The new automobile modular platforms: from the product architecture to the manufacturing network approach

Résumé:

This paper analyses the key factors for the adoption of the new automobile modular platforms through an eclectic perspective linking the product architecture with the manufacturing network approach. An exploratory analysis of the European production networks of seven automobile manufacturers shows that the benefits of the modular platforms’ adoption depend on two factors: the degree of platform modularity and the manufacturing issues of each carmaker —product portfolio, production volumes and network size. The results indicate that the degree of modularity of the platform chosen should be aligned with the manufacturing issues; otherwise, benefits might not reach expectations.