Magna People

Issue 01-2022

How we live our values

A Message from the Editorial Team.

Core Values and Life Lessons

A message from Swamy Kotagiri.

NEVER SETTLE

Constantly innovating, improving and asking the right questions

A People-First Approach to Quality and Risk Management

Smart companies like Magna know quality and risk management go hand-in-hand – and start with dedicated people.

BE COLLABORATIVE

We do our best when we do it together, with respect and humility

Role Reversal: an Experience in Building Empathy

Production operators in Exteriors Cuautitlan Izcalli, Mexico, welcomed a “new” employee with a familiar face to the assembly line in late September. He was Mohamed A. Ali, the plant’s general manager.

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

Taking accountability for ourselves and others in our actions and commitments

Grounded in Green Spaces

The Magna people tapped to lead the sustainability efforts of each group are driven by a lifelong love of our common home.

Inspirational Spaces

As Magna’s sustainability leaders work on the future of mobility, they are mindful of the fragility of the planet and the need to protect precious resources.

THINK BIG

Empowering each to act with confidence

Employee Innovation Challenge: Health Ready E-Drive System – The Path to Success

Constantly asking questions launched Xiao Wu, the testing manager at the Magna Powertrain Engineering Center in Changzhou, China, on a journey that ended with him winning the 2021 Employee Innovation Challenge.

Life Hack: Success in a Real ‘Swim Lane’

Rob Moore Ede entered his life hack into the November Innovation Month challenge.

Issue 03-2021

A Message from the Editorial Team

ISSUE 02-2021

We're all in: From Teams to Technology and Protecting the Planet

A message from the editorial team

Brand Message from Eric Wilds

It’s about how we will advance mobility for all. And it sets us on a strong course, with great potential.

OUR CULTURE

It starts with our people. And the culture we have created by encouraging entrepreneurialism at every level for the past 60 years.

Robots, Chinese Lutes and Skipping Lunch

If I can’t figure something out at first, I don’t let it go. I always want to finish what I’m troubleshooting – and I will stay to conquer it.

The Roots of the Right Attitude

Repairing aircrafts proved to be valuable during his subsequent 13-year stint in the Army National Guard because M1 tanks are equipped with jet turbine engines

Magna Employee Spotlights

Conversations with a long-time Magna veteran and an engineer working with future technology.

Growing New Tech – and Careers

As humans, we waste too much from Mother Earth. We must change our style of mobility.

CEO’s Podcast Prompts a Gutsy Email – and a Memorable Response

You should share what you think. There is always someone who will listen.

Tapping into the Power of One Magna

Our broad product expertise and our unique ability to deliver beyond the expected by leveraging our complete vehicle know-how to take and integrated collaborative approach.

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

Transforming industrial operations operations through focused integration, precision, and mobility.

Mafact: a Blueprint for Success

If this was a hospital, our direct-labor employees are the surgeons.

Magna’s Advanced Robotics: Increased Productivity, Positive Experience

I have a better job because of the robot.

SUSTAINABILITY

Committed to Making a Difference

Celebrating our Commitment to Sustainability

From solar panels and pollinator gardens, to energy conservation and supplier diversity programs, to car-of-the-future components and reforestation, Magna is committed to sustainability.

Sustainability Drives our Work

Magna is making a positive impact on protecting the planet in many ways.

Magna's Sustainability World Map

The Magna facility in Langres, France uses sheep to mow the lawn, reducing CO2 emissions.

NEW MOBILITY ENABLER

With industry-leading technologies as well as design, engineering and complete vehicle assembly capabilities,we are supporting all aspects of mobility like no one else.

Magna’s Portfolio is Ready for the Future

As vehicles move from ICE to EV, Magna has the building blocks to grow.

A Love of High Altitudes

Whether you are running a plant or a flight simulator, you need focus. You need the right combination of things to make everything run smoothly.

ISSUE 01-2021

Keeping Good Company

Our collective resilience in challenging times.

Getting to Know the Person Behind the Title

So, how do you go from India to Oklahoma, and then onto Michigan?

Manufacturing Excellence Award Winners

Winning this award is a testament to your commitment in this key area.

Life lessons at work

A World Where People and Robots Coexist

This cobot seems so full of personality that he’s even earned a nickname.

Turning an Accident into an Asset

The accident made me a better person.

The Power of Optimistic People

Keeping everyone upbeat and positive – attitudes that tend to be contagious.

A Race for Continuous Improvement

If you get hurt, they will send a donkey to take you back up.

Ways to be well

The Faces Behind the Magna Hotline

Listening is a really important piece of the job. It may be the most important part.

Let's Talk About Mental Health

The mental health burden is the unseen pandemic.

Emotional Support in Uncertain Times

Experimenting with different hair color is something I’ve always enjoyed.

Finding a Way to Sing Together

People may not understand the words, but they can feel the emotion.

Magna Stressbusters

Performing with my band works, too. It is a physical and mental.

Supporting our communities

Building a Strong Sense of Community

I’ve always had people who would advocate for me, starting with my first boss.

Cosma Casting Poland: Champions of Giving

You need to be inspired to inspire people.

Acts of Kindness from a ‘Volunteer Extraordinaire’

It was the first time I ever spoke to a homeless person.

Becoming a ‘Blessing’ to Others: A Cancer Survivor’s Story

It gives me a warm feeling if I can be a blessing or an encouragement to someone.

Spotlight on Sustainability

A Passion to Protect the Planet

I am making a difference because I focus on solutions, not the problems.

Magna + Fisker: From the Customer’s Perspective

This could be setting a golden standard for how you bring a new EV to market.

Recycling Lessons From Formex Employees – and Emilio Fernando

The most important thing is to take care of the planet that we are giving to our children.

Seeking a Sustainable Planet – and Career

My dream came true – more than 100 percent.

ISSUE 04/2020

Celebrating the Don Walker Effect

The Don Walker Effect

Like everyone in this issue, I have a Don Walker story.

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Message from Frank Stronach

I was so impressed by him that I offered him a job.

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A CEO for all Seasons

At the helm through calm and turbulent waters.

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A Tribute to Don Walker

The supreme quality of leadership is unquestionably integrity.

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Impact and Legacy

High standards and a relentless focus.

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Global Expressions of Gratitude

You inspired our teams.

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Don Walker Q&A: Chess, Strategic Thinking and the Future of Magna

Anticipating what might happen and what needs to be done.

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By the Numbers

A period of tremendous growth.

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ISSUE 03/2020

Stories of how we have responded to and experienced the challenges and tragedies of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID and Character

They say conduct is the best proof of character and these times have given us many opportunities to show who we really are.

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A Cautionary Tale About COVID-19

After losing eight family members to COVID-19 this spring, Bridgette Eddins has an urgent message for Magna employees.

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Safety Protocols That Make Families Happy

After spending 23 days in bed due to COVID-19, Jose Angel Texca Gonzalez appreciated all of the precautions in place upon his return to work at Autotek Puebla in Mexico.

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Setting a Good Example After COVID-19

The coronavirus hasn’t gone away yet. Some people want things to get back to normal. I’m here to remind them to stick with it.

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Shop-floor Perspective: Keeping People Safe and Happy

Mark Stanley praises Magna’s “great job with communications” during the COVID-19 crisis.

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A Reassuring Return to Work after COVID-19

I was afraid of rejection at work, but what I got was incredible emotional support.

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A World-Class Approach to Fighting COVID-19

Our ingenuity, innovation and best-in-class attitude allowed us to put a system in place that safeguards the health and wellbeing of our employees.

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Fighting COVID-19: The Virtual War Room

As the pandemic began to spread around the world, Magna’s multi-disciplinary emergency COVID task force moved to a “war-room footing.”

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Smart Start Playbook Update: Preparing for the 'Next Unkown’

The challenge: how to best modify our workplace as we better understand the risks of infectious disease transmission.

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Five Questions for Steve Roper

The global director of Health, Safety and Environmental, whose chief role in the COVID-19 crisis was being part of a Magna advisory team that created a response plan, said the pandemic “is still front and foremost, at least for the immediate future.

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COVID-Themed Attacks Highlight New Cybercrime

Since the pandemic began, Magna has detected a 20 percent increase in the volume of phishing attempts and other security incidents.

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MAGNA IN ACTION

Magna has always been known as the company to jump in to help our customers when needed. Through these trying times, there are no shortages to stories of human kindness. Magna and its employees have been willingly jumping in to help within our communities.

Magna in Action

We've always been known as the company to jump in to help our customers when needed. Throughout this global time of crisis dealing with Coronavirus, we have been jumping in to help within our communities.

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Grace Notes in a Pandemic

Magna’s John Peterson has been piping his way through the pandemic.

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Magna India: Helping in a Time of Crisis

Ankur Khanna’s 10-year-old son Avi gave up his August birthday party with family and friends and donated the money to support a needy family during the COVID-19 pandemic in India.

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Answering an Emergency Request

All we could think about was how to finish this huge task in a short time.

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WHAT CAN WE GET, WHAT CAN WE MAKE

Magna employees are problem-solvers by nature, and we are committed to supporting the communities where we work and live. With our technology, expertise, size and scale, we were able to quickly take action during the pandemic with a variety of production projects.

The World Needed Face Shields, and Magna Responded

Within days, production of the face shields by a volunteer workforce began in March at seven Magna divisions that usually build automotive fascias and modular assemblies.

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A Seamless Response to the COVID-19 Crisis

Making medical gowns during the COVID-19 crisis was a collaborative effort among Magna, Dow, 3M and other companies – and an effort that tapped Magna talent and goodwill throughout North America.

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Magna-made Masks Protect Employees and Their Families

In a record 10-weeks’ time, Magna put its operations prowess in action to prepare to produce up to two million procedure masks a week

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From Hockey to Health Care

“In light of the COVID crisis and knowing our ozone-generating product was proven to be effective against MRSA*, we wanted to see if we might have something that can help save lives,”

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Making Automotive and Medical Parts Under One Roof

Magna’s body and chassis plant in Williamsburg, Iowa has added business to stamp and assemble ventilator carts for a leading health technology company.

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WORKING SMART

Magna’s Smart Start Playbook provided a framework for restarting our facilities and office locations with a consistent response and strategy throughout the company. While continuing to respect our Employee’s Charter commitment to a safe and healthful workplace, Magna facilities and employees had to rapidly adjust to work in the midst of unique challenges.

Magna in Mexico: Finding the Silver Lining

From superheroes to the Smart Start playbook, Magna’s Mexico facilities deployed a wide range of strategies to ensure a successful restart following the COVID-19 shutdown.

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Magna Steyr Graz Strategy: Keep Information Flowing

After weeks of silence and shuttered plants, the contract manufacturer was the first auto plant in Europe to reopen.

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Wuhan Smart Start: Lessons in Dedication and Leadership

It was a real sense of community.

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Autosystems America: A Challenge to “Think Differently”

The fear encompassed the entire workday, including such seemingly mundane things as “where do I put my lunch” to keep it from becoming contaminated.

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Estampados Magna de Mexico: Learning to Steer in Uncharted Waters

The main thing is to keep calm. We are able to steer the ship.

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Karmax: A Test of the Smart Start Playbook

We created the safest place in a global pandemic.

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Magna Seating Vigo: Changing Habits, Keeping Calm

All of the safe-practice protocols and processes found in the Smart Start playbook, and one unusual one: no hugging.

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Formet Smart Start: ‘Learn from Each Other’

The lives and livelihood of the 1,500 Formet workers, who make truck frames and underbody structures for major automakers, were at stake.

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Mechatronics Motrol: Keeping the Vision Alive

The “biggest crisis” ever faced by Magna Mechatronics Motrol in Livorno, Italy.

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Connecting with Customers During COVID

The COVID crisis has not changed the need for us to bring new technologies to our customers in order to secure future business.

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BE SMART, Know your risk

Let’s all stay SMART to stop the spread and impact to our economy, industry, company and livelihood!

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Protect yourself, family & friends. Get a flu shot.

Every year, flu shots help prevent millions of illnesses and thousands of hospitalizations. As we continue to face COVID-19, it's even more important that we fight the flu together.

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ISSUE 2/2020

Sustainability: It's Personal

Magna employees around the world have taken sustainability to heart and every day demonstrate their personal commitment to making an impact at work and at home.

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Rooted in Sustainability

Just as I learned from my parents when they were stewards of the land, every step we take towards sustainability counts.

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Magna In Action

Magna people help improve communities through environmental actions, volunteer efforts and donations of their time and money.

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MAGNA GREEN

Magna people and facilities around the world are finding ways to be more environmentally conscious and sustainable.

Magna Green:‘What We Do Matters’

“We must look at the big picture of climate change, keeping in mind how we behave locally to conserve resources,” de Meel said. “Ultimately, we’re just one planet and what we do matters.”

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Growing Greener Operations

Employees at the Magna Cosma and Magna Seating divisions in Sanand, India are using recycled wastewater from treated sewage to grow guava, pomegranates, Indian gooseberry and eggplants in on-site gardens.

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Saving the Planet, Family Style

Employees’ children, ages 6 to 12, are invited to an annual summer camp at the plant, where they learn how to compost, how to plant and care for trees, and why it’s important to take care of the planet.

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Decostar Industries: A Model of Sustainability

We want to be benchmarked. We want to be a model of how a company can be sustainable.

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Polycon’s Policy: ‘Leave No Trace’

Not only has Polycon, which makes exterior components, saved thousands on utility bills, it has reduced hazardous and non-hazardous waste by 78 percent through the implementation of a plant-wide program.

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Cultivating a Fascination with Bees

At the beginning, you have bees; but very soon, they have you.

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An Energy-Savings Game Plan

The main focus of Magna’s Global Energy Team is saving cost which, in turn, reduces our emissions and aids in helping to save the environment.

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Mirrors Shanghai: A Formula for Saving Energy

The team came up with an energy-efficient formula based on Mafact principles.

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Laying the Groundwork for Sustainable Real Estate

If a building doesn’t work in an efficient way, it could put the operations at an unnecessary disadvantage.

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BUILDING SUSTAINABILITY INTO EVERYTHING WE DO

Our sustainable products touch nearly every part of the vehicle, from under the hood to the seats and the liftgate. At the same time, Magna people are committed to the planet 24/7 as they recycle, grow gardens, and teach the next generation about the importance of conservation.