Title: Approaches towards integrating suppliers in simultaneous engineering activities: the case of two German automakers

Authors: Ulrich Jurgens

Addresses: Research Unit, Regulation of Work, Wissenschaftszentrum, Sozialforschung (WZB), Reichpietschufer 50, 10785 Berlin, Germany

Abstract: Notwithstanding the difficulties of assessing the diffusion of simultaneous engineering in the German car industry, there can be no doubt about the central importance of this organisational routine for the communication and cooperation process between automakers and suppliers. However, little is known about the actual process of simultaneous engineering on the operational level, the actual involvement of suppliers in the cross-functional activities at the automakers and problems with communication and cooperation arising under the new conditions. The article focuses on these aspects drawing from case study evidence from two German automakers.

Keywords: simultaneous engineering; supplier relations; communication and cooperation; early involvement; new product development (NPD) system.

DOI: 10.1504/IJATM.2001.000027

International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 2001 Vol.1 No.1, pp.61-77

Published online: 02 Jul 2003 *

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