study Abroad Trip = Grand Success

A big thank-you goes out to our instructors, Prof. BJ Zirger and Prof. Larry Gales for their organization of the trip.  Also, a big thank-you goes out to our primary hosts, Professors Evelyne Glaser and Milan Maly.  THANK YOU!

[VIDEO] VIEW FROM PRAGUE CASTLE

[VIDEO] RÜCKL MANUFACTURING

[TRAVEL LOG] MASTERS OF CRYSTAL MAKING

Sorry for the long delay!  …the past few days in Prague have been rather hectic and prevented my more frequent updates.  These updates will be up shortly!

On Thursday of this week, we made our first company visit in the Czech Republic.  We took a bus about an hour west of town to visit a company by the name of Rückl Crystal.  This was a crystal making factory that produced low quantity, high quality crystal products.  All products produced by Rückl are hand-blown and crafted.  The company began in 1903 as a private family company.  After World War II, like most other companies under the new Soviet rule, it was nationalized and re-named.  Surviving through the years, and entering 1992, the company was finally re-privatized by Mr. Rückl himself.  Today it stands as a testament to Czech craftsmanship and entrepreneurial spirit.  More history can be found using the side link of this blog. 

Our Plant Tour Guide

Today, the company employs thirty crystal blowers and twenty five glass cutters.  They are the last firm in the Czech Republic that produces hand blown crystal.  Their high quality and ability to customize products (such as major trophies) make them competitive in what would seem like a very intimidating and unstable market.  The absence of automation in the manufacturing processes would seem to be a major disadvantage, but despite this, they remain successful.  The diversity of their customers and market helped them to survive more recent economic downturns. 

One of the company’s major concerns going into the future is the sustainability of their workforce.  As was the trend at all of our other company visits in Austria, the younger working class appears to be disinterested in working at this level of… work.  Recent training programs have proven marginally successful.  The youth who do finish training sometimes even leave the area and do not enter work.  Since crystal manufacturing involves refining a craft and art, it takes time and dedication by interested workers (three years minimum).  Only the future will tell just how the youth’s disinterest will affect the company.  In the mean time, Rückl will continue to work on recruiting a younger work force in the hopes that their tradition continues.

The manufacturing process was very intriguing to observe.  Each step involved care and precision.  In general, the work atmosphere was very relaxed.  Workers wore sandals and t-shirts.  The shop was also rather hot and dusty.  It certainly made me feel like I took a step back in time.  Production began at a large furnace where globs of molten crystal were blown into forms.  Following this, they were cooled and trimmed.  After some cutting and etching processes, they were then polished and finished.  The results were astounding!  The company sticker and higher price were certainly understandable after observing the care each piece was given in the workshop.   I will post a video soon to outline this process.

Final Q&A Session with Company Representative

After our company tour, we had the opportunity to talk briefly with a sales representative before heading to lunch in a nearby café.  She offered some more insight on the firm, its history, and current status.  Following lunch, we drove back into town for a very short break.

At 2:00pm, we took a walking tour of Prague.  Our guide started us off at the top of a large hill in what is known as “Lesser Prague”.  Here there was a monastery by the name of Strahovský Cloister.  An astounding view of the city could be seen from these heights!  We then walked down the hill to visit the Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral.  Both were incredible structures and the architecture was amazing to behold.  They were both towering and their respective histories very interesting.  We were given backgrounds on both the religious and political backgrounds of the city.  After moving past the castle, we traveled down to the river to see the Charles Bridge.  This is the most famous bridge in Prague.  It’s corner stone was laid on September 7^th of 1357 at 5:31am.  This was said to have been lucky due to the numbers in that date forming a perfect pyramid.  1357-9-7-5:31  Until 1841 it was the only bridge attaching both sides of the city across the river.  Since then, more bridges have been constructed and Charles Bridge was turned into a strictly pedestrian bridge.  It contains many religious statues and figures, include that of St. John of Nepomuk, patron of the Czech Republic, who has an interesting history with the city and bridge.  He was martyred on the bridge by the king not long after he heard a confession by the queen.  Apparently the confession that day had been longer than usual, and the king became suspicious.  He then confronted St. John about the confession, but was given no details.  In anger, he had the saint thrown into the Vltava River.  The five stars above the saint represent the stars that hovered over the river on the night of his murder.

Our Tour Guide

St. John of Nepomuk at St. Vitus Cathedral

Changing of the Castle Guard

Prague Street Tram

Charles Bridge

St. John of Nepomuk on Charles Bridge

It is good luck to rub this image of St. John.

Statue of King Charles

After visiting the bridge, we entered the old town square where we ended the tour at the famous Astronomical Clock.  The tour was fantastic.  I think I could have spent about a week getting a more in-depth tour of the city if it were possible.  The richness of history was visible at every turn. 

Astronomical Clock

Splitting from the group at 6:00pm, a large portion of us headed to a joint called “The Pub” for dinner.  Here were able to order traditional Czech food and pour our beer from taps built right into the tables!  How about that for a concept?  My meal was better than the pilsner beer, however.  It was a Czech stable… beef sirloin, gravy, and dumplings.  It reminded very much of a similar dish my Aunt had cooked for my siblings and I several years ago.  She had spent some time in Prague when she was younger and knew a thing or two about the Czech culinary arts.  I now had verification that she indeed could do justice to the delicious foods available in the Czech Republic!

Svíčková na smetaně (Marinated Beef Sirloin)