The production site of RBS Thermotechnology Co., Ltd. China was commissioned in the northwest of Shanghai in 2006. This is a joint venture between Bosch and Rinnai Corporation from Japan.

The workforce, currently numbering some 110 staff, manufac-tures gas water heaters with capacities ranging from 5 to 16 litres, which are mainly sold on the South American and Austra-lian markets. The logistical challenge of supplying these markets from China is being met extremely well by the new team on site together with their colleagues in Portugal.

Production went on stream in November 2006. It is designed to ensure a lean manufacturing process, being based on the Bosch Production System (BPS) with adaptations to the Chinese site’s conditions.
Among other things, lean production entails low investment costs, low parts inventories and simple, transparent workflows and processes. Both the production and storage facilities on the new site and the investment requirement have been successfully kept very low. The high quality standard which the customers rightly expect is guaranteed by the use of automated testing technology.
The site’s in-house manufacturing input has been kept low by ensuring that production is limited to assembly and test pro-cesses. The bulk of the preliminary work is carried out by the suppliers. This use of individual Chinese-manufactured com-ponents opens up further cost benefits which enable Bosch Thermotechnik GmbH to operate successfully even in those market segments in South America which are difficult to develop.

Production started on schedule in November 2006. In January 2007 10,000 gas water heaters were manufactured, with a further increase in output planned.
Stefan Eichengrün, Bosch Thermotechnik’s plant management representative, is optimistic: "We will not only be able to meet our planned figures in this challenging environment, but also make an important contribution to Bosch Thermotechnik’s growth outside our traditional markets."