Meticulous Empiricism is a Permanent Requirement

Signs of a rise in modular logic have been increasing:
 

At Volkswagen, which has shifted from a ìplatform strategyî to a ìmodular strategyî, with modules being shared amongst the groupís various models and marques;

At Nissan, which has built in the United States a new light truck assembly plant that is organised according to the principles of modular production;

At General Motors, which has delegated the design and manufacturing of all of the interior fittings on its upcoming North American passenger car models to a system-components maker;

At PSA, whose new Brazilian factory has been opened up as part of a supplierís park ­ not to mention Renaultís reorganisation of its Sandouville facilities;

With the announcement by the components maker Magna that it is now capable of producing a motor vehicle in its entirety.

Note in addition that Micro Compact Car has had to pay indemnities to its module suppliers, due to the Smart carís insufficient sales volumes ­ and that Chryslerís planned closure of its Campo Largo plant in Brazil (where Dama had been responsible for the preparation of the entire rolling chassis) was one of the first concrete harbingers of its current difficulties  - problems whose existence had previously been no more than theoretical. Every single one of these examples relates to a modular logic, characterised above all by firmsí and suppliersí combined development of dedicated localisations.

These themes, which had been discussed at GERPISAís last international meeting, were the subject of new contributions during the springís first two workshops ­ meetings that were associated with the CoCKEAS project, and with GERPISAís new research programme. The purpose was to discuss current transformations in carmaker-supplier relationships (Lyon) as well as their geographical implications (Bordeaux). These workshops have enabled us to focus on divergences in firmsí strategic choices, in terms of the way in which they define their core business. More than ever, a detailed study is needed if we want to understand firmsí practices at a deeper level than the superficial approach that customarily characterises most discussions on this topic. The June 2001 conference will allow us to extend our analysis to a broader range of cases. Before then, the London workshop (in late April) will be an opportunity to delve more deeply into the financial logic that is being quietly introduced into the automobile industry. We will be trying to see if, asides from general environmental attitudes towards corporate governance and the creation of shareholder value, the hybridisation between the ìnewî and the ìoldî economy is likely to lead to the emergence of new business models.