A Day in the Life of the President: Bo Andersson, AVTOVAZ


Bo quickly leaves the house. The notorious Lada Largus is waiting for him outside. In August, 2014 the President insisted that 18 expensive foreign car models of the AVTOVAZ top-managers were sold. He then demanded to sell the car park during 10 days and replace company vehicles by those made on the plant. He himself opted for VIP-grade Largus		President takes the back seat, the gates are opening and our van takes its way after the escort car.

- Keep up, — the voice of the head of security is tense, - President will not accept any delays, - says he responding to my glance.

We are hardly keeping up – Larguses seem to be too nimble easily taking the sharp turns of the dark forest road.

Deserted morning Tolyatti greets us with beautiful illumination of the famous AVTOVAZ skyscraper with the gigantic metal logo on the roof of it.

The clock shows 6.40 am. A couple of gates in a row and security jumping out on the way leave us no doubt that every movement has been honed for months.

First object is Datsun ON-Do assembly line. Meanwhile, The President managed to change quickly into a signature plant robe with AVTOVAZ logo printed on the heart.
Bo holds a notebook and a pen in his hand. Accompanied by the interpreter he shakes hands with the shop foreman and drops a barrage of questions on him right away: 
— What do we have today? Is everyone present? Are spare parts coming on time? Are we behind the schedule?
He is writing down all the answers making some notes. After a short conversation President trots round the shop floor checking from time to time how the doors in the constructed cars are functioning. 
In 10 minutes we passed the resting workers to enter a small room where Bo arranges a comprehensive 20-minute briefing.

— Never mind, these journalists will spend a whole day with me and I want this day to be just like any other.

— Be honest and answer all the questions you will be asked.

Having heard some short reports about the previous day and plans for the current one, the President announces: 

                — Last night I received an anonymous email. Anybody know anything about it? About the issue which was described in it? No one?  
The present top-managers exchange glances and say nothing.

— I will tell you. It was said there that we do not take care of our foremen. When we raised the workers’ salaries we didn’t do the same to those of foremen. When we introduced bonuses to the workers for 100 per cent attendance and critical work, we forgot about foremen. I am fighting for quality, I am fighting for procurements and I am fighting for you. But I am not able to fight for foremen as I can’t know everything that’s going on around. I could have detected the author of this anonymous email in minutes but I’m not going to do that and I want to thank him for his courage. Here’s what we are going to do. Today I will gather trade union representatives and foremen in my office and we will find a solution. Justice has to be done. Any questions?

No questions. President suggests checking the watches and tells us his week schedule: participation in exposition where Vesta and Xray, Urban 4x4, Largus and Kalina Cross concepts will be presented, participation in forum with Samara government, meeting with Chemerezov, video-conference with Carlos Ghosn , meeting of the board of directors in Moscow, start of Priora with automatic transmission sales in Saint Petersburg. Having said that, he suggests checking the shop floors.

Painting Shop
The President goes to the fabrication shop. Operations report is hanging on the marker boards: plan, current rates, difference, best workers and absence schedule. He looks at the digits attentively comparing them to the notes in his notebook. He either scratches something out or on the contrary adds some new info. 
Auto Assembly Line
Having heard the short reports, Bo brings up the personnel issue again.
— If you have a farm in Sweden, good cows will come back home themselves at the stated time. Because they know it’s milking time. In our AVTOVAZ attendance schedule we leave 10% as an absence margin. That is unacceptable.
— Vice-consul of France visited us yesterday. He was very surprised to find out that AVTOVAZ is one of six factories in the whole world that manufactures Renault and Nissan on one line. We are the only factory in the world that is manufacturing 4 brands at a time. People should want to work for AVTOVAZ. People should be proud of being a part of  AVTOVAZ. 
— Have you noticed how clean it’s everywhere? You can’t even imagine what was going on here before. 
I was amazed indeed. The immaculate shops stun: floors are shining and the working clothes looks fresh and neat.

— Your eyes are full of suspicion, — the President smiles, — You think that all you see right now is just a show? You may go to any worker and ask him how routine is everything that you see.

In God we trust, the rest we check. In order to find a potential respondent, I am aiming to the final assembly line of Lada Priora. Operator girl laughs when hear my question about how often the President visits the shops: «I believe, not only does he see us every morning but also knows by names.».

Satisfied with the answer, Bo points at the watch. Brisking up the pace, we are heading to the exit.

— I was very young when I was entrusted with commanding the battalion: 1200 people – coffee, clothes, hot water. It was then when I learned how to take care of people. I haven't raised neither my nor top-managers' salary even once for 5 years of my work in GAZ Group. However, the workers eventually got 33% raise.

— The production gained huge profit for the last year of work in GAZ. I worked really hard so that the workers could get their13-month salary. It was not easy but I made it. I promised everyone that regardless of my resignation they will get their bonuses on February 15. They got it on February 13. That day I've been already working here. I received a lot of SMS with thanks. It meant a lot to me.

We are entering a separate elevator that brings us to the last 24th floor of the skyscraper. The President's office is 60-70 sq.m and has a fantastic view on the shops roofs and ready product warehouses.
Trade union representatives, 3 foremen and several department managers are sitting at the table.
— You know why I gathered you here. As I've already said, I can't be aware of everything that's going on on the factory and I am glad that I received this anonymous email tonight. Unfortunately, the issue with foremen salary which was highlighted in the letter is true.  I ask you to help me find a compromise that will suit both parties: foremen and AVTOVAZ. Do your best to find it in 10 minutes.