Title: Strategic modularisation and performance implications in the Brazilian automotive industry

Authors: Ronaldo Parente, Jian Gu

Addresses: School of Business, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ 01802, USA. ' Management Department, School of Business, Salem State College, Salem, MA 01970, USA

Abstract: This research revolves around strategy determinants and performance implications of modular production – a production method that has been increasingly adopted by global manufacturing firms. A conceptual framework is proposed and then tested using data from a large-scale survey of 103 automobile firms in Brazil. The conceptual framework examines the relationships between the strategic modularisation and its determinants on both the industry level and the firm level. Furthermore, the framework studies the impact of modularisation to firm performance as well as how the moderating effects of codesign, physical proximity, and face-to-face communication on the modularisation/performance relation.

Keywords: Brazil; automobile industry; automotive codesign; conceptual framework; empirical study; organisational performance; physical proximity; communication; strategic modularisation; modular production; product modularisation; firm performance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJATM.2005.008584

International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 2005 Vol.5 No.4, pp.430 - 460

Published online: 04 Jan 2006 *

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