HR STRATEGY
intelligence, automation, robotics, and sustainable manufacturing. This represents not merely retraining but a fundamental reimagining of skills and capabilities across the workforce. The approach BMW has taken reflects what Ilka describes as a core conviction, saying:“ A company can only prepare successfully for the future when everyone moves forward together.“ Because transformation isn’ t just a story we tell – it’ s a story of responsibility we live, every single day, as one strong Team BMW.”
Individual care at industrial scale The closure of engine production provided an early test of this philosophy. When production ended, BMW faced the challenge of redeploying 1,200 employees whose roles had become redundant. Rather than treating this as a mass redundancy exercise, the company adopted an individualised approach.“ We sat down with all 1,200 employees, looked at every single person’ s future and helped each one qualify for a new, future-proof role,” Ilka explains.“ It was a huge effort – but it paid off. Because when people see that you care about them, you gain trust. And when they trust you, they don’ t just go through transformation – they drive it.” This approach reflects what Ilka characterises as a guiding principle for difficult business decisions.
“ When you make a tough business decision, you can’ t think of every individual – but, afterwards, you have to take care of each and every one. Despite the emotion, it was the right decision. Because only those who dare to make decisions early have the time needed to bring their people along,” she adds.
Strategic workforce planning Richard Bostock, Head of HR Management BMW Group Plant Munich, says successful transformation requires precise alignment of people, roles and capabilities.“ Our major asset is our people. We work with universities, other companies and technology partners.“ In order to bring us into a new era, we need the right people in the right place with the right qualifications – making sure they know what’ s expected of them and how we can help them.”
68 March 2026