Approaches towards integrating suppliers in simultaneous engineering activities: the case of two German automakers

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Notwithstanding the difficulties of assessing the diffusion of simultaneous engineering in the German car industry there can be no doubt about the central importance of this organizational routine for the communication and cooperation process between automakers and suppliers. However, little is known about the actual process of simultaneous engineering on the operational level, the actual involvement of suppliers in the crossfunctional activities at the automakers and problems with communication and cooperation arising under the new conditions. The article focuses on these aspects drawing from case study evidence from two German automakers. © 2001 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.