Japanese by Design:an Analysis of the UK Automotive Industry

Abstract

The UK automotive industry provides a focus where the recent Japanese transplants may be compared with the more established manufacturers in the UK, to see whether a cross-fertilisation of ‘design methodology’ has occurred. A tool advocated by the Japanese is ‘Simultaneous Engineering’ (SE), which demands flexibility of people, organisations and processes to maximise efficiency and reduce waste. Some argue however that the real innovation may be as simple as communication and trust. Evidence exists that the OEM/supplier interface has also changed. Suppliers are now a trusted element of the ‘wider organisation’, carefully selected and nurtured as experts, with buyers participating and influencing the design process to a greater extent than has previously been seen. In the UK automotive industry SE forms just one part of what may be termed the ‘Japanese Model’. The conclusions from this study show that a perception of the ‘Japanese Model’ exists, and has been adapted to suit better the environment of the UK automotive assembler. The research focus of this report is to investigate the importance of the engineersupplier- buyer relationship, amongst others, within the framework of a simultaneously engineered project, concluding whether the relationship differs according to the level of design responsibility held by the supplier, and establishing the extent to which a Japanese influence may be seen in the application of SE in the UK. The most prominent example of this within the UK, is the Honda-Rover Group partnership, which has slowly evolved and matured over the last decade. An ethnographical approach is taken when looking at the development of the Rover 600 / Honda Accord, and inferences are made as to supplier relations, in general, within the industry.