Title: Restructuring of automotive supply-chains: the role of workforce skills in Germany and Britain

Authors: Geoff Mason, Karin Wagner

Addresses: National Institute of Economic and Social Research, 2 Dean Trench Street, London SW1P 3HE, UK. ' Fachhochschule fur Technik und Wirtschaft, Treskowallee 8, 10313 Berlin, Germany

Abstract: The recent restructuring of automotive supply-chains in response to intense competitive pressures has led to rapid change in, and upgrading of, the skills required by automotive component suppliers. In this paper we compare matched samples of Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers in Germany and Britain in order to examine how the ability of suppliers to develop the required new skills has been affected by the comparative strengths and weaknesses of the two countries| vocational education and training (VET) systems. Our findings suggest that higher levels of craft apprentice training in German establishments give them an advantage over their British counterparts in responding flexibly to changes in markets, technologies and supply-chains. Furthermore, the engineering and commercial graduates produced by German Fachhochschulen help German suppliers to improve design skills relatively quickly and to manage long-term relationships with local supply-chain partners.

Keywords: automotive components; skills; automotive supply chains; automobile industry; supply chain management; SCM; Germany; UK; Great Britain; supply chain restructuring; component suppliers; vocational education; craft apprentice training.

DOI: 10.1504/IJATM.2005.008582

International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 2005 Vol.5 No.4, pp.387 - 410

Published online: 04 Jan 2006 *

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