Johnson Controls Says It's 'Playing To Win In China'

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Johnson Controls Says It’s ‘Playing To Win In China’

Supplier grows its seating, interiors and battery presence in the region.

Counterman Staff
By Counterman Staff
Published:

Johnson Controls 

DETROIT — As the largest automotive and buildings market in the world, China is the primary market of expansion for Johnson Controls, a global multi-industrial company.

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Already well established in China for decades, the company continues to accelerate its growth there through plant openings, key customer partnerships, joint ventures and strategic agreements. Johnson Controls’ second global corporate headquarters, located in Shanghai, will open in 2017, fueling growth opportunities across the Asia-Pacific region.

“While we already have the facilities and extensive relationships to serve the automotive market in China, we will continue to add manufacturing capacity and expand our operational footprint across our businesses as market demand grows,” said Beda Bolzenius, vice chairman, Asia Pacific, Johnson Controls. “Our investments allow us to reach all parts of China and the Asia-Pacific region as a whole and provide fast, efficient and localized service to our customers.”

Growth in automotive business
An automotive seating market leader, Johnson Controls has many key partnerships and a broad manufacturing footprint in China, including 32 joint ventures, 61 manufacturing plants in 30 cities and 22,000 employees. The company was recently recognized for its capabilities in China with the “Top Employer China” award for the fourth consecutive year.

Johnson Controls supports customers’ growth strategies through its world-class engineering, innovation and industrial design capabilities. The company operates local design studios, global technical centers and engineering offices across China with full testing capabilities, including two industry-leading sled test labs.

In May 2014, Johnson Controls and Yanfeng Automotive Trim Systems, Co. Ltd. signed a definitive agreement to form a global automotive interiors joint venture. The transaction is expected to close in 2015.

In July 2014, Johnson Controls signed an agreement with Shanghai Yanfeng Industry and Commerce Co., Ltd. and Anhui Yansheng Automotive Trim Co., Ltd. to form a new fabrics joint venture in Huainan City, Anhui Province, China. The joint venture, named Anhui New Nangang Johnson Controls Automotive Trim Co., Ltd., provides Chinese automakers with seating services from fabric design, engineering and manufacturing to trim products. In addition, the joint venture offers the capability of warp knitting and circular knitting, and its product portfolio includes woven fabrics, as well as seat trim covers.

Energy storage growth opportunities
As the global leader in automotive batteries, Johnson Controls is well-positioned to help the Chinese automotive industry grow by offering solutions to meet increasingly strict fuel efficiency and emissions regulations.

The company’s Power Solutions battery business has 14 million units of capacity to serve the China market, with more than 1,000 employees in two plants, one research and development facility, and a China headquarters inShanghai. In June 2014, Power Solutions opened a plant in Chongqing (western China), adding to its existing operations in Changxing (eastern China).

In May 2014, Johnson Controls announced it had signed a long-term automotive battery supply agreement with SAIC Motor Corporation Limited (SAIC Motor), a further indication of Johnson Controls’ commitment to expand rapidly in China. The company provides its Absorbent Glass Mat batteries to power SAIC Motor’s Start-Stop vehicles.

As China drives toward energy security and less dependence on carbon-based energy sources, Johnson Controls’ Building Efficiency business is well-positioned to grow its HVAC product offerings as well as energy efficiency and sustainable solutions in the country.

In early 2014, the Building Efficiency business opened a US $35 million expansion of its manufacturing and research and development center in Wuxi, China.  The campus and its engineering center is now one of Johnson Controls’ largest R&D centers in the world for building heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.  The center will spearhead continuing heat recovery innovation that turns wasted heat into clean fuel for China homes and businesses.

The York Dual Steam Turbine (YDST) heat pump, launched in October 2014, recycles surplus heat from industrial or power plants into higher temperature hot water that can be used to operate large central heating plants. Compared to traditional boiler heating, the YDST can reduce coal consumption by up to 30 percent while supplying the same amount of heat.  In November 2014, the company’s building technology and consulting expertise helped an 850,000-square-foot office in Changsha City, the Northstar Delta Office Tower, earn two prestigious green building certifications and cut energy consumption by 28 percent.

Capabilities shown at NAIAS
Johnson Controls is showcasing its global seating, interiors and battery capabilities as an event sponsor and exhibitor at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). This is the 21st year that Johnson Controls is involved in the NAIAS. Its 10,000-square-foot exhibit in room 310B is open to media and invited guests.

The NAIAS event – one of the world’s premier automotive exhibitions – opened to the media and industry officialsMonday, Jan. 12. It will open to the public from Saturday, Jan. 17 through Sunday, Jan. 25. For more information, please visit: www.naias.com.

For additional information, visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com.

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Eric Garbe is a graduate of Columbus State Community College with a degree in Automotive Maintenance Technology. He has extensive independent and dealership field experience as a technician and shop owner and is an ASE Certified Master Technician and former Adjunct Automotive Professor. He has been professionally writing automotive technical articles and documents for many years and in his free time enjoys restoring old cars and creating custom interiors and upholstery.
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This is always an important topic to discuss, because I consider excellent customer service one of the most important tools you can have to earn trust, respect and repeat business from the customers that come through your door. Whether that customer is do-it-yourselfer from across town or the professional repair shop across the street, your business depends on a solid relationship.It’s a subject that I am passionate about, and it’s one that many people are losing touch with. Whether you are communicating to someone in person, on the phone or using some type of social media, good customer service and bad can both exist. You can’t afford the latter, so this is the first in a series of topics which can and should be shared from the front of the shop to the back. No matter which role you hold, you represent the shop and yourself. Customer service should be your number one priority.First on the list is the greeting. From the second a customer walks in the door, they need to know you appreciate them coming in and how important they are to your business. First impressions are everything and here’s the correct way to do it each and every time: look them directly in the eye, smile and say hello!Of course, you can say “Good morning” or “Welcome to Joe’s Autocare,” but it should be a formal greeting and the most important thing is that you have smiled, looked them in the eye and recognized that they have walked through the door.You should always retain a formal greeting until you are on a first-name basis with a customer. Only once you have established that level of relationship is it OK to use the less formal greeting of “Hi,” followed by the person’s name.This greeting does more than just indicate respect and appreciation for someone walking through the door. Most likely there are customers both new and old who are in earshot of your conversation. For newer customers, this continues to build rapport and reinforce their positive view of your shop; they see that you demonstrate respect and treat everyone in the same manner. For repeat customers, even ones that have been coming for years, the greeting is important because the way you treat them is the reason they continue to come.And when a long-time customer comes in and you greet them with “Hi [First Name],” this indicates your appreciation for them and that you’re glad to see them as a person, more than just a customer. New customers that witness this will see that your repeat customers are comfortable enough to be on a first-name basis, another indication of the trust they have in you.

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