Technological globalization and intra-company coordination in the automotive sector: The case of Delphi - Mexico

International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management

Volumn 3, Issue 1-2, 2003, Pages 101-121

  Lara, Arturo A ^a   Carrillo, Jorge ^b  

^a DEPARTAMENTO DE SISTEMAS BIOLÓGICOS   (Mexico)

^b El Colegio de la Frontera Norte   (United States)

Author keywords

Automotive industry; Coordination; Globalization and regionalization; R D; Technical centres

Indexed keywords

COMPUTATIONAL COMPLEXITY; FINANCE; PROCESS CONTROL; PRODUCT DESIGN; PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT; RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT;

COORDINATION PROCESSES; INTRA-COMPANY FUNCTIONS; STRUCTURAL MODIFICATIONS; TECHNICAL CENTRES;

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY;

EID: 2442644631     PISSN: 14709511     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1504/ijatm.2003.003374     Document Type: Conference Paper

References (80)

1. This article is part of a more comprehensive research project entitled "Technological Learning & Industrial Upgrading: Building Innovation Competencies in the Maquiladora Industry". It is a three-year project financed by CONACYT, No. 35947, and involves researchers from UAM-X, COLEF and FLACSO (2001-2003).
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31. In this article, we will refer to these seven divisions in their abbreviated forms as Chassis, Delco, Energy, Harrison, Interior, Packard and Saginaw.
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57. We could answer that, as proposed by Williamson [58] the mechanism for coordination within the company is authority, but this explanation would be much too simple in relation to the complex processes of coordination and cooperation that take place within companies.
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61. To work with a related unit is viewed as limiting the business unit to an adverse position for negotiating [59, p. 400]. This friction presents itself especially when business units are more limited in changing from one internal client to another, for example, than when an external client is involved. In this situation the costs involved in internal transactions are greater than those in external transactions.
62. As pointed out by one engineer at Delphi: "Although some regions' management believed the design for the manufacturability process (DFM) was a cost saving and quality improvement tool, they were somewhat reluctant to add full time DFM engineers to accomplish this task." [49].
63. Frequently managers identify more with the business units than with the corporation.
64. Research by Carrillo and Hualde [56], Lara [45] and Dutrenit et al. [65]. All of them reconstructed the MTC, particularly emphasizing its internal autonomy. In this article we have sought to reconstruct the MTC, incorporating the functions performed in addition to R&D, especially coordination activities, from an evolutional perspective.
65. Dutrenit, G., Vera-Cruz, A.O. Alvarez, J. and Rodríguez, L. (2001) Estrategia Tecnológica y Demanda de Investigación básica: El Caso de Dos Empresas en México, Monografía del proyecto Aprendizaje tecnológico y escalamiento industrial: perspectivas para la generación de capacidades tecnológicas en empresas maquiladoras de la frontera norte.
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67. Before the expansion the total area was 203,000 square feet, and with the expansion it increased to 447,000 square feet.
68. R&D functions such as: engineering and development; computational analysis; design; materials engineering; test vehicle fleet; electronics laboratories; and process development. In terms of engineering and development, they have high-tech infrastructure for carrying out "tests" in developing technological components and subsystems.
69. The technical centers are located primarily in the United States, France, Luxemburg, Germany, Poland, Japan, Singapore, India, Brazil and Mexico.
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78. Battenberg points out: "We're trying to get our mechanical engineers to think out of the box, not only in terms of getting rid of wiring, but also hydraulics so we can move to brake by wire, steer by wire - actuation by wire." [79].
79. Delphi (2001) 'Delphi moves toward a more electronic portfolio'.
80. Of which more than 5000 engineers work in the areas of electronics and software.