Summer 2016 / Issue 50
iNTERVIEW
Interview with Marian Capkovic, Tetovo Plant Manager, Lear Corporation Macedonia
Lear Corporation at
Work in Macedonia
C
apkovic joined Lear Corporation in November 2015 to manage the new site in Macedonia. He is an experienced automotive
industry professional who has worked for
automotive original equipment manufacturer in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Serbia
ACM: Tell us a bit about your local team.
Capkovic: Lear’s leading role as a global innovator in
automotive seating and electrical distribution systems
encompasses more than products and processes - we
know that people drive our success and have proven to
be our most important asset at every Lear location. We
value diversity and inclusion because it makes us a better
company and better individuals coming together form an
even stronger team.
In Macedonia, we have managed to recruit and hire
experienced professionals who reflect and promote
teamwork and a “can do” spirit. Also, we focus on as
potential hires, those with no relevant experience or local
college graduates with potential. One of our core values
is being an Employer of Choice; consistent with this, we
seek to recruit, hire and retain the best from every background and community.
ACM: Lear is a global leader in automotive seating & electrical systems production, with multiple
productions lines. Which production line is present in Macedonia and what specifically are you
producing?
Capkovic: Lear Corporation Macedonia is part of the
automotive seating industry, containing production lines
for surface material production. We produce all types of
car seat covers for different customers from the industry.
The seat covers are made from fabric, vinyl and leather via
a cutting and sewing process. Lear has been a world class
cut & sew supplier of automotive trim covers for over 42
years. We produce everything from entry-level basic trim
covers to high-end tailored trim for over 200 vehicle models globally and are the only seating supplier in the world
that is 100% vertically integrated in cut & sew, leather,
fabric and lamination. Our vertical integration capabilities
enable us to control costs, reduce timing, and improve
quality to service our worldwide customers. Vertical integration also allows for synergistic materials engineering to
optimize performance, craftsmanship and cost.
ACM: We understood that you were analyzing
other countries in this region as potential investment locations. What was the main reason behind
your decision to pick Macedonia?
Capkovic: Due to the need to add capacity and
satisfy Lear customer growth, Lear initiated a selection process, taking into consideration various suitable
countries in Eastern Europe and North Africa. We analyzed factors such as the availability of the labor force,
manufacturing and logistics cost, and a supportive
environment for implementing and running a business;
based on intensive research, Macedonia was selected
as the preferred country for a new Lear production site.
Additionally, our analysis showed that based on textile
industry experience, available labor force and other
factors, the TIDZ Tetovo location was ideally suited
to supply our car manufacturing locations in Eastern
Europe.
ACM: What are your early impressions on
the business climate in Macedonia and how do
you assess the cooperation with Macedonian
institutions?
Capkovic: Being present for almost one year in
Macedonia, we have positive early impressions regarding the business climate. Taking in consideration the
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