Human-driven automation

Automation is changing the way V-ZUG manufactures its products, but it’s people who still make the difference.

With the rise of Artificial Intelligence, automation has come to pervade many aspects of our everyday lives: from the way we shop, to the way we learn, communicate and get around. The latest technologies are having a huge impact also on how goods are produced, stored and dispatched: industrial automation improves safety, simplifies routine tasks and allows for higher productivity levels and more efficient logistics. Some people think that highly-robotised factories might one day be able to do without humans. However, the opposite is true: the more complex the automated system, the more crucial the human contribution, because you need outstanding people to design, operate and complement expert machines.

And V-ZUG places great importance on exactly this. The company is currently in the middle of a transformation process that aims to optimise production and logistics across multiple levels. By the end of 2025, production capacity will be increased while the surface area of the production site will be halved. Although the new vertical factory is fitted with state-of-the-art automation technology, the staff who work there will continue to be a valuable component of the production process. Not only are they responsible for the design, maintenance and, occasionally, construction of the complex systems that help manufacture almost 1,300 premium household appliances every day, but they also carry out metalwork with an accuracy that only a human can achieve. But not just any human. Our production employees are comprehensively trained and are also required to perform new tasks at regular intervals. This keeps them on their toes, which ultimately improves the quality of their work. These well-trained, efficient and flexible on-site employees make V-ZUG the only company of its kind – not just in Switzerland, but in Europe. This means that customers can rest easy knowing that their new household appliance has been manufactured with expertise and passion.