TY - JOUR
T1 - The importance of collaborative frontloading in automotive supply networks
AU - Binder, Mario
AU - Gust, Peter
AU - Clegg, Ben
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how research and development (R&D) collaboration takes place for complex new products in the automotive sector. The research aims to give guidelines to increase the effectiveness of such collaborations.
Design/methodology/approach – The methodology used to investigate this issue was grounded theory. The empirical data were collected through a mixture of interviews and questionnaires. The resulting inducted conceptual models were subsequently validated in industrial workshops.
Findings – The findings show that frontloading of the collaborative members was a major issue in managing successful R&D collaborations.
Research limitations/implications – The limitation of this research is that it is only based in the German automotive industry.
Practical implications – Practical implications have come out of this research. Models and guidelines are given to help make a success of collaborative projects and their potential impacts on time, cost and quality metrics.
Originality/value – Frontloading is not often studied in a collaborative manner; it is normally studied within just one organisation. This study has novel value because it has involved a number of different members throughout the supplier network.
AB - Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how research and development (R&D) collaboration takes place for complex new products in the automotive sector. The research aims to give guidelines to increase the effectiveness of such collaborations.
Design/methodology/approach – The methodology used to investigate this issue was grounded theory. The empirical data were collected through a mixture of interviews and questionnaires. The resulting inducted conceptual models were subsequently validated in industrial workshops.
Findings – The findings show that frontloading of the collaborative members was a major issue in managing successful R&D collaborations.
Research limitations/implications – The limitation of this research is that it is only based in the German automotive industry.
Practical implications – Practical implications have come out of this research. Models and guidelines are given to help make a success of collaborative projects and their potential impacts on time, cost and quality metrics.
Originality/value – Frontloading is not often studied in a collaborative manner; it is normally studied within just one organisation. This study has novel value because it has involved a number of different members throughout the supplier network.
KW - automotive industry
KW - new products
KW - research and development
KW - supplier relations
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=40549129079&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=1741-038x&volume=19&issue=3&articleid=1713954&show=abstract
U2 - 10.1108/17410380810853759
DO - 10.1108/17410380810853759
M3 - Article
SN - 1741-038X
VL - 19
SP - 315
EP - 331
JO - Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management
JF - Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management
IS - 3
ER -