Minnesota Alliance for Geographic Education ▪ Macalester College ▪ 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55105 Phone: 651.696.6731 Fax: 651.696.6116 Email: mage@macalester.edu Website: http://lt.umn.edu/mage/

MANUFACTURING A BMW Overview: In this lesson students will use the concepts of site and situation as well as Alfred Weber’s location theory to assess the location of a BMW manufacturing plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina and the location of its major BMW component suppliers.

Grade Level: 9 - 12 Objective: This lesson is designed to help students understand the concepts of site and situation as well as Alfred Weber’s location theory. In this lesson students will be studying Spartanburg, South Carolina and analyzing the location of a BMW manufacturing plant in this town, as well as the location of its major BMW component suppliers. Time: 1 – 2 fifty-minute class periods

Required Materials: 1. Article on site and situation:

http://geography.about.com/od/urbaneconomicgeography/a/sitesituation.htm 2. Article on Alfred Weber and his location theory:

http://www.csiss.org/classics/content/51 3. Computer/internet resources on Spartanburg, South Carolina, such as the following:

a. Website for BMW Manufacturing Co. in Spartanburg, South Carolina: http://www.bmwusfactory.com/

b. Website for City of Spartanburg: http://www.cityofspartanburg.org/ 4. Worksheet: Your Town, Your State xxxxx 5. Worksheet: Spartanburg, South Carolina 29301

Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies (3. Geography)

Sub-strand 2. Places and Regions Standard 4. People construct regions to identify, organize and interpret areas of the earth’s surface, which simplifies the earth’s complexity. 9.3.2.4.1 Apply geographic models to explain the location of economic activities and land use patterns in the United States and the world. 9.3.2.4.2 Identify the primary factors influencing the regional pattern of economic activities in the United States and the world.

Minnesota Alliance for Geographic Education ▪ Macalester College ▪ 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55105 Phone: 651.696.6731 Fax: 651.696.6116 Email: mage@macalester.edu Website: http://lt.umn.edu/mage/

6. Diagram showing components of 2009 BMW X6 and the names of the factories which supply these components to the Spartanburg, South Caroling BMW plant: http://www.autonews.com/assets/PDF/CA578591017.PDF

7. Access to Google Earth so students can create a map of the location of the various BMW component suppliers.

Suggested Procedure: 1. Prior to beginning this lesson, the teacher should review the following vocabulary

terms with the students to ensure the students have a good understanding of these terms. The students will need to understand these terms in order to complete this activity. a. Site: The site is the actual location of a settlement on the earth and is composed of

the physical characteristics of the landscape specific to the area. Site factors include landforms (i.e. is the area protected by mountains or is there a natural harbor present?), climate, vegetation types, availability of water, soil quality, minerals, and even wildlife.

b. Situation: Situation is defined as the location of a place relative to its surroundings and other places. Factors included in an area's situation are accessibility of the location, the extent of a place's connections with another, and how close an area may be to raw materials if they are not located specifically on the site.

c. Supply chain: a network of suppliers that contribute to the production of a product d. Alfred Weber: German economist who proposed the least cost location theory e. Weber’s Factors of Industrial Location: the three factors which guide the location

decision of a manufacturing facility. They are transportation, labor and agglomeration.

2. The teacher should hand out a copy of each the articles from the Center for Spatially Integrated Social Sciences (CSISS) on Alfred Weber and the About.com article on site and situation to his/her students. Have the students read these articles in preparation for a class discussion.

3. The teacher should lead a class discussion of these articles with students. Possible discussion questions are listed below. Possible answers to these questions are included in italics below each question. The teacher may need to add questions to their discussion of these articles based on the needs of their students. a. What is the difference between site and situation?

(Site refers to physical characteristics while situation refers to relative location)

b. What three factors did Weber feel were most important in terms of deciding on a location for any industry? (Transportation, labor, agglomeration)

4. The teacher should discuss Weber’s location theory with his/her students. The teacher

should be sure to discuss each of Weber’s components (transportation, labor and agglomeration) and how they influence the location of industries and/or businesses.

5. Have the students consider their own city or town in terms of its site and situation, as well as Weber’s ideas of transportation, labor and agglomeration. The teacher should

Minnesota Alliance for Geographic Education ▪ Macalester College ▪ 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55105 Phone: 651.696.6731 Fax: 651.696.6116 Email: mage@macalester.edu Website: http://lt.umn.edu/mage/

hand out the worksheet, “Your Town, Your State xxxxx” to the students and have them complete this worksheet, based on their understanding of their city or town and how Weber’s theory applies to their city or town.

6. The teacher should hand out the worksheet, “Spartanburg, South Carolina 29301” to each student.

7. Have students use internet search engines to gather information about Spartanburg, South Carolina. Have students analyze the information to identify the site and situation of Spartanburg, South Carolina and the three components of Weber’s theory that would make BMW decide to locate a manufacturing plant there. Have students complete their Spartanburg, South Carolina 29301 worksheet as they do this.

8. After the students have completed their Spartanburg, South Carolina 29301 worksheet, explain to students that while the BMW is manufactured in South Carolina, many of its parts are shipped in from factories around the United States and/or the world. a. Provide each student with a copy of the diagram of the 2009 BMW X6 which

identifies the major components of the BMW and the names of their suppliers. b. Have students research where various components of the BMW are manufactured. c. Have students create a Google map showing the locations of various plants which

manufacturer components of the BMW. 9. Have students individually reflect on this activity by answering the following question:

Was it a good business decision for BMW to locate a manufacturing plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina? Use specific information gathered from this activity to support your answer.

Extension Activities: 1. Have the students read Greenville: From Back Country to Forefront, from the AAG’s

Focus, Spring 1998. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1949-8535.1998.tb00098.x/abstract. Have students discuss as a class how Greenville was able to succeed throughout the years given its unique site and situation.

Assessment: 1. Worksheet: Your Town, Your State xxxxx 2. Worksheet: Spartanburg, South Carolina 29301 3. Google map showing the location of manufacturing plants for BMW components 4. Individual reflection on the question: Was it a good business decision for BMW to

locate a manufacturing plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina?

Minnesota Alliance for Geographic Education ▪ Macalester College ▪ 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55105 Phone: 651.696.6731 Fax: 651.696.6116 Email: mage@macalester.edu Website: http://lt.umn.edu/mage/

Directions: Define the following for your town and/or state.

Site –

Situation –

Directions: Identify specific examples from your city and/or state for

each of Weber’s Components.

Transportation –

Labor –

Agglomeration –

Minnesota Alliance for Geographic Education ▪ Macalester College ▪ 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55105 Phone: 651.696.6731 Fax: 651.696.6116 Email: mage@macalester.edu Website: http://lt.umn.edu/mage/

Reflection Questions:

1. What impact do the items you identified above have on the situation of your town and/or

state? 2. What impact has the site of your town and/or state had on the items you listed above? 3. What impact has the site of your town and/or state had on its situation? 4. What correlation/connection, if any, is there between your town and/or state’s site,

situation and/or the aspects of Weber’s three components your town and/or state has? Explain your answer.

Minnesota Alliance for Geographic Education ▪ Macalester College ▪ 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55105 Phone: 651.696.6731 Fax: 651.696.6116 Email: mage@macalester.edu Website: http://lt.umn.edu/mage/

Directions: Define the following for Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Site –

Situation –

Directions: Identify specific examples from Spartanburg, South

Carolina for each of Weber’s Components.

Transportation –

Labor –

Agglomeration –

Minnesota Alliance for Geographic Education ▪ Macalester College ▪ 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55105 Phone: 651.696.6731 Fax: 651.696.6116 Email: mage@macalester.edu Website: http://lt.umn.edu/mage/

Reflection Questions:

1. What impact do the items you identified above have on the situation of Spartanburg, South

Carolina? 2. What impact has the site of Spartanburg, South Carolina had on the items you listed above? 3. What impact has the site of Spartanburg, South Carolina had on its situation? 4. What correlation/connection, if any, is there between site, situation and/or the aspects of

Weber’s three components found in Spartanburg, South Carolina? Explain your answer.

34 • OCTOBER 20, 2008

Suppliers to the 2009 BMW X6

Suppliers wanted If you are a supplier and have questions or want your information considered for our car cutaways, contact Steven Wingett at automotivenews@supplierbusiness.com

HEADRESTRAINTWoodbridge

Group

PARKINGBRAKEPADSHoneywell

ANTI-FRICTIONBEARINGSFAG

CRASH ACTIVEHEAD RESTRAINTS

Grammer

SUNROOFMODULEArvinMeritor

COMPASSGentex

ROOFMOLDINGDura

CENTER HIGH MOUNTEDSTOP LAMP

Magneti Marelli

SOUND DEADENERPACKAGEAKsys USA

PRESSURE TANKMagna Steyr

INSTRUMENTPANELDraexlmaier

REAR BUMPERPlastic Omnium

HEADLAMP CLEANINGSYSTEMKautex Textron

HYDRAULIC POWERSTEERING; CONTINUOUS DAMPING CONTROLZF

AIR DUCTSCarcoustics

FRONT SUSPENSIONCOIL SPRINGMubea

FRONT BRAKE PADSITT Friction Products

VARIABLE GEOMETRY TURBOHoneywell

DOORTRIMNovemCarInteriorDesign

SEATPADSF.S.Fehrer

COMPLETEFUEL SYSTEMTI Automotive

INSTRUMENTCLUSTERContinental

ALLOYWHEELSATS Group;Borbet Group

DYNAMIC DRIVEENGINE SEALSTrelleborg

ENGINE COOLINGMODULEBehr

CUPHOLDERROTARYDAMPERCultraroAutomazioneEngineering

TAILGATE SEALSMetzeler

WHEEL HUBSHirschvogelUmformtechnik

CD ANDDVDCHANGERAlpine

WHEELARCH

LINERSRoechling

Automotive

DIGITAL ROTORPOSITION SENSORBourns Automotive

DOOR HANDLEILLUMINATIONAPAG Elektronik

OIL-WATER HEATEXCHANGERKTM Kuehler

TIRE SAFETY SYSTEMBeru

COMPLETE FRONT SEATSFaurecia

TAILGATE WEATHERSTRIPGDX Automotive

LOCKSETSHufHuelsbeckand Fuerst

STEERINGWHEELTakata-Petri

CHASSIS PUMPSixetic

SUNVISORSMagna

WINDSHIELDCOWLCOVERPANELMontaplast

AUTOMATICPARKING BRAKEKuester ControlSystems

ELECTRICWINDOW REGULATORSBrose

DETACHABLETOWBARWestfalia

CLIMATECONTROLSYSTEMSPreh

TAILLAMPSHella

SUBWOOFER INSULATIONStankiewicz

FRONT DIFFERENTIALDana

HEAD-UPDISPLAYNipponSeiki

ASHTRAYSITW

DIRECT GLAZINGSika

STRUCTURALADHESIVE

DowAutomotive

25 finalists selected for 2009 PACE awardsTwenty-five finalists have been

chosen for the 2009 AutomotiveNews PACE Awards.

PACE stands for Premier Automo-tive Suppliers’ Contribution to Excel-lence.

The 15th annual awards celebrateinnovation by original-equipmentsuppliers in products and processes.

Winners will be selected by an in-dependent panel of judges and will

be announcedApril 20 at theMax M. FisherMusic Center inDetroit. Informa-tion on the inno-vations will be

featured in our March issues.The awards are co-sponsored by

Ernst & Young, the TransportationResearch Center Inc. and Automo-tive News.

Here are the categories and finalistsand their innovations.

Product BorgWarner Morse TEC Inc.

Auburn Hills, Mich. For: Morse TEC CTA Camshaft

Phasing SystemEaton Corp. Automotive

Marshall, Mich. For: Eaton Twin Vortices

Supercharger-TVSFuturis Automotive Interiors

Troy, Mich. For: Tufted PET Carpet

Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.Lippstadt, Germany

For: Full-LED HeadlampHenkel Corp.

Madison Heights, Mich. For: Bonderite TecTalis

Koito Manufacturing Co.Shizuoka, Japan For: LED Headlamp

Magna Mirrors Troy, Mich.For: BlindZone Mirror

Microsoft Corp. Redmond, Wash. For: Microsoft Auto

PPG Industries Inc. Troy, Mich. For: ZIRCOBOND Pretreatment

Robert Bosch LLC Farmington Hills, Mich.For: Bosch iBolt Weight Sensor for

Occupant ClassificationTenneco Inc.

Lake Forest, Ill. For: Very High Damping Body

Mount

Product-EuropeAlcoa Transportation Products

Soest, Germany For: Vacuum Die Casting for

Lightweight Door AssemblyBorgWarner Inc.

Auburn Hills, Mich., andLudwigsburg, Germany

For: Pressure Sensor Glow Plug forDiesel EnginesLuK GmbH & Co.

Buehl, GermanyFor: LuK Double Clutch for Double

Clutch TransmissionsMagneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A.

Bologna, ItalyFor: Free Choice

Robert Bosch LLCAbstatt, GermanyFor: Bosch ESPi System with

Integrated Yaw Rate Sensor TRW Automotive

Livonia, Mich., and Aldorf,Germany

For: TRW Knee Airbag LowMounted Module

Manufacturing Processand Capital EquipmentDurr Systems Inc.

Plymouth, Mich.For: FAStplant

Global Engine ManufacturingAlliance

Dundee, Mich.For: Integrated Service Provider

TI AutomotiveAuburn Hills, Mich.For: Process Technology &

PERMBLOK Material Structure Valeo Lighting Systems

Bobigny, FranceFor: Varnishing Process without

Solvent for Headlamp ReflectorsVisteon Corp.

Van Buren Township, Mich.For: Two Color, Two Shot

Information Technologyand Services Dassault Systemes-Delmia Corp.

Auburn Hills, Mich.For: Delmia Automation

i2 Technologies Inc.Southfield, Mich.For: i2 Global Capacity

Management (i2 GCM)My Dealer Lot

Roswell, Ga.For: MyDealerLot

Eleven companies will receive2009 Automotive News PACEAwards honorable mentions.

They are:

ProductBorgWarner TransmissionsSystems Inc.

Auburn Hills, Mich.For: DualTronic

Eaton Corp. Torque ControlProducts Division

Marshall, Mich. For: Front Wheel Drive ELocker

Edscha North AmericaPontiac, Mich.For: Edscha Spindle Drive Plus

Powerliftgate System

Key Safety SystemsSterling Heights, Mich.For: Pelvis-Thorax Side Airbag

Tenneco Inc.Lake Forest, Ill. For: ELIM-NOx SCR System

TK Holdings Inc.Auburn Hills, Mich.For: School Bus Seat/Seat Belt

Design

Product EuropeRobert Bosch LLC

Feuerbach, Germany For: Denoxtronic PC/LD with

SCR

Manufacturing Process

and Capital EquipmentDelphi Corp.

Kokomo, Ind. For: Ultra Light Radio

Manufacturing Process and Design Extol Inc.

Zeeland, Mich. For: InfraWeld Process

Visteon Corp.Van Buren Township, Mich. For: Stitched Visteon Laminate

Insert Molding

Information Technologyand ServicesMotor Vehicle Software Corp.

Agoura Hills, Calif.For: DMVdesk

11 innovators win honorable mention

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