The IBM Data Storage Systems Kft.
The Vác based, storage subsystem manufacturing plant has started its operation in 1996. The Vác based manufacturing plant, in accordance with IBM's philosophy, has become a good citizen of the city, where the majority of the employees live: the management of the company has traditionally good contacts with the local government. As IBM DSS Ltd is the second biggest employer in the city of Vác, it pays much attention and provides sources to the further development of the city especially in the fields of social, educational issues
At the end of 1996, a decision was made to relocate the whole of IBM's storage subsystem business line, which involved the manufacturing of a number of product types, to Hungary. Co-operation between IBM and Zollner Kft began in December 1996, when the two companies concluded a toll manufacturing agreement, under which Zollner has been performing assembly work on behalf of IBM. Until 1997, the storage subsystem manufacturing was also carried out in Székesfehérvár, where IBM had another manufacturing plant: IBM Storage Products Ltd, where IBM was manufacturing Hard Disc Drives, for portable and table PCs.
In 1996, when the RAMAC assembly started, IBM had only a dozen employees and about 100 m2 of manufacturing area, in the first floor of (the now called) Building 7.
In the years of 1998 and 1999, the world wide single source consolidation of all storage products have been finalized. At that point, the customs operations have become easier as the site received the "Duty Free Zone" license from the Hungarian authorities. In the late nineties, in years 1997 and 1998, a major milestone marked the trust what IBM Corporation had in the Hungarian skills: the launch of Model 7133 of Shark was another big step ahead in the further progress what madder the Vác based manufacturing famous. Over the 8 years when Sharks were made in Vác, the plant has shipped thousands of pieces to every corner of the world and the total capacity of the shipped items reached the thousands of petabytes. In those years there was another product that made Vác well-known within the IBM and customer community: it was the unique SVC (SAN Volume Controller) also made in Vác.
In 1999, the site's own manufacturing, engineering and logistics departments have been set up and all the major functions have been represented in Vác, instead of being distantly managed from Székesfehérvár.
At the end of 2004, IBM Corporation has announced the launch of its new storage flagship: the DS8000. This high-end data storage product is planned to provide data storage solutions for companies which need storage capacity that only can be measured in terabytes or petabytes. IBM's former product "made in Vác, Hungary" was the famous Enterprise Storage Server (ESS or "Shark") but the DS8000 is an even more complex system with a lot more capacity. This product is manufactured only in IBM's Hungarian plant therefore we ship it to every corner of the globe where huge capacity, reliable product and IBM's traditionally excellent quality is expected.
The current employees of Vac work in the administrative, engineering, and manufacturing areas, and in 2009 a services function has also moved to Vac: the Central-Eastern Europe/Middle East/Africa region’s LAB services and IT services delivery team is also headquartered in Vac since then.
The plant's mission is to manufacture and fulfill orders based on actual customer demand by
- deliver superior customer satisfaction
- execute with speed and a sense of urgency through simplified processes
- provide a competitive advantage in the areas of productivity, efficiency, cost, quality and responsiveness
- manufacture in a clean and highly professional environment...
- serve clients providing ultimate client satisfaction
The further expansion in the services sector at IBM DSS
IBM is further expanding in the services sector: in the end of 2007, the company started a regional supply chain services center in Hungary.
The newly hired colleagues have different positions at logistics, SAP, procurement, finance areas, providing services for several countries. This new investment is a clear evidence of IBM's progressive global integration and through this the company is able to serve its clients - building on the local knowledge and experiences, without geographical boundaries. The core philosophy of IBM's global integration is to build up operations in those countries where the level of costs, the skills and the business environment is the most competitive. Hungary's highly qualified workforce is very much valued and this is incorporated in the global operations. Hungary’s EU membership, the free trade agreements, the internet and the huge number of available skilled professionals all make it possible for IBM to leave the geographical boundaries out of sight: today the skills and market opportunities can be utilized anywhere in the world.
IBM's secure presence at the local markets is an extremely important part of this global integration: IBM Data Storage Systems' famous DS8000 product is manufactured only in Vác in the world, and these products do not only prove IBM's leading position in the high technology but they make IBM DSS, Vác and Hungary well known all around the globe.
IBM DSS does not only search colleagues to the new logistics areas, but the subsystem assembly operation of ten years of history also expects engineering, IT, logistics and financial professionals and client supporting personnel too.
IBM' newly formed center's mission is:
...to develop and deliver innovative, competitive, on demand logistics solutions and services through a highly skilled, globally integrated team resulting in a superior client experience.